SO, Word from the WEST April 2013

The Lions “Children of Courage” awards recently acknowledged SOWA athletes that

participated in the Special Olympics Junior National Games in basketball. The

morning was held at the Pan-Pacific Hotel and was thoroughly enjoyed by athletes

and families that attended. Coach Tim Breadmore and Manager Heather Tonkin, both

from Mirrabooka Senior High School Special Education Support Centre supported

Sam Rector, Emilie Davies, Htoo Bar Kyan, Min Thon Ser and Airon Kitching. Players

were awarded as a team and each player received a medallion and a framed

certificate. Thanks to Lions and congratulations to the 2012 Junior National Team.

SOWA

Welcomes,

Farewells,

Thanks and

Congratulates…

2012 Junior National Team

Proudly supported by

SO, Word from the West April 2013

SO Perth Metro-South

This month will see the commencement of

Special Olympics Western Australia’s

second region, “Special Olympics Perth

Metro South”. Led by chair Yvonne Timson

(left) with a skilled committee of volunteers,

the new region will oversee the Tenpin

Bowling, Gymnastics and Basketball

programs in the region. With exciting

developments planned for the southern

corridor, the new region will complement the current region, “Perth Metro North”.

Yvonne Timpson (Chair):

Yvonne is a HR senior manager and practitioner

with 20 years experience across the UK and

Australia. Currently working for Therapy Focus,

a not-for-profit organisation providing therapy

and support services to Western Australian

children and young people with a disability or

learning disadvantage.

A mother of two young boys and a women's

college football player (soccer) in her younger

days, Yvonne is also currently studying a post

grad diploma in Applied Corporate

Governance.

Canberra Centenary Aquatics Championships

Kalgoorlie Softballers Cocker Park Football

Kicks Off! It may only be the Kalgoorlie Tigers

first season as a unified softball team,

but that did not stop them making to

the grand final in the recent

competition help in Kalgoorlie. The

tournament saw 5 teams compete for

the title of ‘champions’. The newly

unified team was made up of the

following Special Olympics WA

athletes; Peter Harman, Liam

McAtackney, Jamie Jones, James

Mckindley-Henley, Damian Davidson,

Jaydan Williams. The team made it all

the way to the grand final, however

they only just lost, making them take

second place overall.

(Picture to the left)

A new football (soccer) program

has commenced at Coker Park in

Cannington. The ongoing

program will see interested

players improve and develop

skills in Football that will assist

their game and provide

competition opportunity. The

Coker Park program

complements the new Mullaloo Football program, and both

development clinics will provide

choices and opportunities for the

players.

(Picture to the left)

Eleven swimmers and four officials just returned from competing at the

Canberra Centenary Aquatics Championships held at the Australian

Institute of Sport. A couple of highlights were:

• Inclusion of the SOPMN swimmers in the Law Enforcement Torch Run

• Gold for two 4 x 50m Freestyle Relays - SOWA PMN Relay Teams 1 & 2

• Coach Bob Tarr won the swim off between Coaches, HODs’ & Carers

The four days away was capped with a tour around the National’s capital and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Thanks to Kathy Holloway for all of her hard work as the Head of

Delegation and to Margaret Bush

for her support.

SO, Word from the West April 2013

- Peter Furnell

- Kasey Reynolds

- Blake Veaney

- Lisa Adamson

- Justin De Florencas

- Jamie Jones

- Liam MaAtackney

- Ella Pardy

- Jessica Te Ngaio

- Bradley Turner

- Louise Whait

- Erin Wood

- Greg Carstens

- Sherree Kelly

- Stephen Sked

2013 Asia-Pacific Games Team

Announcement Special Olympics Western Australia is proud to announce the selection of 30 players plus team support to compete

at the upcoming Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games in Newcastle NSW. Our athletes will compete in Athletics;

Aquatics; Basketball; Football and Ten pin Bowling. The ten day games will include a pre-camp, the participation

of 1700 athletes with support from 600 coaches and officials and 4000 volunteers from 30+ countries from the Asia-

Pacific corridor.

This is the inaugural Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games and promises to be a life changing experience.

Congratulations to the following athletes on making Team Australia:

- Tracey Northcott

- Christopher Willers

- Adam Blair

- Hayden Claessens

- George Harwood

- Jason Kappler

- Lynette Kinrade

- Christopher Minutillo

- Darren Reilly

- Wayne Batchelor

- Gregory Black

- Thomas Doering

- Joanne Holden

- Luke Johnson - Felicity Bromilow

SO, Word from the West April 2013

The Community Sport-Link Program for 2013 kicked off in great success this month at Herb Graham Recreation

Centre in Mirrabooka with a Soccer Skills Day.

Over 60 students from Mirrabooka Senior High School; Mercy College and Durham Road

spent the morning developing skills, learning the art of ball handling and kicking, and

concluded the day with a game.

