Council support to help local swimmers make a splash at carnival

Published on 23 October 2026

Young swimmers from across the state will put their speed and stamina to the test at this weekend’s Beef City Swimming Carnival at the 2nd World War Memorial Pool.

Rockhampton Regional Council is supporting this year’s event, hosted by Caribeae Swimming Club, with a $4,500 sponsorship through the Community Assistance Program.

Parks, Sport and Public Spaces Councillor Cherie Rutherford said events such as the Beef City Swimming Carnival play an important role in the development of young athletes.

“We have a strong swimming community in the Rockhampton region, and we’ve seen athletes from this event compete on the world stage,” Cr Rutherford said.

“We’re so proud to be able to support this event. Sporting carnivals help our athletes build confidence, allow them to learn from their peers and celebrate their achievements, and provide a pathway to national and international competitions.

“These events also benefit our local economy, with visitors staying in our hotels, eating at our local cafes, restaurants and pubs, and experiencing what our region has to offer.”

The Beef City Swimming Carnival will see athletes as young as eight years old compete in races across all strokes, as well as medley events.

The fastest swimmers on the day will also battle it out in the David Milburn Top Gun event.

Caribeae Swimming Club President Neal Thomsen said regional swimmers used the meet to achieve state and national qualifying times in Queensland and interstate.

Mr Thomsen said the meet also includes events pitting swimmers against the record books rather than each other.

“Competitive swimming is in a good place right now in Central Queensland, with several clubs providing strong training programs and teams competing at high levels,” Mr Thomsen said.

“Several Central Queensland swimmers have recently achieved selection for higher-level development opportunities and teams with Swimming Queensland and Swimming Australia.

“The Community Assistance Program funding has allowed us to access the automatic timing system now available at the pool. Given its hire cost, this is not something we would have likely considered without external support.”

Caribeae's Beef City Swimming Carnival will be held on Friday, 23 and Saturday, 24 October at the 2nd World War Memorial Pool, with competition kicking off at 5.30pm on Friday and 8am on Saturday.

Entry on Saturday will cost $5.

The Community Assistance Program supports non-profit, community-based organisations through grants and sponsorships for projects and events that enhance the wellbeing of the region.

Applications for the next round of the Community Assistance Program open on 21 September and close on 2 November 2026.

For more information or to apply, contact Council’s Community Services team on 4936 8368 or visit Council’s website.

ENDS