SO, Special Olympics Western Australia
January 2013
Word from the West
Pg. 1
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:
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.
The proposed SO Perth Metro North will be comprised of members with skill sets from the following sectors:
Chair Vice Chair Secretary Treasurer Athlete Representative Sports Coordinator
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. 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.
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.
Bulletin Board
January 2013
Pg. 2
State of Origin 2013
SOWA State Games 2013
3/4/5 May
11/12/13 October
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Pinjarra, 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.
The annual State Games weekend will be held in October in the Shire of Murray. Teams will be accommodated at Fairbridge Village.
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. 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
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
Athlete the 2014 Leadership National Games beingProgram held in Melbourne, Victoria
Registration: $250.00 per athlete (Plus travel from Perth)
Put the date in your diaries and await more information in coming months……….
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
Telephone (08) 9321 3207
Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au
Bulletin Board
January 2013
2013 Sanitarium Weetbix TRYathlon
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.
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!
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
Numbers are limited, so if you are interested in being part of the Bupa Heroes team, or for further enquiries, please contact;
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
Lesley Poole on 0416 465 870 or email at;
Asia-Pacific Games Officials Selection
lesleypoole19@hotmail.com
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
Telephone (08) 9321 3207
Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au
Calendar of events
February to July 2013
SOWA Calendar PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY LUKE SIMPKINS MP Federal Member for Cowan,
Date
Event
Sport
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
10th March
Athlete Leadership Program Training
ALPs
12th March
SOWA AGM
15th March
Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day
Multi-sport
Bunbury
22nd March
Multi-sport
Armadale
5th April
Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day 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
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 Community Sports-Link Football Tournament
Soccer
Football West
Soccer
Football West
Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day
Multi-sport
2nd July
SOWA Board Meeting
SOWA Board
SOWA State Office
25th July
Community Sports-Link Skills Day
Cricket
Perth Metro North
7th June 14th June
Telephone (08) 9321 3207
Venue
Athletics WA Stadium St George’s College Department of Sport & Recreation 246 Vincent St, Leederville
Kalgoorlie, WA
Broome
Mobile: 0410 866 532 Email: dib@specialolympics.com.au