Going for Gold – $2.8m to update sporting facilities

Radiant Life College in Innisfail has been granted significant funding as part of the second round of the Go for Gold Fund.

This support will be used to transform the school’s oval and sporting infrastructure into a state-of-the-art facility complete with a running track encircling a football field, change rooms and toilets, and a strength and conditioning room.

Radiant Life College was one of 17 schools to be selected out of over 700 applicants across Queensland for the second round of Go for Gold funding.

Principal Nathanael Edwards expressed gratitude for the grant, noting its invaluable impact on enhancing education and sporting opportunities for First Nations students in the Far North.

“Located in a regional area, we can get overlooked in some respects, but this time our local member has supported us in this journey,” he said.

According to Mr Edwards, Member for Hill Shane Knuth was vocal in his support for Radiant Life College’s application for Go for Gold funding.

“Mr Knuth knows and supports the school community, and we thank him for his partnership in our desire to create not just a learning space for our students but an opportunity for sporting activities that will bring the greater community together,” Mr Edwards said.

“We are also very grateful to Minister Dianne Farmer and her department for selecting Radiant Life College as a recipient of the Go for Gold Fund Round 2.

“We know that the social impacts of this sporting facility upgrade will be long-lasting and generational.”

According to Mr Edwards, engaging First Nations youngsters in sports and physical education has significant short- and long-term benefits in education, teamwork, and physical and mental wellbeing.

“We know that sports is key for First Nations communities,” Mr Edwards said.

“It’s a place that kids feel safe and their communities can get behind them and support them.

“Radiant Life College started off humbly and we have grown steadily, and this grant will go a long way in supporting us to continue that growth.”

Member for Hill Shane Knuth said it was a great honour to have been part of the journey seeing Radiant Life College come from humble beginnings to where the school is today.

“Radiant Life have earned the faith of the Department of Education and ministers past and present,” he said.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to Minister Farmer and the department for providing this funding, and a big congratulations to Radiant Life College for their passion and determination to see the quality of kids’ lives improved.”

The upgrade will bring world-class facilities to the region, benefiting not only the school’s students but also the broader Innisfail community.

The new sporting infrastructure will provide opportunities to foster athletic excellence and inspire the next generation of sports stars, particularly within First Nations communities.

Cassowary Coast Councillor Renee McLeod said this funding would have a positive impact on the community.

“This is so good for our community and the whole Cassowary Coast region,” she said.

“I congratulate Radiant Life College and Principal Edwards on securing this Go for Gold funding.”

Councillor Nicholas Pervan also offered his congratulations.

“This opportunity is great for the community – and the jobs it is creating just for this small region alone will have significant economic benefits,” Cr Pervan said.

This significant investment highlights the commitment to supporting regional schools and promoting equitable opportunities for all students to achieve greatness, both in the classroom and on the field.

With the recent Paris Olympic Games and the impending Paralympic Games, the Go for Gold Fund Round 2 shows investment in the next generation of star athletes, who may no longer have to travel south to pursue their goals.

Radiant Life College extends its deepest gratitude to the Go for Gold Fund for this opportunity to uplift the local community through education and sport.