Member for New England Barnaby Joyce and the NSW Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall were present to officially open the 2019 National Youth Archery Championships be held at Armidale's Newling Park from Friday, April 12 to Thursday, April 18.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Afterwards Mr Joyce chatted on the future of the APVMA in Armidale, but in opening the event he was keen to acknowledge the contribution of local councils and especially the parents of the competitors to the event.
You don't get here by accident, you get here by hard work, and that's the same with everything else in life.
- Barnaby Joyce
"The local archery club here has done a great job too, and if you get the chance you should go out there, we have done a great job in upgrading the roads in recent years to get proper access to it," he said.
"You have got the weather with you and it is going to be a great tournament. I hope that in future years some of you will go on and represent your country in the Olympics, that would be an incredible compliment to yourself and your families."
He said the competitors were also to be complimented on getting to the nationals and wished them all a very good competition.
ALSO READ:
"You don't get here by accident, you get here by hard work, and that's the same with everything else in life," Mr Joyce said.
Mr Marshall congratulated the Armidale Archers for all the work it had done in the lead-up to the championships. He welcomed all of the competitors to the New England region.
"This is a great opportunity not only to compete but to hone your skills and progress through the various levels," Mr Marshall said.
"Also a great opportunity to meet new friends, and rekindle old friendships.
Mr Marshall said those friendships made through sporting competition like the archery competition would last for a lifetime.
Ahead of an expected visit from the Federal Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, sometime near the middle of next week, Mr Joyce said he thought it was too late for a new government to turn the project around now.
"They would have to build a new building in Canberra, they would have a vacant building worth $24 million in Armidale, they would have to pay for the relocation of around about 100 staff who are now here - they are just not going to do it," he said.
"What annoys me at times is that there are still people in our own local area who half support them taking it out. I just can't understand. Whether you love me politically, or can't stand me politically, APVMA is a great outcome for Armidale. It is our next step.
"After that we can start moving the chemical companies to be here and we can grow the city."
Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor.
