Bunbury Mail wins award for coverage of junior sport

29/8/97

The Bunbury Mail has won an award for its coverage of junior sport.

The Minister's Cup was presented to the newspaper's editor, Wayne Harrington, in Bunbury today by Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore.

Mr Moore said the Bunbury Mail's profile series Rising Star had encouraged individual athletes and had been something to which other young sportspeople could aspire.

"Local sports clubs also have found the series to be a useful promotional tool, particularly for those sports which do not otherwise get media attention," he said.

"I am specially pleased that the trophy has been won by a regional newspaper.

"As you know, regional areas of Western Australia have been a true nursery for so many sports.

"Many of today's players in State teams and sides in national leagues started their sporting careers in regional areas."

Previous winners of the trophy include ABC announcer Ted Bull, The West Australian newspaper (junior sport section), the Channel 10 program Kid's Company and the News Chronicle (part of Perth's Community Newspaper Group).

The Minister's Cup itself has an interesting history.

It was found in a scrap metal yard and bought for $1.

It was then discovered it was a trophy which had been won by the late Austin Robertson senior at Xavier College in Melbourne. It had been presented in 1926 in recognition of his victories in the 120, 220 and 440 yard races, as well as the long and high jumps.

Mr Robertson went on to become a world-class athlete, competing in many professional events in the 1930s. He also played football for South Melbourne and Subiaco and coached Perth.

His son, Austin junior, consented to his father's trophy being used as an award to recognise an individual or media group for contributing to junior sport.

Media contacts: Bob Figg, Ministry of Sport and Recreation, 08 9387 9749

Hartley Joynt, Minister's office, 08 9321 1444