The event was supported by Gordon Duus (Football

West) and Jamie Harnwell (Perth Glory). Thanks guys!

Well done also to one of SOWA's newest recruits;

Madonna Blyth for the successful start to the 2013

Community Sports-Link calendar. SOWA looks forward to

seeing what other great events Madonna and the team

have planned for the year. Keep an eye out for the next

CSL event in your area!

CSL 2013 launches at Herb Graham Centre, Mirrabooka

On Sunday 28 April, 5 Special Olympic athletes competed in

the Sanitarium Weetbix TRYathlon at Langley Park. Athletes

Chris Minutillo; Anna Robins; Isaac Ponga; Max Letizia and

Josh Elliott were supported by SOWA

coach Lesley Poole and Bupa staff in the

three disciplines of run, swim and

cycle. The gruelling TRYathlon started with a swim in the

Swan River, followed by a bike ride and concluded with a

long run along Riverside Drive. The day was a phenomenal

opportunity for our athletes to participate alongside the

thousands of other children on the day. Thanks to

Sanitarium and to Bupa for their ongoing support and to

coach Lesley Poole for her commitment early on a Sunday

morning! L: Chris Minutillo

R: Isaac Ponga, Max Letizia & Bupa Trouper Sam

SO Athletes TRY hard Sanitarium

Weetbix

TRYathlon

Song and

Lindsay

take on

Macau

SOWA golfer Song Ng and team support Lindsay Murphy spent 5 days in Macau competing at the SO Asia Pacific

Golf Masters. Song and Lindsay joined 5 other golfers

from Victoria, Queensland and ACT.

40 representatives

from Special

Olympics Austria,

UK, South Africa &

the Asia-Pacific

competed.

Kate Wilson from SOQld was awarded the “Female Golfer of the Tournament”. The trip also included sightseeing of

the Portuguese ruins and Macau.

Congratulations to Song and Lindsay for doing an

outstanding job representing SOWA.

SO, Word from the West April 2013 Special

Olympics

Western

Australia

A new Special Olympics football (soccer)

program will be commencing in April at the Coker Park in Cannington. With support from

Football West and under the supervision of Gordon Duus,

players of all abilities are welcome to participate.

Players aged 8yrs-16yrs

13th April

11th/25th May

29th June

20th July

17th August

10:00am – 11:00am

Coker Park, Cannington

SOWA State Games 2013

11/12/13 October

Pinjarra, Western Australia

The annual State Games weekend will be held in October in the Shire of Murray. Teams will be

accommodated at Fairbridge Village.

http://www.fairbridge.asn.au/

The weekend of activity will include sports, entertainment and Opening and Closing

Ceremonies.

ALL SOWA SPORTS WILL BE ON OFFER

The State Games will be the qualifying

event for the 2014 National Games being

held in Melbourne, Victoria

All athletes must be registered to

participate, so if you haven’t renewed your

membership, get your registrations in AS

SOON AS POSSIBLE to qualify.

Put the date in your diaries and await more

information in coming months……….

2013 WA STATE GAMES VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

11/12/13th October 2013

Pinjarra

Volunteers are required in the following fields:

- Volunteer Coordinator - Media/Communications Officer - Medical Officer - Accommodation Coordinator - Transport/Logistics Coordinator

For full job descriptions and to apply follow the link

http://www.specialolympics.com.au/index.php/wa/volunteers

SO, Word from the West April 2013

Proudly printed by:

Mr. LUKE SIMPKINS

Federal Member for Cowan

DATE EVENT SPORTS VENUE

MAY

2/3/4/5th SOWA State of Origin Challenge Multi-Sport Kalgoorlie, WA

10th Community Sports-Link Skills Day Soccer LeisureLife Centre, Vic Park

11th Athlete Leadership Program Training ALP's St George's College

14th SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

JUNE

4th-11th Football Week Soccer Football West

7th Community Sports-Link Football Tournament Soccer NIB Stadium

14th Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport Broome

16th Everybody's Game Tournament Basketball Basketball WA Stadium

21st Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport Armadale Recreation Centre

28th Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport

Southwest Rec Centre,

Bunbury

JULY

2nd SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

25th Community Sports-Link Skills Day Cricket Joondalup Arena

AUGUST

1st Community Sports-Link Skills Day Cricket Murdoch University

6th SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

10/11th Bunbury Regional Tournament Tenpin Bowling Bunbury

10/11th RDAWA Training Weekend Equestrian RDAWA

16th TMA Sports Lunch

Hyatt Regency Hotel

17th Athlete Leadership Program Training ALP's St George's College

SEPTEMBER

17th Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

19th Community Sports-Link Cricket Carnival Day Cricket WACA

22nd EKS Day

29th Everybody’s Game Tournament Basketball Basketball WA Stadium

OCTOBER

11/12/13 SOWA State Games ALL Pinjarra

22nd Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

31st Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport Kwinana Recquatic Centre