The Bourke Shire Council has marked the opening of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast with action to increase recognition of an athlete from the town who made Games history.

In 1962 at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, a 20-year-old Bourke resident competed in the men’s high jump. Percy Hobson not only won the gold medal but in doing so jumped a Commonwealth high jump record of 2.11 metres.

Percy Hobson was the first Indigenous Australian to win a gold medal for Australia at the Commonwealth Games. Percy Hobson Park was named after him to recognise his achievement.

Unfortunately, some of the signage detailing a little bit more about his achievements was vandalised. However, the council will now install a plaque in the park which details who he was and his achievements so those using the park can be made aware of the reason behind the naming. The start of the Games last week seemed to be an appropriate time to have the plaque installed and mounted on a piece of local stone.

ANZAC Day. Members of the local RSL sub-branch, with the kind assistance from the Bourke Aboriginal Health Service, have purchased three new flag poles for the Cenotaph Precinct. The poles were erected by council staff and will be used for the first time on ANZAC Day. The poles will allow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to be flown. For the first time the New Zealand flag will also be flown. It is appropriate the involvement of New Zealand in the ANZAC tradition will be recognised by flying its flag on what is a very important day for all Australians and New Zealanders.

Bourke Show. The Show is on April 28 and I would encourage everyone to consider entering one of the various categories available for exhibits and to attend on the day. A small and dedicated band of volunteers work the entire year round to ensure the show’s success and I would like to thank them for their contribution to our community.

The Bourke Show won the award for the Best Community Event at the 2018 Australia Day Awards.