Healthy choices leads to 2023 WA Sport Award for Kwinana Tigers Hockey Club

A canteen overhaul and weekly dinners have helped a Kwinana club take out a WA Sport Award. Kwinana Tigers Hockey Club, which caters for ages four and up, received the Healthy Club Award at the 2023 WA Sport Awards on February 29. Vice-president Emma-Louise Moore oversaw a series of upgrades to the club’s canteen last year when she was canteen manager thanks to a Healthway grant. Changes included new cooking equipment to enable volunteers to prepare healthier meals efficiently, a water cooler for the clubrooms, a display fridge primarily offering healthy drinks alongside fresh sandwiches, wraps and fruit, and fresh fruit provided by volunteer parents at each game. The club also implemented weekly club dinners designed to unite members while enjoying tasty and wholesome meals. “We have a responsibility to our club members to educate them on healthy food choices,” Ms Moore said. “Our canteen serves fresh and wholesome foods. We looked for opportunities within our junior members to educate them about food preparation and service. We also had a focus on healthy minds.” Other off-field highlights from last season were a R U OK? Day event, mental health workshop and Breast Cancer Awareness round. Ms Moore said she was shocked at the club’s win but as a “close-knit community” appreciated the recognition for their efforts. “Being a small club means you are often overlooked and not taken seriously,” she said. “We have an incredible club with fantastic members and a great community spirit. “With more support from our local government, we hope that we can flourish and grow to promote hockey and all the healthy lifestyle benefits that come with being involved in local sports.” Kwinana Swimming Club life member Tony Ball was also honoured at the awards, receiving the Service to Sport — May Campbell Medal. Mr Ball has been part of the club since 1972 and his dedication and passion for swimming was described as “unmatched”. He has served as club president for 21 years and two years as vice-president, been named Swimming WA’s Volunteer of the Year four times and last year won Swimming Australia’s Local Legend Award. Team Connect, which runs outreach programs at schools including Gilmore College using cricket to provide support for young females in need, was named Sport Initiative of the Year. Kwinana mayor Peter Feasey said Kwinana was “very lucky” to have strong sporting clubs that aim to positively impact the community. “Tony Ball is synonymous with swimming, having tirelessly volunteered with Swimming WA and the Hornets which celebrates its 60th anniversary in May,” he said. “Team Connect was also recognised at the WA Sport awards and has an enthusiastic team at Gilmore College that has been embraced by the City of Kwinana and is supported by the Kwinana Cricket Club.”