Build it and they will come. It’s certainly a fitting catch-cry in reference to the state’s sporting facilities.
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Today’s news that Launceston has been “pencilled-in” to host its first-ever hockey Test match in three years’ time is exciting.
The announcement comes on the back of a hugely successful junior national competition at St Leonards over the past week, showcasing the finest under-18 male and female players in the country – all budding future Olympians and world champions.
Northern Tasmania’s love affair with national and world-class sporting events is already well celebrated. Launceston's Silverdome is primed to host a Test match between traditional rivals Australia and New Zealand, with the game tipped to be a sell-out well before the October 12 blockbuster.
The showdown is already being billed as a dress rehearsal for Launceston winning a licence to host a Tasmanian side in the ANZ Championship, which would be an enormous coup for the state.
Earlier in the year, Launceston hosted the 21-and-under national netball championships. Like the hockey titles last week, the netball was a huge success.
Tasmanian sporting fans already enjoy four AFL roster games in Launceston, as well as a round of the V8 Supercars at Symmons Plains.
You can now add to that the state being named as host of the world fly fishing championships in 2019, and the North-East township of Derby hosting a round of the prestigious Enduro World Series for mountain biking next year.
Northern Tasmanians are extremely fortunate to have events of this calibre right on their doorstep.
We are certainly the envy of other regional centres. Cities such as Ballarat and Bendigo in Victoria can only dream of a similarly packed sporting itinerary of this level.
They certainly can’t drive into town and see Hawthorn play Carlton, or watch the cream of Australian netball going head-to-head with the Silver Ferns.
These events provide our children with the opportunity see their sporting stars in the flesh, and provide them with the incentive to strive for greatness.
They also provide wealth and prosperity for our state and our region.
We all should embrace these wonderful gifts we have been bestowed and never take them for granted.
