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Let the Games Begin
While it’s not the wild-west rather the Mid West, the competitive edge, fierce determination, grit and rugged individualism of participants at the Indian Ocean Masters Games in Geraldton suggested otherwise.
The Indian Ocean Masters Games was held to encourage the growth of local sport clubs and promote their contribution to community life in the Mid West, but like your typical TV Western, the Games also successfully drew the attention of international and interstate audiences. Organised by the Geraldton Mid West Sports Federation, a peak sports body and a not-for-profit organisation, the games were aimed not only to appeal to your regular cowboy, but to encourage the involvement of the entire community.
With a program comprising 1,356 sports events for all comers between 25 -90 years of age, the games drew strong financial support from all sections of the community including the City of Geraldton, surrounding Shires, State Government agencies such as the Department of Sport and Recreation, Healthway, Tourism, Regional Development, Federal Regional Partnerships, private sponsors such as Westnet and local media outlets. Underpinning the success of the entire operation was a dedicated outfit of 430 volunteers who undertook the incredible level of administrative support required to achieve a well coordinated event.
Looking to devise an inclusive welcoming and closing ceremony that showcased the region’s culture and produce, chief organiser Rob Sutherland established a posse of support made up of the local Arts and Cultural Development Council, local Indigenous Arts and Dance groups, the Department of Indigenous Affairs, Central West TAFE and the City of Geraldton. Together with the games organising committee they approached Lotterywest to support a community celebration designed to encourage the involvement of even the most recalcitrant community members.
The regional significance of the event and high level of participation by performers, spectators, volunteers, competitors and the general community suggested that this particular initiative could be considered for a Lotterywest Community Events and Celebrations Grant. Lotterywest was able to provide over $20,000 to help equip the volunteers with resources they required to participate in the welcoming event and to assist with staging the opening and closing ceremony that stood to benefit the wider community.
Although the Geraldton Mid West Sports Federation were aware that the benefits of hosting the games would go well beyond the life of the initiative, Mr Sutherland was particularly impressed with the skills transfer opportunities provided through the training received by volunteers.
“The volunteers recruited for the event developed a range of transferable skills in areas such as administration and management, organisation, and general event coordination and management. Their expertise can be drawn on to support other community events and initiatives such as Geraldton’s Blessing of the Fleet and the Sunshine Festival”
With plans to host the Games every four years, the Geraldton Mid West Sports Federation analysed audience and participant feedback to gauge the relative success of the initiative. Mr Sutherland acknowledges that some of the key learning, which came from lower than anticipated audience attendance figures, was the need to improve accessibility and to ensure the event was effectively publicised.
“Although numbers were down on forecast, the event was still a major success. Feedback from sports clubs and administrators is that they have learned valuable lessons and many have already developed strategies to build on for the next event.”