Annual Queensland Sport Awards 2022

Premier of Queensland and Minister for the Olympics, and QSport Patron the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP; Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics and Paralympics Sport and Engagement, the Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe MP; QSport Chairman, Mr Ben Callard, Deputy Chair, Ms Alison Lyons and CEO, Mr Peter Cummiskey; Commonwealth Games Association President, Mr Ben Houston; Head of the Secretariat for the Brisbane 2032 Games Organising Committee, Ms Kerry Petersen; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and extend my respectful greetings to Elders, past, present and emerging.

Graeme and I are thrilled to be joining you this evening.

What a privilege it is to celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of those Queenslanders who are committed to organised sport.

Our State has a strong history of nurturing many of Australia’s sporting greats, and as Queenslanders we have always taken enormous pride in recognising their achievements.

Tonight is one of those occasions!

It is very clear the Queensland Sport Awards have become a huge highlight on the Queensland sporting calendar!

As Governor, I am so proud to be supporting this wonderful event.

Honouring sporting champions has been something of a theme for me this week.

During several Investiture Ceremonies held at Government House over the last week, I have had the great pleasure of presenting more than 100 worthy Queenslanders with Australian Honours and Awards – among them, many who were recognised for their services to sport, including both Olympians and Paralympians, former Wallabies, and those involved in the less prominent side of sports, such as Surf Lifesaving officials and water polo coaches, alongside generous philanthropists who support the progression of various codes in our State.

I also had the privilege of presenting Australian Sports Medals to Queensland Team Members of the Special Olympics World Games in 2019 and this year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Those awards aside, I do sense there might be an eagerness to know who will be the 2022 Sport Star and Sport Team of the year.

And I am as excited as you!

But while we are here to honour the athletes, these awards also acknowledge the tireless service of the many coaches, administrators and volunteers, who all help to make affiliated sport possible.

Without them, there would be no skill-development, no fixtures, no rosters, no working-bees, no scorers, no fundraising — just to name a few of the essential elements of club sport.

Graeme and I have always been huge fans of physical activity and we recognise the strength and wellbeing that comes from life-long from participation in sport.

The human body is designed to move. Our proper growth and development depends on regular physical activity.

Coupled with learning the rules of play, and the importance of teamwork, the health benefits and life skills that sport provides are hugely valuable — both on and off the field.

And the positive contribution sport makes to the Queensland community and to our economy is immeasurable.

I commend the Board of QSport, CEO Peter Cummiskey, the staff, as well as the many loyal members, sponsors and partners, for everything you do to promote quality sport in Queensland.

A special thanks to the friends and families who have come along to support their teams and clubs.

And finally, I heartily praise all our award winners, and those who are being inducted into the Hall of Fame this evening.

Tonight, your grit, determination and dedication to your sport, and your sporting communities, are being recognised.

Congratulations to each of you!