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Welcome to the Blues Informer. We W h hope you allll enjoy j the h new monthly hl newsletter l that h is i to assist i in i the communication to all Regions, Volunteers, Athletes & Parents within NSW. We hope you look forward to receiving this newsletter each month.
SHOALHAVEN WELCOMES YOU Shoalhaven City Council Mayor, Councillor Paul Green together with Special Olympics NSW Board Chairperson Peter Wren will, on Thursday 8 December announce the Special Olympics NSW 2012 State Games will be held in the Shoalhaven from Friday 27 April – Sunday 29. Special Olympics is a global organisation, featuring in 189 countries throughout the world and provides on-going sporting opportunities, for people with an intellectual disability. Special Olympics Australia has grown to over 5,500 regular participating athletes. In NSW, there are currently 18 regions offering Special Olympics programs across a range of sports that caters for almost 2,000 athletes. From April 27 – 29 Special
Olympics approximately 400 athletes will descend into the Shoalhaven to compete in the State Games, to compete in Football, Basketball, Swimming, Tennis and Golf. The athletes will be treated to an Olympic-type experience with and opening and closing ceremony, medals, gala dinner and memories to treasure. Mr Wren said the Shoalhaven community are encouraged to come along and watch some fantastic sport and talented athletes. “The Special Olympics athletes train and compete just as hard as mainstream athletes – but with more smiles!. We are really excited to be coming to the Shoalhaven area, it is a lovely place and we will showcase how sport can improve the lives of the
intellectually disabled” “Leading up to the games there will be promotion in the area of where all the action can be seen and I am sure the Shoalhaven community will welcome Special Olympics and help us put on a fantastic games” “There will be opportunities for the community to be involved in a variety of volunteer roles and I assure that this will be a truly rewarding experience” Mr Wren added. For your accommodation enquiries, please contact the Shoalhaven Visitor Centre www.shoalhaven. nsw.gov.au Cnr Princes Highway & Pleasant Way Nowra, NSW 2541 Toll Free: 1300 662 808
The beautiful Shoalhaven River
Cruising the Shoalhaven River
The Shoalhaven War Memorial
Special Olympics NSW - SOP Golf Centre, 1 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park - Tel: 02 8889 3606 | Fax: 02 8889 3615
NSW BOARD MEMBERS Peter Wren Chairman
Michael Frost Adam Bannon Dipen Dhruv
Ange Clarke
Mike Williamson
Trin Taber
Mary Greig
Brig Lorenz
Ellena Morris
Secretary
Board Member
Board Member
ALPS Coordinator
Sports Coordinator
Board Member
Board Member
Vice Chairman
Treasurer
Each month we will do a story on each NSW Board member and this week we speaking with, Whilst I have only been Adam Bannon weeks later for the posiassociated with Special tion of Secretary on the Secretary SONSW SO NSW Board, in which I Olympics for a short period of time, I identified quite was excited to apply and subsequently be appointed early that it is a fast growI became aware of Special in June 2011. ing organisation. I see a Olympics whilst attending a positive future for Special My job away from Special Roosters v Manly NRL game Olympics is working in Olympics, especially within at the SFS in Round 2, 2011. NSW, including a greater a Policy/Project capacAs part of SO involvement in ity at the NSW Disability opportunity for athlete the Roosters Charity Nest, Council, which is an official competition in a growSO Athletes and Volunteers ing number of sports and advisory body to the NSW were at the SFS showcasing Government. The primary participating regions. I the different sports athletes purpose of the NSW Dislook forward to my future take part in as well as paability Council is to provide involvement in Special rading in front of the crowd. quality advice to GovernOlympics NSW, and I am After watching the Mighty ment and promote a posi- thankful for the opportuEagles upset the Roosters tive vision of the future for nity to be apart of what is I went home and did a bit a motivating and inspiring all people with disability. of Googling relating Special The latter not dissimilar organisation. Olympics in Australia. This to what I see as Special led to me stumbling across Olympics provide for the and advertisement several athletes. athl at hlettes es.
NSW Regional Growth - North Coast t ffor allll by b providing idi caters meaningful sports programs delivered within a supportive environment where people with an intellectual disability are accepted and can feel proud.
We are expanding our regions further north to Coffs Harbour
SPECIAL Olympics NSW is developing a new region, looking to address the sporting needs of intellectually disabled people on the Coffs Coast from Nambucca right up to Grafton. The new region will be called Special Olympics North Coast with an aim to the program beginning up and running in early 2012.
A forum is being held at the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club this Monday, December 5 at 7PM, with interested members of the public invited to come down and hear more about the worldwide movement. Neville Bajzath, Special Olympics regional manager NNSW said whatever the motivation, the program
“Our aim is to begin on the North Coast with ten pin bowling, swimming and football, moving to myriad of sports in the future,” Mr Bajzath said. “One of the aspects of this forum is to find out what sports people are interested in, and find or organise to train accredited coaches for the program.”
