Mildura’s Commonwealth Games involvement must not be tokenistic

In case you missed it, the four host cities have been announced, and the usual suspects were selected: Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

Back when the idea to host the Commonwealth Games across regional Victoria was first pitched, all corners of the state were rightly excited.

Securing this event could spur massive investment throughout regional communities, and the opportunities were limitless.

Failing to hear Mildura name mentioned in this week’s press conference felt like being left out of a schoolyard pick.

Mildura’s exclusion from the list of host cities is profoundly disappointing.

The biggest disappointment is the lack of legacy projects that could have been provided to our region if we were selected.

Instead, the four cities picked as Athletes Villages will reap the rewards of improved housing availability and major sporting facility upgrades.

In the hours after the announcement, I had a long and frank discussion with Sports Minister Martin Pakula, and I passed on our community’s frustration.

I told him that regardless of the technical reasons at the Government’s end, the feeling of neglect is palpable in our community.

Mildura has a long history of being left out and let down again and again across decades.

However, as tough a pill as this is to swallow, now is not the time to be petulant, to grab our bat and ball and go home. We need to keep fighting.

Minister Pakula assured me that Mildura will be included in the Commonwealth Games in other ways and will provide further detail soon.

I want those things to be meaningful, not tokenistic.

Whether that’s in the form of pre-event training camps, cultural events in the leadup to the event, or indeed for a yet to be announced sport, Mildura is still in the minds of organisers.

But a Queens Baton Relay alone won’t be enough. I made that clear.