Awards up for grabs

When they are not fishing, residents in Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and the surrounding communities of the West Kimberley love their sports.

This year, Shire of Derby/West Kimberley sports manager Marcus Maher has organised the 2011 West Kimberley Sports Awards and has urged locals to get involved.

“Nominees may have had success locally, at a district level or even represented the region at a State level,” Maher said.

Nominations are now open for Sports Star of the Year, Rising Star for nominees under 18 years and Masters Star for those over 40 years.

Sporting clubs are asked to make one nomination for Sports Volunteer of the Year but also nominate themselves and acknowledge their particular sporting achievements during the past 12 months.

Remote communities, based more than 20km from Derby or Fitzroy Crossing town centres, can also nominate for Remote Community Sportsperson. Prizes include Strategic flights to Perth, accommodation packages from Pinctada Cable Beach and Eco Beach Wilderness Resort, a fishing charter from Barraddict, vouchers from the Windmill Cafe and Shelby’s Toys, and cash prizes from Mount Gibson Iron and Kimberley Diamond Company.

In addition to Maher, judges will include a representative of Garnduwa, the Department of Sport and Recreation and local citizens.

The 2011 awards will be presented at a luncheon sponsored by Pluton Resources and held at the Derby Sportsman’s Club in December.

Nominations close on November 11 and forms are available from the Derby swimming pool or from www.sdwk.wa.gov.au.

Nominations for the Broome Sports Awards closed on October 14, with a presentation dinner at Zeebar on November 18.