This week it was a great honour to represent CQUniversity as
we announced our new naming rights sponsorship agreement with the Cains Taipans.
For the past few years we have partnered with the Taipans by
way of the CQUniversity Taipans Academy. This is a great initiative that helps
to develop the sporting and professional careers of talented young basketball
players. Our partnership with the Taipans Academy has allowed some members to
play professionally with the Taipans and has also attracted some to explore
study opportunities at CQUniversity.
One such player is Shaun Bruce. Shaun progressed through the
Academy and is now playing professionally. On top of this, he is also studying
a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science with CQUni and is due to complete his program at
the end of the year. As part of the naming rights sponsorship deal we also look
forward to continuing our involvement with the Academy over the next season,
with a view to foster more interest in higher education among members of the
Taipans Academy, so they too can achieve what Shaun has been able to.
While a university might not necessarily seem like an
obvious choice to sponsor a sporting team I’m thrilled that CQUniversity was
given this opportunity. In fact CQUniversity has a proud history of showing
support for sport and sporting teams in central Queensland and further afield and
now it’s wonderful to get behind a North Queensland team and support the NBL.
What’s more following our announcement to staff and students earlier in the
week I received a lot of positive feedback about the partnership. One response
in particular, from a student studying in Bundaberg, really jumped out at me -
originally from Cairns she was delighted to hear that her university was now
sponsoring her basketball team.
Going forward I believe that this sponsorship deal will
allow CQUniversity to do a lot more within the local community, not just in
Cairns but in other regions as well. It’s also great to have the Taipans and
their supporters behind us as we plan further expansion in Far North Queensland
as the demand for our programs grows.
I’ve got a great feeling that this is going to be a really
good season for the CQUniversity Cairns Taipans and can’t wait for the first
game of the season to get underway in October. Go Taipans!
