Latest Newsletter

2025 - April Newsletter

In this edition

Volunteers Needed for Carnvial - Register for a Porters Mitre 10 Pack
Carnival Information
Q&A's Often asked about our Carnival
Changes to next club day 26 April and 10 May

Dear Members and Families, Volunteers Needed for Carnvial

It's not long now until the Mackay Track & Field Carnival being held Sat-Sun 3-4 May, with nominations closing 11pm Wednesday 23 April.

As mentioned at one of our recent club days, we host this event annually and the income it generates, helps reduce the club membership fees. We generally do not do any other fundraising, such as Sausages Sizzles or Raffles, but we do ask our club members and families to help out over the weekend in some way. It is just one weekend of the year, so not a big ask.

Please read below on how we need your help.

For those who register as a volunteer on this link, we will give you, compliments of Porters Mitre 10, a Straw Hat, Drink Holder, Rain Poncho and Reusable Shopping Bag. We still expect everyone to help out somewhere, but register and let us know the area, and we will give you one of these Porters Mitre 10 packs. https://www.mackayathletics.com.au/events/281362

MACKAY TRACK & FIELD CARNIVAL INFO

It is less than 2 weeks now to our annual Mackay Track & Field Carnival with registrations coming in fast for the event.

For those who have NOT been to a regional athletics carnival before, there are differences to a normal club day. More details on how the carnival works is below.

You must nominate to participate before Wednesday Night, 23 April 11pm. You cannot turn up without pre-registering, and there are no late nominations after the close date
You must wear the club uniform - Don't have one? Place your order online now to collect before the carnival.
There will be a timetable of event start times. Once nominations close, the draft timetable is reviewed to minimise event clashes.
As this event also becomes our main club fund raiser for the year, we need our members and families to help out. It is only fair that all of us play a part in the event our club hosts.

We do have ANQ officials coming to assist in key roles such as Track and Field Referees and some judges who are all too willing to pass on their skills to clubs and volunteers.

We do hope you will help us to make this event another success.

Regards. James Grech - Carnival Coordinator

Volunteer Nomination can be done online on this link or see us on a club day.

Information about the carnival including the athlete registration links is on this link

HOW CAN YOU HELP!

Friday 2 May

Field and admin set up after Midday. At this time, we will put up Marquees, buntings and general equipment trolly preparation, set up high jump areas.

In our admin side, we will need help in preparing some kitchen tasks, and this year we will be printing athlete bibs with their surname so people will start to collect these on Friday afternoon from 4pm to 6pm.

Saturday and Sunday

These are the main areas we need our member families to assist in.

Grounds Set up from 6am

Admin desk open 7am

Events start 8am

You will see that many of these roles can be done by anyone, including our athletes.

· Track Marshalling. This needs two or three people who can check off runners' names off the start list, assist with hip numbers and leading them to the starter.

· Track Medal Presenters - a couple of volunteers for this role.

· Starter Assistants. This role gets the runners ready into lanes for the next race.

· Track Starter. We have Trudie who many see regularly at our club days, doing our starts, so a good opportunity to learn and assist Trudie with starts and false starts.

· Finish Line Assistants. A couple of people to help at the finish line, lap counting / ring bell, and hold and release athletes when the results photo is complete.

· Photo Finish - We have a pro photo finish official attending so why not sit next to Brad and learn this great and relatively easy system, the same one we use on our club days. We usually set up two cameras, one as a backup.

· Admin - assist with general enquiries and bib collection. Maybe learn how to key in results into our results software.

· Equipment Shed - Whilst most equipment will be sent out at the start of the day, we also need people to set up hurdles, steeplechase when those events are up.

· General Volunteers - Just ask how you can help. At times we do send a trolly of drinks and snacks to our officials as they may not get a chance to have a break.

