Special Olympics Western Australia January 2013

Word from the West Pg. 1

SO,

2013 Young Australian of the Year

Akram Azimi

Akram Azimi (left) with West Coast Eagles captain, Darren

Glass and SOWA athlete Brad Osborne

Perth Metro North Region are seeking

new committee members

After many years of active service to Special Olympics in WA, the current Perth Metro North Committee have stepped down in their respective roles. The pivotal roles that they have maintained have been crucial in the delivery of the sporting programs for our athletes. We are now seeking a new enthusiastic, motivated team to oversee the stable region going in to 2013. The initial team would comprise of a Regional Chair and Regional Sports Coordinator who, with the support of the State Board and State Office will be actively involved in recruiting the remaining members of their Regional Committee. This committee will bring new skills and talents to complement the existing people who have a vast knowledge of Special Olympics Western Australia, its athletes, coaches, volunteers and its history Positions and Disciplines as per Special Olympics Australia Terms of Reference:

Chair

Vice Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

Athlete Representative

Sports Coordinator The proposed SO Perth Metro North will be comprised of members with skill sets from the following sectors:

Business and networking skills

Finance management or reporting

Contacts with generic sports clubs, disability organisations or schools for people with special needs

Good IT skills

Communication and Public Relations skills

Experience in planning, conducting sports activities

Other experience and skills beneficial to the operations of Special Olympics in the region.

An athlete elected by and representing the athletes

A person familiar with intellectual disability

A person with sports qualification or coaching accreditation

Please note the urgency of the formation of this new committee.

I encourage you to consider your involvement in this committee. For further information, or to nominate, please

follow link http://www.specialolympics.com.au/index.php/wa/regions

contact Di Bruce, State Manager at dib@specialolympics.com.au or phone 0410 866 532.

One of our very own, Akram Azimi has been awarded the honourary title of “2013 Young Australian of the Year”. Akram Azimi, 25, has been involved in our SOWA Athlete Leadership Program since its launch in 2011. Akram has mentored athlete Brad Osborne over the last two years, and both Akram and Brad recently graduated from the program.

Under the guidance of SOWA Chair, Richard Pengelley, Akram has spent five years working with True Blue Dreaming to mentor young indigenous people from WA's Kimberley region and in 2011 he co-founded a student-run initiative I am the Other that aims to share the nation's indigenous heritage with non-indigenous Australians. In addition to helping raising community awareness of disability issues as a result of his work with Special Olympics WA , Akram has also mentored primary school students in the small WA wheatbelt farming community of Wyalkatchem.

Recipient of the “2013 Young Australian of the Year”, Akram Azimi seen above graduating from the Athlete Leadership Program and receiving his certification from Dr. Fiona Wood, “2005 Australian of the Year” and SOWA Vice-Chair and Patron.

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

2012

Athlete Leadership Program

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Bulletin Board January 2013 Pg. 2

State of Origin 2013

3/4/5 May

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia

Special Olympics Western Australia will be extending an invitation to Special Olympics South Australia & SOWA athletes to attend the 2013 State of Origin being held in Kalgoorlie.

SPORTS ON OFFER Aquatics Athletics Basketball Cricket Golf Gymnastics Soccer Softball Lawn bowls (offered to tenpin bowlers)

Thursday pm: Registration Friday: Goldfields sightseeing tours Friday evening: Opening Ceremony Saturday : Competition Saturday night: Dinner and Disco Sunday : Sport & Closing Ceremony

Registration: $250.00 per athlete (Plus travel from Perth)

For athletes and officials interested in attending the weekend of sport and comradery, please complete the attached form and return along with deposit by 28 February 2013 to;

SOWA State of Origin Challenge PO Box 207, Woodvale, WA, 6026 Or dib@specialolympics.com.au

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, initiative courses and Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

SPORTS ON OFFER Aquatics Athletics Basketball Cricket Golf Gymnastics Soccer Softball Tenpin Bowling Equestrian

The State Games will be the qualifying event for

the 2014 National Games being held in Melbourne, Victoria

Put the date in your diaries and await more information in coming months……….

