Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

SOWA State Games

Athlete Leadership Program

Special Olympics Western Australia September 2012

SO,

Faces of the Games

.

P P SOWA Athlete George Harwood

Sports

Word from the West Pg. 1

72 athletes from Perth, Kalgoorlie, Albany and Esperance

converged at the Landsdale Farm School for the Opening Ceremony

of the 2012 State Games for Athletics; Aquatics; Equestrian and

Softball. The overnight camp was capped with performances from

soloist Jake Sartori and dance troupe “Sparkle and Shine”.

On the following day, the fierce competition at the sporting venues

was a testament to the training and direction the sports coaches have

dedicated to the athletes over the year.

With the phenomenal support of coaches/team support/volunteers

from SOWA, Volunteers WA, RDAWA and Swimming WA, a

great weekend was had by all.

L Left: Jack Caughey, Kalgoorlie at Athletics

Left: Andrea Penny at Softball Below: Michelle Bennett with

performer Jake Sartori at the Opening Ceremony

Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

Santa Maria College

For the second year, the Year 9 O’Reilly Homeroom from Santa

Maria College organised a multi-sport Ribbon Day for 55 students

from neighbouring schools. The day was well supported by

Auskick and Tennis WA and with skills in basketball and soccer.

Santa Maria highlighted the event with a Special Olympics Hands

of Friendship montage with all participating students leaving their

handprint on the day. A huge thanks to Santa Maria for their

continued support.

FF

Joondalup Cricket Skills Day

.

O

Community Sports-Link Program September 2012 Pg. 2

On SOWA hosted a Cricket Skills Day in September at Joondalup. 70

students from Creaney and Joondalup ESC attended and thoroughly

enjoyed the morning of developing cricket skills and learning more

about cricket. The day was hosted by Joondalup/Kinross Cricket

Champs Club and supported by volunteers from both the WACA

and Cricket Champs. The highlight of the day was meeting

Australian cricket legend Tom Moody who assisted on the day.

Thanks to all for a great day.

Students from Creaney & Joondalup Ed Support Centres enjoyed the Cricket Champs Skills Day with support from the WACA, Joondalup/Kinross Club and Australian cricket legend Tom Moody.

T The Special Olympics Hands of Friendship montage was proudly

dis displayed at the end of the Santa Maria College multi-sport t Rib Ribbon Day. Skills in Australian Rules Football, Tennis, Soccer and Basketball was enjoyed by all.

Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

Midvale Ribbon Day

Endeavour ESC Ribbon Day

A crowd of 150 eager students from Malibu, Koorana,

Endeavour, Halls Head and Rockingham Beach came together

to experience a mini Olympics at a recent Ribbon Day. The rain

and wind did not dampen the spirits of so many children

experiencing the sports of cricket, athletics, football, netball and

tabloid sports and gaining insight in to Special Olympics.

Thanks to Endeavour ESC for hosting us and we hope to see

you next year!

Basketball State Games

Friday 2 November

6pm to 8pm

Joondalup Arena

$10 per player

Tenpin Bowling State Games

Saturday 10 November

9am to 4pm

Superbowl Warwick

$30 for one event

$50 for two events

"Special Olympics WA State Games 2012” for Basketball

and Tenpin Bowling will be held on the 2nd and 10th

November respectively.

Registration Forms have already been distributed to

members, however if you did not receive one, please

contact the office on 9309 4003, leave a message, and one

will be sent out to you. We would like to see as many of

you there as possible, so please get those forms in.

To qualify for a chance of selection for the Asia-Pacific

games in Newcastle next year, you must have participated

in these games. For Bowlers, you must compete in at least

the Singles event."

Students from Kalamunda Primary School Education Support

Centre celebrated the Olympic Year at a Special Olympics

Community-Sports Link Ribbon Day at Swan Park Recreation

Centre. The day commenced with an Olympic march followed

by skills in Soccer, Basketball, Swimming and Cricket. The day

was hugely supported from our friends from Ajilon, Football

West, WACA, Basketball WA and Royal Life Saving Society of

WA. Thanks to Mrs Craig whose unlimited energy and

enthusiasm ensured a great day.

