AUSSIE SPIRIT

THE message of friendship and harmony and competition is alive in our world at the moment with the Commonwealth Games being beamed across many nations.

For sports loving fans, it’s a feast with early mornings, flags flying, great dinner table discussions, while it is great to discover sports and sports stars who may not normally attract our attention.

The Games reflect on stars of previous games, and for our fans in Toowoomba – Glynis Nunn, Darren Lange, Nikki Mott, Justin Anzelark, Rachael Grinham and Matt Denny and that’s just a few of the greats – apologies to those I haven’t mentioned – there are far too many to list, but we honour you all.

The stories of hard work and training, challenges of injuries and recovery, the struggle to success and the chance to do the best on the day, there may be medals and there may be disappointments.

That’s sport and a time to acknowledge great efforts from nations of the Commonwealth.

But what will happen if we are a Republic?

There will be no Commonwealth Games for Australia – as we will not be apart of the Commonwealth. Opportunities for our athletes on this stage will no longer exist.

Lawn bowls gets the chance of a lifetime for young players to realise they too can make the world stage of sport and win gold.

We discover the names of lawn bowls and aren’t they great sports.

Takes skill and dedication, and these stars are out there on greens all over the country.

We need to stand tall with the Commonwealth and we need the Commonwealth Games.

Aussie athletes prove they are the best in the Commonwealth with excess luggage coming home for Birmingham. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.

BARB McGOVERN, Toowoomba