GLADSTONE Ports Corporation is putting its sponsorship funds towards supporting the Boyne Tannum Hook Up is a family fishing competition that this year will be held virtually from 1-3 May 2020.
GPC’s $15,000 sponsorship is set to be injected into local businesses that contribute to the event, ensuring they are supported during these unprecedented times, when their involvement may not have been possible otherwise.
Acting CEO Craig Walker said GPC funds were normally utilised to support the community event at Bray Park and local volunteer groups, but with the event going virtual for 2020, a new solution was proposed.
“We are so pleased to see our $15,000 sponsorship going directly into the pocket of some of our local businesses in the region,” Mr Walker said.
“We appreciate many small businesses are doing it tough and GPC cannot think of a better outcome for the funds this year.
“We look forward to boaties cruising the waterways and our beautiful harbour as part of Hook Up 2021.”
Boyne Tannum Hook Up president Jennifer McGuire said the virtual Hook Up allows people to sit at home in the safety of their house; no matter where they are in Australia or New Zealand and still participate.
“We are going to live feed the draws to Facebook and YouTube and the winners will be contacted to collect their prize once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted,” Ms McGuire said.
“As we started to work with the Hook Up sponsors on how this was all going to work it became very apparent that these businesses were suffering financially.
“So Hook Up applied to GPC to seek funding to help these fishing related local businesses to still provide their prizes for the virtual HookUp, allowing a great alignment between Australia’s biggest fishing competition and the Port of Gladstone to encourage family fishing.”
GPC’s $15,000 contribution will be spilt up between local businesses that provide prizes for the event including Gladstone Bicycles, Pat’s Tackleword, LJ’s Compleat Angler, Boyne Bait & Tackle and other local businesses.
The Boyne Tannum Hook Up will release details shortly on how to access the draws over the May Day long weekend.
