About NQSF

Our History

Our Vision & Mission

We will be a leader and key advocate for the development of sport and active recreation across regional and remote North Queensland, and through place-based events, collaboration and engagement, we will facilitate participation, inclusiveness, diversity and excellence in sport and sports-based activity.

About Us

How it Started

The North Queensland Sports Foundation, from which arose the Suncorp North Queensland Games, developed from an original concept presented at a public meeting held at Townsville in February 1983, convened by Mr Ken McElligott, Deputy Mayor of Townsville.

From the 60 delegates attending and representing 25 sports, a steering committee was formed comprising Mr Bob McCullough (Chairman), Mr Ken McElligott (Deputy Chairman), Mr Graham Bird (Treasurer), Ms Lorell Edwards (Secretary) and a committee of Ray Ringuet, John Rivett, George Lovett, Bill Martin, Liam Hanna, Mel Pengilley, John Lockhart and D’arcy Clayton.

You can read a full history of our first 20 years here:
NQSF History

Timeline

NQSF Timeline

1983

Founded in Townsville

NQSF was established in 1983 to develop a sporting event to meet with a significant community need.

First NQ Games

The inaugural NQ Games was hosted in Townsville in 1984 and has continued to develop into the largest regularly run multi-sport event in regional Australia.

First Sportstar Awards

First hosted in 1993, the annual sportstar awards continues to reward and inspire the next generations + plus recognise volunteers, officials and masters athletes

Hall of Fame

The North Queensland Sports Hall of Fame formally was established in the early 00's, and is undergoing a sustained period of rejuvination in the face of continued regional talent on the national and international stages

Sports Education Tours

The NQSF funded and arranged for multiple tours of regional and remote areas of Queensland (Doomadgee, Burketown etc.) bringing with them sporting clubs and organsiations to build up capacity and host events in remote NQ

First Festival of Sport

On the back of the success of the Western Games, The Festival of Sport was created to support regional community sport and connect sports clubs, sporting bodies and local government from Mount Isa through to Charters Towers on the Flinders Highway.

Launched MOVE IT NQ

MINQ was an initiative developed in 2018 that aims to support North Queensland in living healthier and more active lifestyles. Launched originally in 2018 to fund face-to-face programs, the project evolved during COVID and then with it's app launch in 22/23. Further evolution in 2025 towards improving community access to sports clubs and free access rounded out the program

Created NQ CLUB HUB

The North Queensland Club Hub initiative supports community sports club capacity development by offering a wide range of easy to access resources.