EKS Award

The EKS Award is an annual award presented to a Special

Olympics athlete who has shown great leadership skills. This

award is presented on EKS Day in honour of Special Olympics

founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

SOWA athlete, Russel Nelligan, also known as ‘Rusty’, has been

involved with Special Olympics for over 28 years and has

reached the pinnacle of competition, but it his positive attitude,

passion for Special Olympics and advanced leadership qualities

that have inspired his winning of the 2012 EKS Award. Well

done Rusty!

Community Sports-Link Program September 2012 Pg. 3

L to R: Mark Dodd

(mentor), Luke Towers (ALPS Coordinator), Rusty Nelligan and City of Wanneroo Mayor, Tracey Roberts at the Closing Ceremony of the State Games when Rusty was presented with his EKS Award.

Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

Bulletin Board September 2012 Pg. 4

“ S O C e l e b r a t e s 2 0 1 2 ”

Special Olympics Western Australia members are cordially

invited to come and join in the celebrations to recognise the

achievements of Special Olympics Western Australia in 2012:

Junior National Games Team Farewell

Special Olympics Western Australia State Awards

Class of 2012 Athlete Leadership Program Graduation

Trans-Tasman Team of 2012

Wednesday 5 December

5pm to 7pm

Old Observatory Grounds

4 Havelock St, West Perth

RSVP: Jenny Loftus at jennl@specialolympics.com.au

or phone 9321 3207 by

Wednesday 14th

November, 2012

Please note than numbers are limited, so to avoid disappointment,

please RSVP as soon as possible.

V o l u n t e e r R o l e

BASKETBALL HEAD COACH After 8 years of service to SOWA, Julie Williams will be stepping

down from her role as Head Coach of the Joondalup Basketball

program.

The role requires some experience in basketball, however past

coaching experience is not crucial. To ensure a quality sports

program all of our coaches are accredited by the relevant National

Sports Organisation and we can assist with obtaining

accreditation.

You will need to commit to weekly coaching sessions during the

months of March through to November, as well as travelling to

competition intrastate, interstate or overseas.

For further details, please contact Julie Williams on 9409 5171.

V o l u n t e e r R o l e V o l V o l u n t e e r R o l e

“ S O W A A w a r d s 2 0 1 2 ”

The achievements of Special Olympics Western Australia

members will be recognised at the end of the year “SO

Celebrates 2012” occasion.

Coordinators of the evening are currently seeking nominations

for the following categories;

SOWA Athlete of the Year

SOWA Junior Athlete of the Year

SOWA Volunteer of the Year

Nominations will be processed through the SOWA State

Selection Committee and decisions will be final.

The criteria for nominees include;

Award recipient must be a current registered

athlete/volunteer of SOWA

Award recognition is for the period of January to October

2012

Made a significant contribution to the organisation through

sport or coaching

Acted as a role model or advocate for other athletes with a

disability in the community

Shown all qualities in accordance with the expectations of

the Special Olympics Code of Conduct and in agreeance

with the spirit and intent of the Code

Nomination forms will be distributed to all members for

completion, and can also be found online. Forms are to be

forwarded to SOWA State Office at

dib@specialolympics.com.au or posted to PO Box 207,

Woodvale, WA 6026. Deadline for nominations is Wednesday

14th

November, 2012.

For noting

1) Please note your diaries the cancellation of the

anticipated Muscle versus Machine 2012 at the IGA

Royal Show.

2) Please also note that if an email address was provided

with contact details on registration for Special

Olympics Western Australia, future correspondence

will be via the provided email address. For members

that do not have an electronic option, hard copies of

all communication will be forwarded to coaches for

distribution.

3) If you require any amendments to your registration

details, do not hesitate to contact SOWA State Office

with the relevant changes.

Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

V o l u n t e e r R o l e

FOOTBALL (SOCCER) ASSISTANT COACH

With support from sporting partner Football West, SOWA

is seeking an Assistant Football Coach to develop a Special

Olympic program on a weekly basis. The candidate must

be energetic and keen on working with people who want to

learn and enjoy themselves. The candidate must either have

a Football (soccer) Grassroots Qualification or be willing to

undergo the course. With a robust dual competition

pathway at a local, state, national and international level

with Special Olympics and Football West, the opportunities

for an enthusiastic assistant coach will ensure reward and

enjoyment.

