Mackay to host QISSRL and QISSN carnivals for first time in 26 years

Athletes from all corners of Queensland will prepare themselves for Mackay tournaments after two consecutive years of carnival cancellations.

Junior athletes across the state have set their focus on Mackay, with the announcement of the Confraternity Shield and CQUniversity’s Queensland Independent Secondary School Netball carnival heading to the region in 2022.

Mercy College and St Patrick’s College will host the rugby league carnival for the first time since 1996, and will debut QISSN in Mackay after the competition began in 2000.

Mercy College assistant principal Scott McSherry said the carnivals offered the perfect opportunity to showcase the region and its facilities to the state.

“It’s a chance to showcase the schools, but also to showcase the sporting programs of the colleges and for people to experience the region,” he said.

“We believe we have got some of the best facilities in regional Queensland, if not the best, so it’s a great chance to showcase that.”

At the announcement of CQU’s QISSRL and QISSN coming to Mackay are (from left) Mackay Basketball’s Tara Smyth, QISSN’s Evie Teasdale, Hannah White, Mercy College’s Teresa Dragorn, St James College’s Ann Rebgetz and Scott McSherry from Mercy College. Picture: Matthew Forrest

It is expected 6000 athletes, coaches and supporters will travel to Mackay for the tournament in July.

Mr McSherry said the school was excited to host the athletes who have been starved of the carnival in the past two years.

“(Last year) was a cancelled year, then this year we only got through a few days of the carnival before the teams had to fly back, so we’re excited to get through the full tournament,” he said.

“It’ll also be the first time we have two carnivals in such close proximity to each other in the region, with the netball at the multi-sport arena and the rugby league across the road at the pitches surrounding BB Print Stadium.

“Mackay Basketball has been very generous, the facilities are pristine and not every centre in regional Queensland has quality courts like we do.”