Australian energy utility firm Country Energy will be the new Naming Rights Sponsor for Ironman Australia, to be held in Port Macquarie on Sunday 5 April 2009.
Operating under the slogan, ‘We live here too’, Country Energy manages Australia’s largest energy supply network across 95% of New South Wales. The 2009 Ironman Australia event will now be known as Country Energy Ironman Australia, presented by Supercraft.
Country Energy Managing Director, Craig Murray said the company is committed to strengthening regional communities through investment in the local network and jobs, and supporting regional events which have a positive impact on the local community.
“Although we’ve been involved in Ironman since its arrival in Port Macquarie in 2006, we saw this [naming rights sponsorship] as a fantastic opportunity to boost our support for an event which brings the community together and pumps up to A$8 million into the local economy each year.
“In 2008, our employees in the Port Macquarie area raised over A$15,000 for local charities – because ‘we live here too’ – and we look forward to boosting that local support with fundraising efforts for KIDS Foundation as part of our sponsorship of Ironman Australia”, Murray added.
IMG Director of Athletics & Fitness, Dallas O’Brien, acknowledged the tremendous support of Country Energy, Events NSW and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. “As we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ironman Australia in 2010, it’s very heartening to receive this ongoing support from the government and business community. We see Country Energy as the ideal Naming Rights Sponsor. Like the Ironman event, Country Energy have a strong focus on local community involvement and, combined with the state and local government support, our sport is in a very good position.”
