Four Tasmanians this week chose four different state capitals to demonstrate their natural aptitude not just for their chosen sports but as ambassadors for both their state and their country.
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Separated by 13 years in age and hailing from the state's three regions, their polished performances in Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart cemented Tasmania's role as the quiet achiever of Australian sport.
The talents of Eddie Ockenden, Stewart McSweyn, Georgia Baker and George Bailey in hockey, athletics, cycling and cricket respectively have been well documented, but their smooth, humble and often amusing handling of media responsibilities have been just as eye-catching.
McSweyn and Baker responded to their impressive achievements by looking ahead to next year's Olympic Games with confidence but not arrogance while Ockenden and Bailey dealt with national acknowledgement with the same humility that has embodied their lengthy international careers and seen both become national captains.
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In terms of sporting achievement, it wasn't a great week for Bailey, but summed up his 17-year top-flight career.
The 37-year-old from Longford, who went on to represent Tasmania and Australia in all three formats, tasting World Cup and Ashes success, was playing his final first-class match before becoming a national selector.
He saw fit to pay homage to previous selectors Don Bradman and David Boon by marking his send off with a duck. Nice touch.
Bailey also joked before his final innings that bowlers with national aspirations might want to think about their future before unleashing tricky balls. South Australia's Wes Agar clearly didn't listen, producing the sublime delivery that nipped back in to clip the off bail as Bailey shouldered arms.
It carried echoes of a famous Star Wars line. You can't win, Wes. If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
It may be a little unkind to compare Agar to the embodiment of inter-galactic evil, but that's probably how many Tasmanian cricket fans viewed him last Monday.
Ockenden was similarly humble in the face of national recognition - perhaps unsurprising given the pair's mothers went to school together.
The Moonah 32-year-old was showered with praise after being named the Kookaburras' player of the year and a nominee for the FIH world player of the year.
I just hope that I've been able to contribute
- World player of the year nominee Eddie Ockenden
Kookaburras head coach Colin Batch said Ockenden, who is six matches away from equalling Jamie Dwyer's appearance record of 365, was pivotal to the side claiming both the inaugural FIH Pro League title and the Oceania Cup which saw the world number one ranked team qualify for next year's Olympic Games.
"I think the interesting thing about Eddie is that although he is our oldest player, he continues to improve and perform at a high level and he is an inspiration to the other players in the squad."
"Often we see an older player slowly diminish in form but that hasn't been the case with Ed. What makes him outstanding at the moment is that he continues to get better and his game is evolving all the time.
"He works hard on the pitch at training and I think that is basis for any successful elite sports person, that it is the amount of work they put into the daily training environment."
In contrast, when asked earlier this year about his impact on the team's phenomenal success, Ockenden merely said: "When I look back and think we've had a good time and done really well, I just hope that I've been able to contribute to that."
McSweyn and Baker made deafening international statements in their respective fields while both staying quiet and respectful in subsequent interviews despite knowing that only injury is likely to deny them a spot at the Olympics.
After back-to-back world cup madison wins with Annette Edmondson and a world championship silver medal with Amy Cure, Baker would have to be in pole position in the race for a Tokyo berth but instead talked up the extent of the starting grid.
"We're really lucky in the Australian Cycling Team because we have so much depth in our program so we can swap partners and still come away with really good results," said the 25-year-old, whose cycling journey has taken her from Perth to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics.
Similarly, McSweyn responded to becoming Australia's fastest ever 10,000-metre runner, having claimed his third straight Zatopek 10 with a third different Olympic qualifying time, by merely resetting his goals for 2020.
"I want to find that extra 10 per cent to go from being a guy that can make finals and be competitive to a guy that can be at the pointy end of the majors," said the 24-year-old King Islander.
Two regional Launceston towns, a Hobart suburb, a Bass Strait island and indeed Tasmanian sport in general have good cause to be beaming with pride this week.
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