School Sport WA (SSWA) is launching the new Wall of Fame initiative and need your help.

The Wall of Fame will acknowledge the role that school sport plays in the developement of athletes, highlighting those who were involved in sport at the school level and who have gone on to achieved world class and national representation or those who have reached the highest level of their sport.

The compiling of candidates for the Wall of Fame will take time and requires the assistance of those who have been associated with sport to provide information about high achievers.

If you know somebody who fits the bill, please contact Darryl Bell, executive officer at School Sport WA on:

(P) 9264 5028
(M) 0400 880 475
(E) darryl.bell@det.wa.edu.au

Best of luck to our Australian teams

With both the Olympic and Paralympic Games rapidly approaching, the WA Sports Federation would like to take this time to wish all the Australian team members a successful and memorable campaign. We would also like to recognise the WA Institute of Sport (WAIS), clubs/associations, coaches, administrators and parents that helped to make the athletes' dreams become a reality.

Is that a challenge?!

The Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce (PATF) has issued a challenge – the Active Family Challenge.

Participants are not limited to immediate family – work, sporting, friendship and community groups are all encouraged to register and participate.

The Active Family Challenge will run from September through to the end of November. By completing at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day for a minimum of 45 days, participants will be in the running to win prizes.

To make things even easier, the Activity Taskforce and its partners have organised a range of events throughout the months the Challenge will run.

WA Sports Federation chief executive Rob Thompson said the Challenge was a great initiative and encouraged families and individuals to get on board.

“The Challenge recognises the value of people joining others in physical activity,” said Thompson.

“Congratulations to the PATF for creating the opportunity to get active.”

To register for the Active Family Challenge or for more information, see the website at http://www.activefamilychallenge.com.au/

The Heart Foundation has launched its Find Thirty every day initiative and wants to commend those already achieving the recommended 30 minutes of daily moderate physical exercise.

Find Thirty every day aims to increase the number of Western Australians sufficiently active for good health and is the latest initiative funded by the Department of Health. The campaign builds on the previous "Find Thirty. It’s not a big exercise." 

Clover Maitland – senior manager for Physical Activity and Healthy Weight at the Heart Foundation – commended sporting organisations for their work in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

“Clubs provide a group environment where people can go to participate and can have social interaction which is really important,” said Maitland.

“People who are part of a group participate more regularly and over a longer period of time, so clubs are obviously supporting people who are active which is fantastic.

“They also provide an environment that people generally want to come back to.

“So if they can participate at the same time as volunteering – that’s the Find Thirty message – actually getting out there and participating.”

For more information on this initiative, please see http://www.findthirtyeveryday.com.au/

Make Your Own Rules was a forum developed by Aha! Consulting on behalf of DoCEP with aims to discuss and identify any issues with the draft Model Rules. These Model Rules will be incorporated in a new White Bill that will be introduced to Parliament with the aim of replacing the current Associations Incorporation Act 1987.

The Aha! Consulting report describes the Model Rules – drafted by Jackson McDonald Lawyers to reduce costs to associations – as a template for new associations “to develop their own constitution or in the instance of existing associations, to review their existing constitution.”

The Make Your Own Rules final report will be available for download from July 21, 2008, at http://www.docep.wa.gov.au/ConsumerProtection/

Professional services firm KPMG, Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) and WA Sports Federation teamed up for the recent Financial Management Support Project.

The workshop was put together to gather information about the way associations handle their financial dealings, any problems they have encountered and how these problems can best be addressed.

This information will now be used to put together a financial template for organisations to follow, allowing for uniformed and consistent processes and giving associations some structure in their chartered accounts.

KPMG director Amar Nathwani and senior manager Chia-Ling Frederic represented the financial firm, while DSR’s Colin Brown and Trevor Howard and WASF chief executive Rob Thompson were attendees.

We would like to thank representatives from the Badminton, Calisthenics, Smallbore Rifle, Tenpin Bowling and Triathlon associations for their attendance and contribution to the workshop.

DSR’s Trevor Howard said the project was successful thanks to the input of those that attended and the resulting feedback was positive.

“It was excellent – being able to put together a framework and working through issues to find practical solutions,” Howard said.

“(The associations) were very supportive. There was a little trepidation at first of moving into a fully automated accounting system because most of them are still using spreadsheets.

“But they felt quite comfortable when they realised they wouldn’t be alone and there would be support systems put in place.”

The next phase of the project will involve the design of the financial management system with the aim to trial it at some associations before a broader rollout.

WASF News and Events
To keep up-to-date with WASF news, visit http://www.wasportsfed.asn.au/

Painathlon 2008: Do it to say, “I did it!”
Have you got what it takes to complete one of the toughest and gruelling one-day run/cycle events in Australia?

The Painathlon is off and racing Saturday, August 9, 2008 and combines some of the most challenging fitness courses around Perth in an effort to raise $25,000 for Variety WA Children’s Charity grants.

Entry is $50 but if you raise $250 for the Variety Club, the entry fee is waived.
For more information, see http://www.painathlon.com/

The Giant Walk: It’s payback time - 10 paces at high-noon!
In 2006, WA claimed the Guinness World Record for the most people walking a 1km distance at any one time. Last year, Canada broke the record with 231,635 people walking. Funny thing is – the entire country of Canada barely doubled WA’s efforts. What did they think would happen?! 

At high-noon on September 1, 2008, it’s payback time! The Giant Walk is going nation-wide for Australia to reclaim the title. To register or for more information, go to http://www.thegiantwalk.com.au/

Healthy Club Sponsorship
The Sports Medicine/Healthway Summer ‘08 Healthy Club Sponsorship provides an incentive for sporting clubs to improve the health and safety of their members and supporters.

Applicable clubs can apply for up to $2,500 in grants. In return for sponsorship, clubs must meet and adhere to several important health guidelines. 

To find out if your club qualifies or for more information, go to http://www.smawa.asn.au/extra.asp?id=421&OrgID=120

Improve Your Club’s Facilities
The Department of Sport and Recreation has opened its wallet to not-for-profit organisations, offering grants for the development of sport and recreation facilities.

The 2009/2010 round of the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund (CSRFF) opened this month (July, 2008).

For information on how your club can get a piece of the pie, visit http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?DSR.65682:STANDARD::pc=PC_23

Active Family Challenge: Are you up to the Challenge?
Beginning September and running through to the end of November. It’s easy, fun, free and you can win prizes.

For more information, see the story in this edition of Sportsview, or go to http://www.activefamilychallenge.com.au/