‘Giving up a weekend, to spend time filming with Special Olympics athletes was awesome! I felt truly honoured to host a Team

Australia representative from across the country. Darren from WA was a fantastic team member. He’s a quiet man, with a

positive attitude and he is training hard for the Games. He represented WA extremely well in Sydney. Darren is a friendly guy

and a committed athlete. I wish him great success in Newcastle where I hope to catch up with him again.’

SO, Word from the WEST August 2013

In August 2013, Special Olympics Australia supported one athlete from every state and territory to

travel to Sydney to be part of a Team Australia promotional campaign. The campaign is designed

to support donations to athletes who will represent Australia at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific

Games. Darren Reilly was our WA hero and he will represent Australia in football. Despite having

never been on a plane before, Darren flew solo to Sydney to support the organisation and share the

experience with 7 other athletes from around Australia.

His story was filmed by people with a disability through a partnership between Special Olympics

Australia, Taste Media and Bus Stop Films. The online campaign kicks off on 23 September 2013.

This is what Sharon Nixon, National Manager of Communications+Brand at Special Olympics

Australia had to say about our local champion

SOWA

welcomes,

farewells,

thanks and

congratulates…

SOWA represented in TV campaign

Proudly supported by

Special Olympics Western Australia can now be followed on twitter

@SpecialO_WA

To donate to our team, go to

www.specialolympics.com.au and click the Donate to

Team Australia banner.

Right: Darren Reilly in front of the Sydney Harbour

Bridge during his recent visit to Sydney

SO, Word from the West August 2013

SO Perth Metro South

The Southlake program coached

by Liz Noordhoek played their

inaugural match at the

Everybody’s Game Tournament.

Attendance at the tournament was

an enormous feat for the team

who has been training hard to

compete on the day.

Way to go guys! Awesome

achievement.

SO Perth Metro North

The latest basketball tournament

held in August was well

represented this month with two

teams from Perth Metro North.

Tanya and Sam led the Joondalup

team in competition, whilst Tim

and Heather coached the

Mirrabooka SHS team.

Well done teams!

Everybody’s

Game

Tournament

August

WADSA Aquatic

Championships

Swimmers from our Craigie

Leisure Centre program;

Superfins program and from the

Goldfields Disabled Sports

Association converged in the

pool at Challenge Stadium to

compete at the WADSA Aquatics

Swimming Championships.

With personal bests achieved

and medals awarded, the

swimmers represented SOWA

with pride and good

sportsmanship.

The training continues

throughout the year in the lead

up to the State Games and the

Asia-Pacific Games.

.

SO, Word from the West August 2013

Apex Foundation & WA Australian

Civilian Widows Trust acknowledge

Asia-Pacific Team

The Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games team recently attended a function hosted by Andrea Mitchell MLA at Parliament House. The occasion was to acknowledge a recent pledge from the WA Australian Civil Widows Trust and Apex Foundation to the team.

State Chair Richard Pengelley, team members and officials represented Special Olympics WA at Parliament House, and used the opportunity to personally meet Kate Huth, Apex WA President, Jan Roberts and Moya Streek, WA Australian Widows Trust directors, and to thank them for the support. The pledge will assist the team to meet their targets and to participate at the upcoming Games being held in Newcastle in December. A huge thanks to Apex and the Widows for their very generous donation.

The 2014 National Games was a hot topic when presented with our team quota for the games. There was plenty of excitement in the room when it was noted that SOWA will be

Volunteer

Training

Day

The coaches/managers/committee members/team support volunteers of SOWA recently attended a training day at Department of Sport & Recreation. The day was well represented with 25 people in attendance and gave our volunteers a great opportunity to learn; share ideas and plan for future programs and events.

The newly formed regions and sports programs were all represented on the day.

The 4th TMA Sports Lunch was held recently at

the Hyatt Regency Hotel. With the support from

national partner TMA, the luncheon was

organized to raise funds for Special Olympics and

to create public awareness of the work that

Special Olympics WA does in the community.

The theme for the day was “Battle of the Codes”, with a panel of

sporting personalities debating the age old argument. Jamie Harnwell

(Glory), Dean Cox (Eagles), John Sackson (Western Pirates) and Matt

Hodgson (Western Force) were led by MC Steve Mills in the debate.

SOWA Athlete Geoffrey Holloway and mentor Greg Turner addressed

the guests and shared their experiences of Special Olympics. Well done

guys.

TMA

Sports

Lunch

2013

The 2014 National Games was a hot topic when presented with our team quota for the games. There was plenty of excitement in the room when it was noted that SOWA will be represented by 89 athletes across 10 sports.

