Wagga Wagga, NSW
Airing Date: Jul 19th, 2008
One little city, and a whole lot of sportWagga Wagga is NSW's largest inland city, and an important agricultural, military, educational and transport hub of Australia. Located midway between the two largest cities in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne, it is also regarded as the frontier dividing "Aussie Rules" territory with that of "Rugby League" & has been noted for it's "Wagga Effect" - a term that has been used frequently in the Australian media to describe the disproportionately large number of elite sportsmen and women that originate from the city.
The "city of good sports" has nurtured the careers of many well-known sportsman and, as a result, in 1993 the Wagga Wagga City Council established a Sporting Hall of Fame to recognise the outstanding achievement of Wagga Wagga athletes who have reached the highest level of their chosen sport.
Inductees include such names as Rugby League's Mortimer Brothers, AFL's Paul Kelly, & Wayne Carey, Tennis Legend Tony Roche, Cricketers Michael Slater and Mark Taylor and Golfer Steve Elkington, as well as numerous not so well-known, but impressive sportspeople, such as current Equestrian Champ & 2008 Olympic hopeful Olivia Bunn.
Theories as to the reasons behind Wagga's sporting successes abound.
Wagga Wagga is certainly proud of its numerous first-class sporting and recreational facilities and these, coupled with a very high level of community support in running the numerous sports bodies in the City, provide an excellent base for sports people to establish their careers in their chosen sport.
There's also a fictional theory that the '5 o'clock wave' arrives, according to the local urban myth, at precisely that time in the form of a giant wave which flushes a secret nutrient into the Murrumbidgee River following the release of water from the Blowering and Burrinjuck Dams. The wave is said to continue downriver at high speed and indeed, and visitors are told it is so powerful that surfers can ride it along the meandering river until it reaches the town of Narrandera.
You may be waiting forever to see that wave, but there is plenty to see and do in this picturesque town on the banks of the mighty Murumbidgee, including a weekend spent enjoying the sports & activities available at nearby Borambola Sport & Recreation Camp. It's a great location for a cheap and sporty family holiday or place to send the kids next school holidays. A stay there, may just put your children on track to sporting glory!
Further Information:Wagga Wagga, NSWKemwel Car Hire
Car hire from $58 a day
1300-885-272
www.kemwel.com.au
Borambola Sport & Recreation Centre1980 Sturt Highway, Borambola via Wagga Wagga
2 night family package from
$125 a child
$139 an adult
Includes accommodation, all meals & activities
1800-810-890
www.dsr.nsw.gov.au
MUSEUM OF THE RIVERINA - SPORTING HALL OF FAMEBotanic Gardens Site, Baden Powell Drive, Wagga Wagga
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm & Sunday 12.00 to 4.00pm
Closed Mondays, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year's Day
Admission is free
T: (02) 6925-2934
www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/museum
TOURISM NSWwww.visitnsw.com.au
WAGGA WAGGA TOURISMwww.wagga.nsw.gov.au/tourism
