There is a lot more to SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week (SMIRW) than meets the eye, as organisers at Townsville Yacht Club continue their mission to make sure the Island’s community benefits from the annual event in more than the usual ways, while also making a positive effect on the local economy in September every year via the yachties, their families and friends.
The recent Economic Impact Survey demonstrates there is significant growth in economic and tourism impacts and shows a total spending of close to $2 million, up from the previous year’s $1.2 million.
Furthermore, 93 percent of survey respondents agree that SMIRW adds to the appeal of the Townsville region. Respondents also said they would recommend the event to others and that locals should feel proud of the sailing event and the great experience it provides.
Backing these findings, SMIRW has twice been awarded Gold and on two occasions also taken Silver as Best Destination Event in the North Queensland Tourism Awards. And Townsville Yacht Club is thrilled to announce the event is a finalist again this year.
Giving back to the community
The SOS Seafood Mud Crab Races raised just shy of $3000 for Magnetic Island Koala Hospital. As sponsors of SMIRW, SOS Seafood donated $500 of the total raised and provided mud crabs for the day that is enjoyed by locals, yachties and visitors alike.
The Koala Hospital, set up in 2000 by Yorkshire native, Dr Ali Bee and her husband Tim, a Magnetic Island local, has grown from one koala the first year to hundreds over the years. The pair remain dedicated to the cause.
“The annual donation makes an enormous difference to us. We get lots of the donations from the public, which help enormously, but they tend to be smaller. Receiving a bigger donation like this one from SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week and SOS, has meant we were able to buy a general anaesthetic machine, which is wonderful,” Dr Ali says.
On the numbers of koalas they look after, Dr Ali shares, “It varies. The first year was one, the next year three, then nine. On average since, it’s 30-40 a year, but we’ve had as many as 65 and numbers are slowly creeping up. Overall, we’ve had 440 koalas to deal with.
“We tend to get a lot of babies. The Island community is so switched on, they let us know if there are any potential problems. Tourists too, are on the lookout, which explains why we get more koalas, so every donation is critical. We run completely on donations.”
Townsville Picnic Bay Surf Club’s (TPBSC) Fundraising BBQ is another fundraising success story. The Club’s president, Melinda Cosgrove, says, “It’s a great fundraiser for the Club. We make a net profit of approximately $4,500 and that money goes back into the Club for education, patrolling, Nippers and the upkeep of the many important functions our club has.
“The day is voluntary for everyone in the Club. Fundraising, like the MIRW BBQ and Great Inflatable Race shows how valuable our youth are. They’re a fantastic bunch of kids and a very important part of the Club. They really enjoy coming to help out on these days. The Club has a number of senior members interested in the fundraising side which they energetically take on. The day is always filled with a lot of laughs and friendly banter.
“Overall, Magnetic Island Race Week is an extremely well run event that Picnic Bay SLSC are proud to be part of with SeaLink and so many others from our community,” Cosgrove ended.
TPPBSC provides volunteer support for the Weigh N Pay Great Inflatable Race, which this year resulted in cash prizes of up to $1000 awarded to the winners in each category. It’s a fun event enjoyed by all, including the volunteers who dive head first into the spirit of the occasion at Townsville Airport Father’s Day.
It is a day for visitors too, who flock in their hundreds to ‘Maggie’ Island via SeaLink ferries from Townsville.
Partnered this year with Towards Net Zero Magnetic Island, whose aim is to reduce waste, SMIRW put in place a cup library and hydration station at the Father’s Day event.
Magnetic Island Men’s Shed (MIMS) hosts a free Community Breakfast, cooking and serving over 400 free bacon and egg sandwiches, with ingredients provided by SMIRW. The Men’s Shed also puts on a community BBQ and raised their own funds for Father’s Day at Picnic Bay during Race Week. It was sold out by lunch time!
In 2024, SMIRW donated $800 to MIMS as part of its commitment to giving back to the community.
Peppers Blue on Blue Resort on the Island sets the scene for the Star 106.3 Leisurely Long Lunch. This year the lunch raised $4000 and beneficiaries of this bounty were Women’s Mental Health via Liptember – and Townsville Mater Private Hospital’s Perinatal Mental Health Unit.
Mike Steel, Townsville Yacht Club Commodore and SMIRW Chairman sums up: “It was always the Club’s intention – as organisers of SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week – to give back to the community. Since its inauguration in 2008, we’ve learned more about the Island and its people, which determined ways we could help. This is something we will continue to do,” he said.
Steel finished: “Planning for 2025 SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, to be held from 28th of August to 3rd September, is in full swing. Entries will open at 10am sharp on 3rd March 2025.”
For all information on SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week, please visit: www.magneticislandraceweek.com.au
By Di Pearson/SMIRW media
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