without compromise The Yearbook of the WESTERN AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE of SPORT 2000 2001 The Western Australian Institute of Sport is proudly supported by the Government of Western Australia Western Australian Institute of Sport year book and annual report 2000/2001 Challenge Stadium, Stephenson Ave, Mt Claremont, WA 6010 P.O. Box 139, Claremont, Western Australia 6910 Telephone: (08) 9387 8166 Fax: (08) 9383 7344 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wais.org.au 4 contents 05 Premier’s Foreword | 06 Chairman’s Report | 08 Director’s Report | 10 2000 Olympic Games 13 2000 Paralympic Games | 14 Administration | 15 Hall of Champions | 16 Athlete of the Year 17 Sport Science | 18 Talent Search | 19 Athlete Career and Education Program | 20-35 Sports Programs 36 Coaching Achievements | 37 Coaching Staff | 38 Major Title Winners | 40 Australian Representatives 42 Board of Directors and Structure | 43 Staff | 44 Aims and Objectives | 45 Sponsors COVER: RECHELLE HAWKES ended her brilliant international career with a third Olympic gold medal. premier’s foreword The important role played by the Western Australian Institute of Sport in the development of elite sportsmen and sportswomen was never more evident than at the Sydney Olympics when 51 Western Australian athletes represented the State in 20 sports. Forty-five of those athletes came from WAIS ranks, establishing a new record for the Institute. Our athletes contributed to five of Australia’s 16 gold medals, or 31 per cent of the top medals from less than 10 per cent of the nation’s population. Eight Western Australians won gold medals, which was another record. When WAIS was established in 1984, the Government’s chief aim was to ensure that talented young athletes would no longer be denied excellent facilities and coaches or be disadvantaged by their isolation from national and international competition. Certainly the Institute has succeeded. Today it is recognised as a leader in its field. WAIS is the only State Institute with a dedicated state-of-the-art facility and it has a staff that includes world-renowned coaches and sport science experts. As a Government we have recognised the very valuable role WAIS is playing in providing opportunities for our athletes to reach their full potential and as from July 1 this year we have increased WAIS funding by $250,000. This should help the Institute maintain its programs at the pre-Olympic level. On behalf of the Government and people of Western Australia I congratulate DR GEOFF GALLOP MLA all those who have been responsible for the results achieved by the Institute Premier and especially the WAIS Board of Directors under the expert leadership of Neil McKerracher. Above all, I want to place on record our appreciation for the tireless work carried out by the Director Wally Foreman, whose professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication have been crucial to the success of WAIS since its inception. We wish him every success in his future career. Let me also take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the private sector sponsors of WAIS and encourage them to continue their outstanding example of corporate citizenship. As Patron I look forward to continued support for the Institute and wish all associated with the programs every success in the coming year. DR GEOFF GALLOP MLA 5 PREMIER chairman’ s report The quite outstanding achievements of Australian athletes including those from WAIS in the Sydney Olympic Games is a direct product of the quality of the sporting system which has been developed in this country. The Director, in his report, has spoken in detail of the athlete performances and the Board has, on many occasions, and I reiterate on this occasion the warm congratulations to all WAIS athletes who have participated in the build-up to and in the Olympic Games in Sydney. The extent of community support associated with WAIS is determined not only by its athletes’ performances but also by their attitudes and examples. We are very proud of their qualities in this area as well as their success in competition. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE Although the hiatus in Federal funding with the cessation of the Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) funding caused problems with the loss of coaches, the reinstatement of funding this year and the increased funding from the State Government will enable WAIS programmes to be developed at a more comprehensive level and quite possibly to expand. The Board has been active in campaigning for funding at Federal and State level and I acknowledge the work done by those involved in this regard. STRATEGIC PLANNING Strategic planning for success in and before Athens commenced in 2001 with a weekend retreat of the Board and senior management staff of WAIS. The concepts emerging from that plan will be transformed into practical and NEIL MCKERRACHER QC achievable goals as the year unfolds. There is a focus on harnessing and Chairman seeking to harness as much cutting edge elite sport knowledge as possible. This objective will be pursued without compromise in any way to the existing strengths and values that have been developed through WAIS. WAIS is most grateful to the State Government and in particular the two Ministers for Sport and Recreation who have provided support to WAIS in the past year, namely the Hon. Alan Carpenter MLA, the current Minister for Sport and Recreation and his predecessor, the Hon. Norman Moore MLC, Minister for Sport and Recreation. Although WAIS is, of course, most grateful for the increase in funding from the current State Government, we also acknowledge the provision of the world standard facility in which WAIS carries out its operations provided when the Hon. Norman Moore MLC held the portfolio. WAIS is conscious that it receives generous Government support and needs to produce the results to justify it. WAIS has, however undergone rather too many reviews in the months leading up to the New Year in response to the notion of accountability. On all occasions it has come through with flying colours. It is critical to the success of the operations of WAIS which has to compete against others on the world's stage that it be able to operate independently. The independence of WAIS also ensures a capacity to recruit high quality Board members and to secure corporate funding for which we are grateful. 6 It is also important for the future of sport in Western Australia that Sport & Recreation should remain a stand-alone portfolio. It was therefore a matter of considerable significance that when other and women. In this capacity he has consistently displayed a changes were made to Government departments, the Minister has willingness to fight for the rights of Western Australian athletes. Over ensured that WAIS has remained independent and that Sport & and beyond his service within the organisation, Wally has generously Recreation has remained a stand-alone portfolio. Although WAIS was given of his time to discuss sporting issues with the secondary and keen to impress these views upon the Minister, it was pleasing that he tertiary students and many other charitable and public bodies in both required no persuasion having already reached the same conclusions. a formal and informal basis. His un-compromised integrity in all aspects of a difficult job has ensured that the reputation of WAIS has CHANGE IN PERSONNEL stood untarnished. 2001 will be remembered as the year of change for WAIS. The The outstanding field of candidates to replace him is a reflection of the departure of two of its very key figures, namely Wally Foreman as esteem in which he and WAIS have been held. The Board is confident Director and Craig Davies as Program Manager, have been of profound that many of the qualities referred to above will be reflected in significance. May I pay tribute in particular to the contribution of forthcoming years by his successor, Steve Lawrence, who has been an these two people. outstanding contributor to WAIS for sixteen years. More will be said of Steve in years to come but suffice it to say that he was at the head of Craig Davies, served WAIS for a period of fifteen years and has been a list of national and international applicants. His devotion to and an outstanding contributor throughout that period of time despite experience with WAIS together with the fact that he is one of the personal hardship at times. We wish him and his family great country’s best Applied Sports Scientists, suggest that the future for happiness, health and success in his future. WAIS is in good hands. Wally Foreman also retired this year and his successor, Steve Lawrence, Can I also pay tribute to the support and assistance given by the has been appointed since the end of the financial year 2000/2001 but Chairman of the Sports Centre Trust, Mr Ian Laurance, the Board it is fitting that recognition of Wally’s service be acknowledged in this members of that Trust and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Graham Moss. report. Wally was appointed the inaugural Director of WAIS in June WAIS enjoys a very harmonious and effective relationship with the 1984 when WAIS was established by a Cabinet decision in that year. Trust which manages Challenge Stadium. WAIS was the second State Institute to be established in Australia and is considered by many to be a leader in its field. In his capacity as CONCLUSION Director of WAIS, he has overseen the Institute’s growth from an organisation of 1.5 people with a budget of $300,000 in 1984 to an Finally, can I acknowledge the work that has been done for WAIS by the organisation of more than fifty people with an operating budget in staff and by its Board.