Toowoomba Regional Council grant funding helps secure water polo country championships for city

Funding from the Toowoomba Regional Council has helped secure a major state-level sporting championships for the city this month.

Toowoomba will host the Water Polo Queensland Country Championships. Pictured is an international match between the Netherlands and Slovakia. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)

Toowoomba will host a major state sporting championship this month, thanks partly to funding from the Toowoomba Regional Council.

The Garden City will play host to the 2021 Water Polo Queensland Country Championships from February 12-14, with funding coming from the TRC’s Sport Tourism Event grant.

Water Polo Queensland and Toowoomba Regional Council will partner to deliver the three-day event at the Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre, The Glennie School and Toowoomba Grammar School.

The event will attract teams and participants from throughout regional Queensland from as far south as the Gold Coast to Toowoomba in the west, Cairns and Townsville in the north and all areas in between such as Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coasts.

A record number of 18 teams have registered to participate in the championships, which will attract over 220 participants including players, coaches, managers, referees, officials and administrators as well as numerous supporters and family members.

“We are grateful for the Sport Event Tourism funding provided by Toowoomba Regional Council and the social and economic impact the event will have on the region,” WPQ CEO Melanie Woosnam said.

“Our newly appointed head of performance and pathways Aleks Osadchuck will be the guest coach at a junior Gala Day on Saturday, which will be held at the Milne Bay Aquatic and Fitness Centre to assist in promoting the event and water polo as a sport more broadly within Toowoomba and the Darling Downs Region.

“Aleks is the current Qld Thunder men’s national league coach, a former QAS coach and a national player.

“Any participants attending the Gala Day will be in for a treat with expert coaching and guidance from one of the most experienced water polo coaches in Queensland.”

Toowoomba Water Polo Association president Brian Stubbs said the Queensland Country Championships was a huge boost for the sport in the region.

“We have scheduled the launch of the championships with our junior Gala Day next weekend, which will also coincide with the start of our junior and senior competition season,” he said.

“We welcome anyone who is interested in trying water polo to come along.”

Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio said sports fans were in for a new year treat following the announcement of the event.

“The Toowoomba Regional Council is delighted that the region has been chosen to host the championships,” Cr Antonio said.