Gascoyne wrap 2009
2009 has been a year of many changes and challenges for sport and recreation in the Gascoyne, and we have seen some great events take place – each one getting bigger and better with each year.
21 December 2009
The staff at the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) Gascoyne office have completed a complete revamp of the Club Development Program, which is proving to be a resounding success. We have been meeting with each club's committee informing them of what DSR does in the community, how we can assist them and how they can help us to provide a better service to their club and the community in general. Each meeting conducted was tailor made to the requirements of the club in question.
This program has been a real eye-opener for all of us. The Gascoyne region has a lot of very strong clubs with some great insight into the future. The one-on-one meetings have assisted DSR to forge closer and more productive relationships with each organisation, which can only provide a boost to local physical activity and the building of stronger, healthier, happier and safer communities. This program will be continuing into the New Year with trips to Exmouth, Shark Bay and Gascoyne Junction planned. If your club has not made an appointment yet, please call us to make arrangements.
This year saw another highly successful Kickstarters Gascoyne Dash, with record numbers of particpants and spectators turning out for this major motor racing event. Participants travelled across Australia and even from overseas to participate. 'The Gassy Dash' is the biggest sporting event in the region and has really put the Gascoyne on the map," said DSR Gascoyne Indigenous Sports Development Officer (ISDO) Keno Phillips. "The organisation and implementation of the event is first class."
The Gascoyne has three young athletes participating in state-level competitions, in equestrian and squash, all of whom did remarkably well during 2009.
2009 also saw the inaugural AquaGasc 'Splash' Week. This aquatics development program was highly successful and can only get bigger and better. The program was coordinated by DSR and supported by AustSwim, the Royal Life Saving Society of WA and Swimming WA. Thanks to the success of the program we now have 24 accredited instructors in the aquatic industry that the Gascoyne did not have before. We hope to also include surf and diving in the 2010 program.
The 2009 Gascoyne Games, hosted by the Shire of Exmouth, was another major event conducted this year. Congratulations to Roge and crew from Exmouth. Many people volunteered their time and effort in putting this major event together. The next Gascoyne Games will be held in two years with the host town yet to be announced.
Skywest continued its support of regional sport and recreation through its Country Sport Development Program (CSDP), which benefited the Gascoyne Games and various other events. The CSDP provides free travel with Skywest for presenters and officials to attend development activities and for talented sports people to attend talent identification and development activities.
Staff at DSR Gascoyne recognise that none of these major achievements could have been possible without the support of and partnerships with a large number of organisations and volunteers.
We wish to thank everyone who worked so hard to make 2009 such an overwelming success in Gascoyne sport and recreation, and we look forward to our future involvement and partnerships with you all.
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