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GAAWA
Return of GAA in Western Australia Gaelic games in Western Australia like all other sports in the State, has been in hibernation since our original start date in March 2020. Thanks to the success of health restrictions introduced 4 months ago, the State Government has authorised the return of full contact sport from June 6th which is a great result for all of us. The authorisation of full contact sport now means that all arms of GAAWA – Junior Academy, Minor Board, Hurling and Gaelic Football can now resume. On behalf of the Executive I would like to thank all of our Clubs, Sub-committees and supporters for their hard work in adapting to State Government guidelines since March and putting us in a position to return to playing the games we love, Go Raibh mile a Maith Agat.
JULY/AUGUST REPORT 2020
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2020 Season The 2020 GAAWA season will start on Saturday July 4th with 2 Hurling and Football games. At RA Cooke Reserve in Morley, Sarsfields will face Western Swans at 1:50pm with Perth Shamrocks facing St Gabriels at 2:50pm. At 4pm in Tom Bateman Reserve Canning Vale, Western Shamrocks will take on Morley Gaels with St Finbarrs facing Southern Districts at 5:30pm. Both the Ladies Football and Camogie will start later in July.
Broadcasting of GAA Games Western Australia is the only place in the world where GAA competitions are taking place. The Executive are delighted to announce that both football games on July 4th will be broadcast from Tom Bateman Reserve via Australasia GAA’s Youtube page. Please go to the following link www.youtube.com/channel/ UCMvpbIjSTFAwGJS3qtXUbtA or search ‘Australasia GAA’ on Youtube to access live coverage of the matches from 4pm AWST.
Gaelic Games Junior Academy Our fantastic GGJA started their season on June 21st last at their regular training pitch in HBF Stadium, Joondalup. The Academy have safety measures in place and welcome new members who would like to learn Hurling and Gaelic Football in a fun and safe atmosphere. Check out the Academy’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ GaelicGamesJuniorAcademyOfWa/ for further information.
Remembering The Irish & GAA communities in Western Australia have been visited by a lot of sadness over the last number of months, with the loss of much-loved members. Tony Kelly, Roseanna Neff, Frank McMahon & Jimmy Gorman have left a huge void in all of us but most especially those closest to them. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Kelly, Neff, McMahon & Gorman families & Tony’s, Roseanna’s, Frank’s and Jimmy’s wide circle of friends.
Richard ‘Richie’ Callaghan was a valued member of the Minor Board of GAAWA. Before arriving in Perth, he had a deep involvement with his club St Marys GFC Saggart. He represented St Marys both as a player and administrator serving on the Club Executive and as Chairman from 2005 to 2007. Under his watch, a hugely successful refurbishment of the clubhouse took place which saw the installation of the carpark, floodlights, downstairs bar and kitchen facilities, scoreboard and pitch fencing. Richard’s tenure as Chairman would see him develop an ambitious plan for the expansion and relocation of club facilities which reflected his own high standards of professionalism and vision for St Marys GFC. His fellow club man Diarmuid O’Loing brought Richie onto the GAAWA Minor Board in 2017.
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Little did we know then how lucky we were to have him. Richie was always available to coach, encourage and provide advice to any of us who sought it out. He served as a Minor selector from 2017 to 2019 being part of the backroom team that saw Western Australia return from Melbourne with the Australasian Minor Shield in 2018. He provided lifts for some of our players who would not have been in a position to train otherwise. In 2019 he was part of the coaching group who prepared a U14 team from Western Australia to travel to Feile in Ireland, the first such time a team from Australia or New Zealand had done so. February 2020 saw him submit an application on behalf of GAAWA to be a part of the new Subiaco East Development Project, an application that showed Richie’s vision for Gaelic Games in Western Australia. Richie’s passing on April 29th 2020 caused shock, disbelief and sadness for many of us who knew him both in Australia, Ireland and around the world. We will always be grateful for his involvement in GAAWA and he will never be forgotten. To his wife Fiona, sons Cathal, Enda, Antoinn, his mum Pat, sister Tish, brothers Jimmy, Johnny, Michael, Barry, Brian & Paul, in-laws, other relatives and his many friends we extend our deepest sympathies. Ar dheis De go Raibh an anam.
A Message from the Callaghan Family:
It is with sadness that due to the COVID restrictions in place during May that Richard’s many friends in Perth were unable to attend his memorial service before he was repatriated to Dublin. Richard’s wife Fiona, and 3 sons Cathal, Enda and Antoinn would like to thank everyone whose thoughts were with them at the time, either viewing the service via livestream or simply remembering him for his contribution to our community here in Perth. Richard is now laid to rest where he wanted to be, in The Heath, outside Portlaoise, alongside his father and sister, but his legacy will live on here in Perth, especially through the GAA in WA.
TOM MURPHY, SECRETARY GAELIC ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
GAAWA CLUB DETAILS
Football Clubs GREENWOOD Mens Senior Football greenwoodgfc@hotmail.com MORLEY GAELS Mens & Ladies Senior Football morleygaelsgfc@hotmail.com SOUTHERN DISTRICTS Mens & Ladies Senior Football southerndistrictsgaa@gmail.com ST. FINBARR’S Mens & Ladies Senior Football stfinbarrsgfc@outlook.com WESTERN SHAMROCKS Mens & Ladies Senior Football westernshamrocks@hotmail.com
Hurling Clubs ST. GABRIEL’S Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie stgabrielsperth@gmail.com WESTERN SWANS Mens & Ladies Senior Hurling & Camogie westernswansgaa@gmail.com PERTH SHAMROCKS Mens Senior Hurling perthshamrocks@gmail.com SARSFIELDS Mens Senior Hurling sarshurlingperth@gmail.com
Football: BGC Grounds, Tom Bateman Reserve Cnr Bannister & Nicholson Rds, Canning Vale Hurling: RA Cook Reserve, Coode St. Morley
HIGH RD NICHOLSON RD ROE HIGHWAY BANNISTER RD NICHOLSON RD < TO LEACH HWY WILFRED RD GAA GROUNDS
