A Minute With The Mayor, Ry Collins Home Grown Dreams, Whitsunday Future

This week, Council launched the first video in our new Home Grown: Future Olympians campaign, and I couldn't be prouder of the story we're telling.

This campaign is part of our ongoing advocacy to secure Olympic and Paralympic sailing for the Whitsundays in 2032.

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We know our region has the natural assets. We know we have world-class sailing conditions. We know we have a proven track record of hosting major events.

But this campaign is about showing something just as important – our people.

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Over the coming months, you'll meet four young athletes from across the Whitsundays who are chasing big dreams in sailing, swimming, soccer, netball and equestrian sport. You'll hear about the early mornings, the long drives, the training sessions, the sacrifices and the determination it takes to pursue excellence while growing up in a regional community.

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Our first athletes, Reid and Rory Martin, are a perfect example.

Like so many families across our region, they spend countless hours travelling, training and competing in pursuit of their goals. Their story is inspiring, but it is also familiar. Across the Whitsundays there are young people putting in the hard work every day with the support of parents, coaches, volunteers and local clubs who believe in them.

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That's why this campaign matters.

When governments are considering where to invest and where to leave a lasting Olympic and Paralympic legacy, we want them to see the Whitsundays for what it really is – a region already producing talented young athletes and a community ready to embrace the opportunities that come with hosting Olympic and Paralympic sailing.

This isn't just about a few weeks of competition in 2032.

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It's about the legacy that follows.

It's about projects like the Whitsunday Regional Sports Precinct, community hubs, active recreation facilities and sporting infrastructure that create opportunities for future generations. It's about giving local kids more opportunities closer to home and reducing the need for families to travel thousands of kilometres to access pathways and facilities.

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The campaign will conclude with one of our region's greatest sporting success stories, David Nicholas OAM – a three-time Paralympian and Paralympic gold medallist who proves that dreams born in the Whitsundays can reach the world stage.

Council is also excited to have the support of Whitsunday Life as a campaign partner. Through a series of athlete features and print coverage, they will help us share these stories with the wider community and build momentum behind our vision for the future of the Whitsundays.

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Because great athletes don't simply appear.

They are supported by families.

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They are backed by communities.

And here in the Whitsundays, they are grown right here.

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