Sportswomen and groups congratulated on national awards

Sport and Recreation Minister Graham Edwards today congratulated 13 Western Australian groups and individuals who had gained national recognition for their contribution to women's sport.

Mr Edwards said they had been given either merit awards or commendations under the 1992 Prime Ministerial Women and Sport Awards.

"While not winning the overall national prize or any of the six major categories, there were still two finalists who received special commendations and 10 merit award winners," Mr Edwards said.

"Former Australian Olympic hockey player Maree Fish, a student at Edith Cowan University, was also awarded one of the two Federal Minister for Sport scholarships."

The Prime Ministerial awards were established to recognise the efforts of groups and individuals in raising the participation and status of women in sport.

Special commendations were awarded to the WA Surf Life Saving Association for their Women - Get into Surf Life Saving carnival and to publicity officer Sharon Ross for her media coverage of women's rowing.

Merit certificate award winners in the various categories were:

·         School and university initiatives:  Robyn Fittock, for a volleyball program for school girls; Lynwood Senior High School, for a girls' sport participation program; Balga Senior High School, for a girls' volleyball program.

·         Local community initiatives:  Bodytime Inc. - a fitness and health program for women.

·         Sporting organisation initiatives:  Triathlon Western Australia, for conducting the inaugural womens' triathlon in WA; South-West Ladies Junior Golf Association, for a girls' golf camp; Suzanne Gougoulis, for being a role model for women and girls in sport; Penelope Tanner, for a report on women's soccer in WA; Women's Sport Foundation, for the Esanda Fun Run, Active Expressions program and a special sports celebrity breakfast; Girl Guides Association of WA, for their orienteering for girls program.

"The role of women in sport is growing rapidly and these results show that in WA the community is succesfully encouraging that trend," Mr Edwards said.