Teams will be accommodated at the Goldfields Camp School. The annual event will include a weekend of competition; social functions; sightseeing and friendship. Selected athletes will be invited to attend to compete in an individual and a team sport.

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

Bulletin Board January 2013 Pg. 3

2013 Junior Membership

http://clubsonline.dsr.wa.gov.au/kidsport

Renewals for 2013 Special Olympics membership has now been either emailed or posted to you. If your child is a junior and you qualify, the membership could be covered by Kidsport. What are the eligible criteria? Applicant must be aged 5-18 years. Applicant must have a Health Care Card or Pension Concession Card or be referred by a 'recognised' referral agent. Applicant's primary place of residence must be in the local government area they are applying to Funding will cover the cost of fees to join the nominated sport or recreation club (this may include other related costs as identified by the club.) Maximum of up to $200 per child per calendar year. Fees are only for the nominated registered season. Uniforms

For all enquiries about registering your child for Special Olympics WA and Kidsport, please contact Di Bruce at

dib@specialolympics.com.au or 9321 3207

Asia-Pacific Games Officials Selection

The inaugural Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games are being held in December 2013 in Newcastle, NSW. The event will see Australia welcome more than 1,700 Special Olympics athletes, 600 coaches, 4,000 volunteers, and approximately 200,000 spectators from 25 nations across the Asia Pacific region. The sports on offer include; Aquatics; Athletics; Basketball; Tenpin Bowling; Cricket; Football and Table Tennis. In addition to the sports, officials roles required to complete our team include; Head of Delegation (HoD); Assistant Head of Delegation (AHoD); Sports Team Manager; Team Support Staff; Medical personnel; Team counsellor/psychologist; Team Physiotherapist Applications for team officials for the Australian Asia Pacific Games team are now open. Click here for details on the list of the positions, duty statements, code of conduct and links to apply online. For any enquiries, do not hesitate to contact Di Bruce, SOWA State Manager at dib@specialolympics.com.au

2013 Sanitarium Weetbix TRYathlon

Sunday 28 April, 2013

Langley Park If you are a Special Olympics athlete aged between 7-15 years, you could be part of an exclusive team to take part in the 2013 Sanitarium Weet-bix TRYathlon, the world’s largest triathlon of its kind. Entry fee is free thanks to our charity partners Bupa who will support athletes to participate at the Perth event through the Bupa Heroes Program. Selected athletes will take part in a swim, cycle and run that has been modified to allow youth with disabilities to participate. Just like Special Olympics, the TRYathlon is all about getting fit and having fun. And everyone gets a medal! Numbers are limited, so if you are interested in being part of the Bupa Heroes team, or for further enquiries, please contact;

Lesley Poole on 0416 465 870 or email at;

lesleypoole19@hotmail.com

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

Date Event Sport Venue

5th February SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

2nd March WADSA Tenpin Bowling Championships Tenpin Bowling Superbowl Warwick

9th March WADSA Track & Field Championships Athletics Athletics WA Stadium

10th March Athlete Leadership Program Training ALPs St George’s College

12th March SOWA AGM

Department of Sport & Recreation 246 Vincent St, Leederville

15th March Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-sport Bunbury

22nd March Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-sport Armadale

5th April Canberra Centenary Aquatics

Championships Aquatics Canberra

12th April Community Sports-Link Skills Day Soccer Perth Metro North

28th April Sanitarium Weetbix TRYathlon Juniors Langley Park, Perth

3/4/5 May SOWA State of Origin Challenge Multi-sport Kalgoorlie, WA

10th May Community Sports-Link Skills Day Soccer Perth Metro South

11th May Athlete Leadership Program Training ALPs St George's College

14th May SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

4 - 11 June Football Week Soccer Football West

7th June Community Sports-Link Football

Tournament Soccer Football West

14th June Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-sport Broome

2nd July SOWA Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

25th July Community Sports-Link Skills Day Cricket Perth Metro North

Calendar of events February to July 2013

Bulletin Board November 2012 Pg. 5

Bulletin Board November 2012 Pg. 3

November 2012 Pg. 3

SOWA Calendar

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

LUKE SIMPKINS MP Federal Member for Cowan,