Cockburn’s junior sports achievers representing WA in state, national and international competition, and local sporting clubs striving to meet the needs of residents of all ages and abilities, have been recognised at a combined City of Cockburn event.
It was the second time the City held the Club Recognition awards which began mid-pandemic in 2020-21 to help recognise local club efforts during a challenging period as they worked hard to retain membership and activities during restrictions and lockdowns.
The second instalment of these awards was a celebration of many local clubs’ ability to triumph over unprecedented pandemic conditions, not only maintaining their status quo but improving operations due to their passion, initiative and determination.
Travel restrictions resulted in a huge drop in junior sportspeople applying for the City of Cockburn Junior Sport Travel Assistance Program (JSTA) over the past two years, as competitions were cancelled or postponed both at home and away.
In 2020-21, the City only received 10 JSTA applications compared to 100 recipients sharing grants of about $40,000 pre-COVID. In 2021-22, the City has awarded grants totalling $15,600 to 39 recipients.
Mayor Logan Howlett announced three Club Recognition awards and runners-up at the special event on Wednesday 20 July, while also announcing JSTA grant recipients.
“I commend everyone for their ability to stay focused on their sporting passions, despite the challenges of COVID-19,” Mayor Howlett said.
“You are a credit to Cockburn where club members working together to support each other not only creates physically healthy people, but mentally healthy communities that we all aspire to live in and be a part of.”
2021-22 Club Recognition awardees:
Best Small Club -
1st Curling WA
2nd Cockburn Masters Swimming Club
3rd Cockburn Cougars Softball Club
Best Medium Club -
1st Phoenix Lacrosse Club
Joint 2nd Jandakot Lakes Junior Cricket Club and Cockburn Junior Cricket Club
Best Large Club -
1st Cockburn Basketball Association
2nd Cockburn Bowling and Recreation Club
3rd Hammond Park Football Club.
Sports funded via the JTSA program include -
- Baseball
- Swimming
- Diving
- Artistic Swimming
- Basketball
- Fencing
- Badminton
- Cricket
- Sailing (specifically Wind Foil)
- Sport Climbing
- Athletics
- Touch Rugby
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse.
Recipients travelled to various cities and regional areas including Queretaro in Mexico (ice hockey), Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, Busselton, Geelong, Gold Coast, Kalgoorlie and Mackay.
To find out more about the Junior Travel Assistance Program, visit the City’s
website.
Caption: City of Cockburn Mayor Logan Howlett with four of the 39 Junior Sport Travel Assistance Program grant recipients for 2021-22, L-R Emily Eric (Badminton), Serena Burletson (Artistic Swimming), Robin Lismann (Fencing) and Maurice Lismann (Fencing).