Q&A's OFTEN ASKED ABOUT OUR CARNIVAL

Our regional carnival is 3-4 May. As it is our club hosting this event, we really do need a commitment from our club members to assist in some way over the weekend. This includes athletes who are not competing/preparing for an event. If you do have a gap between events, please check these areas to help out at.

Is there an event list and timetable? Yes. Event information is on this link . Note that it is a draft timetable and once nominations close, we relook at the number of entries to determine the final timetable.

Do we need to register? Yes. To participate in the carnival, athletes must pre-register in the events they want to do, and payment is required at the time of registration. Here is the event webpage which has the registration links.

When do I need to register by? Registrations close Thursday 23 April 11pm. Late nominations or changes are not accepted after this date and time.

Do I need a club uniform to participate? Yes. If you have registered as a Mackay Athletics Club member, you must wear the club uniform top. Squad or training uniforms are not acceptable while performing the event. If you do not have a club uniform top, please order this online now so that it is available to collect before the carnival. We have an order in place with our supplies and is due before the carnival.

Do I need to wear a bib number? Yes. This year, we are printing bibs with athlete surnames. These can be collected from the admin area from 4pm Friday before the event. Ensure you have your bib before going to the first of your events. The old ANQ bib numbers are no longer required to be worn at club days and events.

Do we still assist in event duties? Yes, however visiting clubs are given field event areas to manage, but they still need volunteers to assist, just like a normal club day. We will have qualified officials overlooking the event areas. Our club needs lots of our own volunteers to assist in admin, track and we usually are allocated the Javelin events to manage.

What does manage an event area mean? Someone from the allocated club in that event area seeks assistance from onlookers to help in event duties and helps at the event themselves.

How are results recorded? All field results are written on the scoresheets. All athletes have a minimum three attempts in field events (except high jump). Athletes aged 12 and above do three attempts, and the top eight measurements after their three attempts going on to have another one attempt (four in total) or a further three attempts (six in total) for Open. After the third attempt, the official checks the measurements of all athletes and establishes the top eight. The order in which the athletes have their next attempt (the fourth, fifth and sixth event) is then resorted so that the person in eighth place after the 3rd round, goes first and the person with the best goes last. The best measurement from all attempts is used as the final result.

Where can I see the results? Once the score sheets are returned to the admin and keyed, or track results pulled through, they are available on our online results link.

Do club members still get club points? Yes. Points are allocated if a PB is achieved at Carnival events. Participation points are not allocated as athletes can do less or more than the standard 4 events offered on club days.

When do the athletes go to the event areas? Athletes must present themselves at the event area usually 10-15 mins prior to the event start. An official will call for names. Depending on the carnival type, late arriving athletes at an event may not be allowed to participate at all. At championship meets, failure to turn up at an event can cause automatic disqualification from all other events.

Field of Play. The area inside the fence is called the field of play. Unlike club days, this area is restricted to only athletes and those assisting in events. For parents with young athletes (7yrs and under), it is OK for a parent to be there and to assist in event duties.

Event Safety. As always, those entering the field of play enter via the designated entry gate closest to the event area and look before crossing the track, and never cross across the grass field. We have international athletes attending who can throw implements way past the middle of the field.

Where can we help? As mentioned, if you have a break in events, parents, or athletes, please ask where you can help.

You can also let us know on this link the areas you prefer to help and what days and times. Volunteer Link

Changes to next club days on 26 April 2025 and 10 May 2026

Our next club day is scheduled for Saturday, 26 April 2025. Please note that we will be running program 6 instead of program 5. Program 5 will be run on the following club day scheduled for Saturday, 10 May 2025. The timetable for each program can be found on our club website. Program & Rules - Mackay Athletics Club

Please meet at 1:30pm for a 2:00pm start on Saturday 26 April 2025.

Please also note that on Saturday, 10 May 2025, we will need to start at the earlier time of 12:30pm to ensure that we can complete our club day before another booking which starts at 4:00pm. Start times for the rest of May will return to a 1:30pm meet for a 2:00pm start.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this time change.

We Support