From the Chair Peter Wren Regions please be aware that the NSW office is there to support you. Do you require assistance sourcing volunteers for your region (coaches, committee members, helpers etc)? Do you need help to secure a venue? Whatever your region’s need, please call Jo and she will forward the request to the appropriate staff member to help you. December is the start of work on our multi sport State Games in April 2012. There will be a press release and photo opportunity in the local Shoalhaven paper to kick start local interest. More information will come out in the new year, so start planning for the weekend of sport and fun now. GOC Sub Committee: The NSW Board have formed a GOC for preparing all of State Events and Functions for 2012. This committee will be chaired by Ange Clarke who has vast experience in Event Management and will be supported by Mary Greig, Trin Taber, Michael Frost and Ellena Morris. They will be supported by the NSW State Office staff who will facilitate this committee. The First two items the GOC will be working on is the 2012 Season Launch & 2012 Shoalhaven State Games. I hope you all have a very merry christmas & a happy new year. Regards Peter Contact: For more information or to provide feedback to the NSW Board please email: nsw@specialolympics.com. au or contact the State Office on the number below.
Special Olympics NSW - SOP Golf Centre, 1 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park - Tel: 02 8889 3606 | Fax: 02 8889 3615
Welcome to Flinders Region
We would like to introduce our newly re-formed region, FLINDERS. The region was formerly known as the Roselands Region and was combined with RSAC. But with changes made to the regional requirements, the main one being for the Special Olympics Region to be run as a separate entity and run by a stand- alone committee, it was a great opportunity to give the region a fresh new face and a bit of a makeover. SO, we have formed a new committee to look after
the needs of the region and its members, we have given the region a new name to help distinguish that we don’t just service one suburb and we have given it some new colours, just to complete the makeover!
(you may have heard of Bass & Flinders) that discovered the area, whilst sailing up the Georges River in 1795 in the Tom Thumb. Flinders represents the many journeys and explorations that the SO, why Flinders? Well, we region and its members needed to establish a name will embark upon. that covered the many With the new name, we suburbs and council areas have introduced some that the Special Olympics new colours – Maroon, Region covers, without Pale Blue, White & Black. excluding or covering an Flinders services the areas already existing area. So, of St George & Bankstown we looked to the past….. and is chaired by John Flinders was an explorer Dermody.
Community Sports Link
Community Development Co-ordinator
20th October. This was attended by 35 athletes from 5 DSP’s. It was well attended and good quality number of volunteers assisted in the running of the day.
A Ten-pin Bowling Competition was held at 10-pin city Lidcombe on November 7th 2011 and was attended by approximately 70 athletes from DSP’s. Most of the athletes are a part of a group membership.
We held a Bocce & Basketball Gala event on Wednesday 30th November. There is a follow up competition being held on International day of people with a disability.
Kristen Fitzpatrick
Mary Greig and Eileen Jenner (Flinders Region) will run the competition and presentations on Monday December 5th. The program is to continue in 2012. A Bocce & Basketball Skills Clinic was held on Thursday
There will be 55 athletes from 8 DSP’s & a good number of volunteers to run the day. We have had positive feedback and the athletes enjoyed the day that had a modified program. There are 2 events left in
the calendar for 2011. One is a Football event being held on Saturday 10th December by Pagewood FC . The information and registrations forms were sent to all regions. Two new groups joined CSL for 2011. They are Sydney Secondary College, Leichhardt Campus and Inner West with a further 20 athletes Marrickville High School- inner west also joined adding a further 15 athletes. A football program being run by Tony Moore Sydney Sth Region has also added seen two more high schools join in 2011. These high schools are Endeavour High school adding a further 29 athletes. Also joining is Engadine with 13 athletes.
F UNDRAISING A CTIVITIES NSW Srixon Golf Srixon Golf last week signed a 2 year MOU to sponsor Corporate Golf Days nationally which David Streichler will monitor and manage. This is an exciting partnership knowing we have several golf day fund raisers planned next year. Proton Proton have confirmed this week that two people movers have finally been approved for Australian delivery and will be presented to Special Olympics Australia at the Sydney Motor Show in October 2013 along with some heavy press releases. Presentations David Streichler & Josh Frost presented a thank you framed Photo Collage of the Australian WG team to Steggles CEO (Simon Camilleri) and Steve Noyce (CEO- Roosters). Josh spoke about his involvement with Special Olympics and the LETR run over in Athens whilst David spoke about the support from Steggles & Roosters and what it meant to SO NSW.
Leah Rosniak in her zombie nurse out fit, along with the food she took to the ‘’Special Olympics halloween party at warriewood on saturday, 29th october
Special Olympics NSW - SOP Golf Centre, 1 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park - Tel: 02 8889 3606 | Fax: 02 8889 3615
playing for 15 years.