With lots of enthusiasm riding on the success of the day, the intent is to continue the up-skilling of volunteers within WA to ensure a quality pool of volunteers overseeing the care and wellbeing of our members.

SO, Word from the West August 2013

Justin Langer hits ALPs for six!

The Athlete Leadership Program mentors and mentees were

treated recently to another awesome opportunity.

At the training session in August, the guest speaker was

Australian cricket legend, Mr Justin Langer.

Justin shared so many stories of his cricket journey; his mentors

that helped shaped his career and his highs and lows.

He was extremely inspirational and our athletes and University

students learnt a great deal from his visit and inspire to follow his

lead. Thanks Justin!!

The Opening events and ceremonies for the SOWA 2013 State Games is shaping up to be a phenomenal extravaganza. The Friday afternoon will commence with a 10 kilometre Law Enforcement Torch Run through the streets of Pinjarra with the support from the WA Police. The torch run will be followed by the official Opening Ceremony, followed by a Community barbeque and a Celebration Concert. The concert will feature state and local performers. The 2 days of competition; sports; Healthy Athlete Program; Mucky Duck Bush Band and more promises to be an awesome weekend.

2013 State Games

Celebration

Community Concert

2013

SOWA

State

Games

Update

Softball

Season 2013/14

Special Olympics WA are looking for current and new

players to join the Softball program.

Commencing Sunday 8th September

Sunday weekly

10am to midday

John Maloney Reserve, Marangaroo

For enquiries or to register, contact Brooke Galupo on

0448 606131 or email at butter_fly_97@hotmail.com

SO, Word from the West August 2013 SOWA’s

Spring

Season in

Sport

Special Olympics Perth Metro

North Golf Program

The Golf Program’s 4th term lessons will commence

on:

Monday: 30th

September (8 weeks only)

MARANGAROO GOLF COURSE, Aylesford Drive,

4pm to 5pm

The cost for each session will be $10.00

Dates to remember:

4th

TERM: September: 30th

October: 7th

, 14th

, 21st, 28

th,

November: 4th

, 11th

, 18th

,

Each lesson will run for 1 hour under the

supervision of a professional golf coach

New players wanting to learn all about the game,

develop skills and make friends are encouraged

to participate

To register or for further information, please

contact:

Lindsay Murphy: 0438 411 804

lmurphyatstanley@bigpond.com

or

Margaret Bush: 0403 313582

mjbush@internode.on.net

Athletics Season 2013/14

Come along and join in on the fun of Athletics.

Learn new skills on the track and field; make new

friends and strive for personal bests!

Under the guidance of skilled and accredited

coaches, Special Olympics WA are offering two

programs in the upcoming 2013/14 season.

Tapping Primary School

Commencing Tuesday 10 September

87 St Stephens Cres, Tapping

Tuesday weekly

4.30pm to 5.30pm

Athletics WA Stadium

Commencing soon

100 Stephenson Ave, Mt Claremont

Tuesday weekly

5.00pm to 6.00pm

For further enquiries, or to register your interest,

contact (08) 9321 3207 or email

dib@specialolympics.com.au or visit website;

www.specialolympics.com.au

COME ALONG AND COME ALONG

AND JOIN IN ON THE FUN OF

DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS ON THE

SO, Word from the West August 2013

Proudly printed by:

Mr. LUKE SIMPKINS

Federal Member for Cowan

DATE EVENT SPORTS VENUE

SEPTEMBER

6th WADSA Golf Tournament Golf Melville Glades

12th Community Sports-Link Cricket Skills Cricket Mandurah

17th Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

19th Community Sports-Link Cricket Carnival Day Cricket WACA

22nd EKS Day – First Aid Training Volunteers DSR

OCTOBER

11/12/13 SOWA State Games ALL Pinjarra

19/20 Telethon

22nd Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

31st Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport Kwinana Recquatic Centre

NOVEMBER

17th Everybody’s Game Tournament Basketball Basketball WA Stadium

22nd Community Sports-Link Ribbon Day Multi-Sport Joondalup Arena

26th Board Meeting SOWA Board SOWA State Office

27th SO Celebrates ALL TBA

28th Asia-Pacific Games Team Depart APG Newcastle, NSW

DECEMBER

1st Asia-Pacific Games Opening Ceremony APG Newcastle, NSW

3rd International Day for People with Disabilities

22nd IGA Apex Carols by Candlelight ALPs Supreme Court Gardens