Miles District Fishing & Recreation Club finalists in Outdoors Queensland Awards

A Western Downs fishing club has been nominated as a finalist in the Outdoors Queensland Awards for their work in getting people out into nature. Find out more.

Hooked on Miles Fishing Classic 2022. Photo/Miles District Fishing and Recreation Club.

A Western Downs fishing club has been nominated as a finalist in this year’s Outdoors Queensland Awards.

The award is presented to an outdoor recreation peak body, club, provider, event or product that has raised awareness about the benefits of outdoor recreation and increases participation in the outdoor recreation.

Miles District Fishing & Recreation Club is one of four organisations to make the finals and will be competing against giants Camp Somerset, Townsville Hike and Explore Group and Parkrun Australia for the gong.

Hooked on Miles Fishing Classic 2022. Photo/Miles District Fishing and Recreation Club.

Miles District Fishing & Recreation Club president Peter Delaforce said they felt “privileged” to make the finals.

“It is an honour and it is great to get recognised for everything the club has done. We are looking forward to a positive outcome and happy knowing we are up there with three other great Queensland groups,” he said.

“Parkrun is probably the one that stood out to us knowing how big they are and how they are active every weekend, so to be up there with those guys is a huge thing and it really speaks to all the activities we do around the region.”

Mr Delaforce said the club was more than just a fishing group and encouraged members to get out in nature.

“It is recognition of what the club has done, we do a lot, not just the fishing side of things, but most of our activities are based for families,” he said.

“We do camping, get them out on the boats, camp cooking and then we do a lot of environmental projects which involve all the community as well.

“We are sitting around 100 members which is good for a small town, it might be the Miles Fishing Club, but our members go from Roma to Goondiwindi, Dalby, Chinchilla, Oakey, Toowoomba and Brisbane and people come out every month to join in our activities.

“We are spread right across not just on one section but we have a good range of activities that we offer out this way.”

Mr Delaforce said the club’s ethos aligned perfectly with what the awards stood for.

“Right back to when the club was first started in September 2018 we wanted to get kids and families into the outdoors,” he said.

“It started with camping trips, we’d pitch the tents and swags and then throw a line in at night and have a barbecue.

“The outdoor activities grew from there and now we do a fishing event every month which includes camping, so we took all the boxes when it comes to outdoor activities we get kids away from screens and out on the water.

“We also focus heavily on keeping the waterways clean, we focus on removing noxious fish and we like to say that one day the Western Downs waters could be carp free.

“Running those sort of events opens it up to all of the communities so people can be involved in keeping their waterways clean.”

The award will be presented Friday night at Rydges South Bank Brisbane.

“We are looking forward to a good night tomorrow night and are privileged to be in that final four.”

Originally published as Miles District Fishing & Recreation Club finalists in Outdoors Queensland Awards