For any further queries, or for interested parties, contact:

Gordon Duus | Inclusive Development Officer

Football West

Tel: 08 9422 6914 Mobile: 0410 659 422

Email: gordond@footballwest.com.au

2 0 1 3 A s i a P a c i f i c G a m e s

Earlier this year Special Olympics Australia announced that Newcastle, Australia had won the bid to host the Inaugural Asia Pacific Games in December 2013. Australia will be sending a team with athletes competing in the following sports: Athletics, Aquatics, Basketball, and Tenpin Bowling. Athletes from across Australia will be selected from State games that have been identified as qualifying events. In Western Australia they are:

Basketball – 2nd November, 2012 Tenpin Bowling – 10th November, 2012 Athletics, Aquatics – 29/30 September 2012

Selection Criteria for Asia Pacific games will be;

All registered members are eligible for selection

Must be over the age of 16 for selection

Records reflecting ongoing training and competition and registered on our data base

Results from the nominated qualifying events

Information relating to the upcoming games will be made available in future newsletters

Bulletin Board September 2012 Pg. 5

A t h l e t e L e a d e r s h i p P r o g r a m 2 0 1 3

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST “Together We Succeed”

ALPs encourage and support athletes to channel athlete’s

confidence through public speaking, community

engagement, working on committees and acting as

ambassadors.

Special Olympics Western Australia (SOWA) is

continuing the Athlete Leadership Program in 2013 and

offering this opportunity to our members. As part of the

Program, the Athlete will receive training from mentors

from the student body of the University of Western

Australia and under the guidance of ALPs Coordinator,

Luke Towers.

The Special Olympic Ambassadors will be the voice and

face of our Athletes, with the State Board and Regional

committees seeking advice and opinions on sporting

programs, competition pathways and innovations with all

opinions valued.

If you are interested in being considered for this Program,

please contact Luke Towers at luke_towers@hotmail.com

to receive a copy of the Expressions of Interest form to be

completed before 31st October.

Telephone (08) 9321 3207 Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au

SOWA Calendar

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

OCTOBER

8th Oct - 12th Oct SOWA SO Trans-Tasman Competition Cairns, Qld

13th Oct - 14th Oct Basketball Ivor Burge Trials Perry Lakes

19th

Oct State Board Cricket Skills Day Mandurah

24th Oct SOWA

2013 Calendar Planning evening

DSR 6pm to 9pm

26th Oct State Board Ribbon Day Herb Graham Rec Ctr, Mirrabooka

30th Oct State Board Board Meeting SOWA Office 4/1321 Hay St, West Perth

NOVEMBER

1st Nov State Board Ribbon Day Ray Owen Rec Centre, Lesmurdie

2nd Nov Basketball Basketball State Games Venues West, Joondalup

3rd Nov Soccer Development Squad Training Gibbney Reserve Maylands 11.45am to 12.30pm

8th Nov - 11th Nov Gymnastics Gymnastics WA State Championships Gymnastics W.A.

10th Nov Tenpin Bowling Tenpin Bowling State Games Superbowl Warwick

14th Nov State Board Ribbon Day Christchurch Grammar School

27th Nov Tenpin Bowling Season ends Super bowl Warwick

DECEMBER

2nd Dec Basketball Everybody’s Game Basketball Tournament Basketball WA Stadium

3rd Dec State Board International Day of People with Disabilities

5th Dec State Board "SO Celebrates 2012" The Old Observatory, West Perth, 5pm to 7pm

5th Dec - 7 Dec SOWA Special Olympics Junior National Games Newcastle, NSW

11 Dec State Board State Board Meeting SOWA State Office 4/1321 Hay St, West Perth

2012 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WESTERN AUSTRALIA CALENDAR

JAN OCTOBER to DECEMBER

LUKE SIMPKINS MP Federal Member for Cowan,