Presentation of Quit Sportswoman of Year Awards

9/11/94

Western Australia's women athletes are increasingly making their mark in national and international sport.

Currently, seven of the top 10 WA Institute of Sport scholarship-holders are women, and six of Australia's World Cup winning hockey team are from WA.

Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore highlighted this growing success while officiating at last night's Quit Sportswoman of the Year Awards.

The major Sportswoman of the Year Award was won by Australian hockey team captain Rechelle Hawkes, a gold medallist at the recent World Championships in Dublin.

Junior Sportswoman of the Year was gymnast Jenny Smith, Coach of the Year was gymnastics coach Liz Chetkovich and the State's lightweight fours rowing team won the award for Team of the Year.

Mr Moore congratulated the WA Women's Sport Foundation, for successfully lifting the profile and status of WA sportswomen during its three-year history.

"There are now greater opportunities for women in sport on all fronts, from the important participation level through to elite athletes," he said.

"Our emerging athletes are well placed to reach their peak for the Sydney Olympics in the Year 2000 and WA women are likely to be very well represented."

Mr Moore praised the foundation for initiatives such as the Active Achievers Program, which used elite female athletes as mentors and role models.

Under this program, schoolgirls have been inspired by champions such as Michelle Timms and Kathy Watt at special functions, including leadership training camps.

The foundation has a reputation for leading the country in its sports administration.

A joint program has been developed with Surf Lifesaving WA to encourage gender equity and this would be used as the model for a national program.

Media contact:  Ross Storey 222 9595 / 321 1444