Recently Joshua competed in the Regional Athletics at Baulkham Hills. He has competed in the 100m race and he ran a credible third place. He also participated in Long Jump and finished a close second place, and only finishing behind 1st place by 2cm. Josh also collected gold medals in Shotput
and 4 x 100m relay. His biggest acheivement of the Regional competition was coming first in Discus with a PB of 20.11m (2 metres more than his best throw) Joshua has been in Special Olympics for 9 years. He trains in athletics at Blacktown Sports Park every Thursday night. He regularly competes in Bocce and Tenpin Bowling. Tenpin is his favourite sport, which he has been
Mid North Coast Athletes celebrate at their recent christmas party.
Has competed in 2 National Games in Athletics and Bocce, winning 3 golds, 3 silvers and 1 bronze. His highest achievement has been his selection as the only Australian athlete to run with the Flame of Hope at the Final Leg Law Enforcement Torch Run around Greece before the SO World Summer Games. His training in the Athlete Leadership Program came in handy as he gave 11 speeches in 15 days at various towns around Western Greece.
If you have a story to promote your Region, Athlete or Volunteer, please email this information to Neville Bajzath Regional Manager NNSW on nevilleb@specialolympics.com.au Subjet: Blues Informer Story I would like to start to doing a Regional Profile each month showcasing a dierent region with information on Athletes, Volunteers and the Region itself.
NOVEMBER PERSONAL BEST HEROES Blue Mountains Regional Swim Meet Courtney Wade Sydney Hills 3 x 1st Place 25M Breaststroke 00:41:75 25M Backstroke 00:33.90 25M Freestyle 00:27:12
Michael Wade Sydney Hills PB 25M Breaststroke 00:36:00
Steve Robson
Kelly Wren
SO Central Coast Sportsperson With A Disability Award Winner.
SO Sydney South Nemcombe Medal Nominee.
Cassie Wainwright Blue Mountains 2nd Place 25M Freestyle 00:37:35 2nd Place 25M Breaststroke 00:49:99
Johnathan Yung Congratulations to Special Olympics golfer Steve Robson from the Central Coast for being named Sportsperson With A Disability at the annual Central Coast Sports Federation Awards. Steve was presented with his award at a gala event and is become quite a star in his local community since he returned home from the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens with a gold medal. He also recently competed in the inaugural National Disability Challenge hosted by our partners Golf Australia
Congratulations to Special Olympics tennis star, Kelly Wren (Sydney South) who has been nominated for The Newcombe Medal in the Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability category. The Newcombe Medal is the annual awards celebration of our partners Tennis Australia which recognise the performances and achievements of members of the tennis family. This year winners will be announced at a lavish gala event at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne on 5 December. Good Luck Kelly
Flinders 2nd Place 100M Freestyle 01:17:90 3rd Place 50M Backstroke 00:45:45
Michael Stanton Sydney South 25M Backstroke 00:46:60 25M Freestyle 00:25:49 50M Freestyle 00:56:25
Special Olympics NSW - SOP Golf Centre, 1 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park - Tel: 02 8889 3606 | Fax: 02 8889 3615
DECEMBER 03-04 04 10
Futsal NSW Central Coast Sydney Inner West
Football Gala weekend Tennis Regional Competition Football Regional Competition
This calendar is accurate at the time of print, but you should always check with your Regional Sports Coordinator to confirm venues, dates and times.
2011 TRANS TASMAN GAMES RESULTS The NSW Basketball team that travelled to the Trans Tasman games in November consisted of 8 athletes and they were divisioned into the A division for the tournament.
NSW Trans Tasman Basketball team in action
NSW Football team captained by Madison Howard Windley & team members Brett Bottle, Reegan Stani Reginald, Ben Dixon, Steven Bragg, Chris Fulljames, Mitchell Porteous, Andrew Stuckings in action in the Trans Tasman match
This side was coached by Phil Dederer & Kevin Archer and they managed to finish fourth in Skills testing
& fourth in the competition. In all there were 13 teams competing in four divisions and the NSW team did their very best. The Queensland basketball team won the inaugural Datacom Trans Tasman Tournament Basketball Trophy and all are looking forward to the next Trans Tasman in Cairns next year
NSW sent eight athletes to contest in the inaugural Trans Tasman Tournament Football Trophy that was won by the Otago football team.
us proud in winning the Bronze medal after defeating Canterbury 3-0 in the play o for third place and also winning the skills testing.
NSW was divisioned into the B division competition which was eventually won by North Harbour.
With wild wet n windy weather most of the competition including small hail. Players improved their skills and friendships over the week
The NSW team under the coaching of Matt Jones & Tamara Dickson did
Thank you to all who have been involved in the Regions for making this the wonderful organisation Special Olympics is for all of our athletes. On behalf of the NSW Board and NSW State Office, please have a very Merry Christmas and a safe New year. We look forward to seeing all your happy faces in 2012.
Special Olympics NSW - SOP Golf Centre, 1 Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park - Tel: 02 8889 3606 | Fax: 02 8889 3615