ATHLETICS IN REGIONAL WA STARTING TO BOUNCE FORWARD

Athletics West have returned from taking part in the #BounceForward Reset Go! Summer Sports Activation in Merredin. The event aimed at relaunching community sport in Regional areas following significant restrictions due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Regional and state travel bans have contributed to a reduction in seasonal workers to assist in agriculture and farming. The flow-on effect has meant the community have had limited opportunities to spend time with their family and be active.

To restart community sport, Athletics West, alongside six other State Sporting Organisations, delivered free sessions for residents at Merredin Oval. The session saw more than 100 children get up and active alongside their parents and celebrate NAIDOC Week with an important Welcome to Country.

Incorporating a range of events, the athletics session saw participants compete in a circular relay, hurdle challenges, turbo javelin and parachute sprint training.

The event also offered local sporting clubs an opportunity to engage and discuss strategies with the State Sporting Organisations. The Community Think Tank was a valuable session aimed at supporting and streamlining a return to sport that focused on accessibility for the community.

Athletics West General Manager of Engagement, Emma Pass, stressed the importance of rebuilding regional athletics from the ground up following the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Sport is the lifeblood of Country towns and provides much more than just physical activity opportunities. A healthy community sports offering provides meaningful social engagement and builds critical connectivity to those that reside there.” Said Pass.

“Athletics as a sport is accessible to all and a community builder. The sport has very few barriers and transcends across other sports. The opportunity now is to work collaboratively with all of the sports in Merredin, so that Athletics can help strengthen the popular team sports such as Netball, Football and Basketball”.

Thank you to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, as well as the Regional Office for Sport – Wheatbelt and Shire of Merredin for their support in delivering the event.  

Athletics West remains committed to supporting all country and regional locations to ensure that the sport of Athletics is accessible regardless of situation or circumstance.

To keep up to date with all of the upcoming athletics action, be sure to follow Athletics West' Instagram and Facebook page.

For more information about Athletic West’s work in regional WA or to find out how you can get involved in athletics, contact Athletics West on 08 6272 0480 or email admin@athleticswest.com.au.