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Officially the best

The Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR) gathered members of the WA sporting officials community for an awards dinner at Perth’s Duxton Hotel on Friday 23 October to sing the praises of the unsung heroes of sport – officials.

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Official of the Year recipients 2009.

 

 The 2009 Sports Officials Awards recognised the invaluable contribution officials make to sport and recreation in Western Australia. 

Master of Ceremonies was Tim Gossage of Channel Ten Director of Sport, AFL commentator and local footy show ‘The Western Front' fame. Gossage brought a touch of humour to the night, interviewing several sports officials to give an insight into their roles and how these vary between sports.

"The Sports Officials Awards were established in 1999 and are a chance for us all to acknowledge the valuable contribution officials make and pay tribute to those who have excelled in their field of sport," said DSR Project Officer Jonelle Burns.

"Their job is one of the most onerous in sport, and the role they play is also one of sport's most crucial areas, yet our referees, umpires, judges, time keepers and scorers don't always get the pats on the back and recognition they deserve.

"Officials help to make our sporting environment one that is enjoyed by all. They make the calls so the athletes and spectators can enjoy the game and without them, fairness in sport would simply not exist, so it's great that we can gather to acknowledge their achievements."

Twenty-two officials were acknowledged in the Official of the Year category in sports ranging from marching and combat sports to cricket, netball and baseball.

Each sport had the opportunity to nominate their Official of the Year from the 2008/09 season, and the winners were:

 

Official

Sport

Suburb

Gregory Vellacott

Badminton

Warwick

Kyle Byrne

Baseball

Thornlie

Marcus Langshaw

Basketball

Willetton

Dean Woodhams

Combat Sports

Tuart Hill

Ian Lock

Cricket

Carine

Raelene Lyon

Diving

Duncraig

Penny Dodd

Equestrian

Geraldton

Gavin Statham

Australian Football

West Perth

Desiree Jones

Gymnastics

Attadale

Murray Grime

Hockey

Helena Valley

Matthew Taylor

Ice Hockey

Nedlands

Tony Jonikis

Ice Skating

Nedlands

Suzanne Kirkby

Women’s Lacrosse

Ellenbrook

Ian McRae

Men’s Lacrosse

Parkwood

Kay Cox

Masters Swimming

Sorrento

Ernest Hastie

Motor Sport

Tutunup

Jacqui Jashari

Netball

Yokine

Stuart Collins

Rowing

Bicton

Kingsley Smith

Surf Life Saving

Craigie

Ryan Arblaster

Swimming

Greenwood

Karen Woods

Touch

Karratha

Nimal Wickramasinghe

Triathlon

Hillarys

 

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