Southern Uni Games off and running
Flinders captains Jimmy Wilson, left, and Cate Dayman, second from right, with Katrine Hildyard MP, Dr Sam Elliott, and Flinders team manager, Tyson Williams, at the launch event.
Flinders graduate, the Member for Reynell Katrine Hildyard MP, was at the starter’s line for this week’s Southern University Games in Adelaide.
As official patron, she carried the flame at the Games’ opening ceremony on Saturday, welcoming the 1,600 participants from 13 universities to South Australia.
“The Southern University Games brings our Universities and broader community together in a way that promotes physical activity and health and creates a great sense of camaraderie – and healthy competition,” Ms Hildyard said.
The southern region Unigames involves 14 sports at various venues around Adelaide, with Flinders hosting touch football fixtures all week and the cross country event today (7 July).
Flinders has fielded 120 competitors in the Games, with strong hopes for success in the cross country competition, with several high-achieving Flinders Athletics Club members competing.
Ms Hildyard, who graduated in drama and politics at Flinders in 1995, commended Flinders University’s involvement in the Games.
Stepped up to the plate as Games Ambassador, she also is a director of the Southern Football League, member of her local lifesaving club and keen basketballer.
“The Games are an excellent event for South Australia with so many people visiting and enjoying our beautiful state, our tourist destinations and our sporting venues.”
Flinders is also fielding a bumper team at the Australian University Games later this year.
The Southern University Games are owned and managed by Australian University Sport, which runs sporting programs at a regional, national and international level.
Meanwhile, students Tommy Auger and Tassya Stevens (taekwondo) and Jonathon Schubert (table tennis) are representing Flinders University at the 2015 World Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea this month.
Tommy and Tassya, who competed in the Australian and world taekwondo championships this year, will join Jonathon and other Australian competitors at the Summer Universiade games (3-14 July) ahead of the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea.
