The Western Australian Institute of Sport will celebrate 30 years in operation this Saturday night at the 2014 WAIS Annual Dinner at HBF Stadium.
The Annual Dinner will again host WA’s high performance elite, celebrating the feats and achievements of the past year, as well as honouring the latest chapter of the Western Australian Hall of Champions, which in 2014 will anoint a legendary Western Australian team for the first time.
Chief among the WA Institute of Sport Awards will be the coveted WAIS Athlete of the Year, which in 2014, has attracted 15 nominations over the voting period that stretches from 1 October 2013 to 30 September 2014. The long list features Commonwealth Games gold medallists, World Champions and other high performers, with the award set to be handed out for the 30thtime at the culmination of Saturday’s gala event.
The full list of nominees are:
– Caitlin Bassett (Netball)
– Laura Coles (Shooting)
– Katherine Downie (Swimming)
– Justin Eveson (Wheelchair Basketball)
– Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden (Sailing)
– Melissa Hoskins (Cycling)
– Fergus Kavanagh (Hockey)
– Isabella King (Cycling)
– Natalie Medhurst (Netball)
– Kim Mickle (Athletics)
– Ashleigh Nelson (Hockey)
– Shaun Norris (Wheelchair Basketball)
– Scott Sunderland (Cycling)
– Jayde Taylor (Hockey)
– Aran Zalewski (Hockey)
The WAIS Program and Coach of the Year Awards will again be popular gongs in 2014, with a strong calibre of nominations received in both fields. WAIS Cycling, Women’s Hockey and Sailing are each vying for the Program of the Year Award, whilst Paul Oberman (Men’s Water Polo), Belinda Stowell (Sailing) and 2013 winner, Grant Ward (Athletics) are all in the running for this year’s Coach of the Year Award.
The WAIS Junior Athlete of the Year traditionally fetches a quality pool of nominees, with 2014 no exception. Junior World Championship medallists, Australian senior representatives and Commonwealth Games stars feature in this year’s long list, with the group consisting of:
– Tamsin Cook (Swimming)
– Maddison Keeney (Diving)
– Rob Power (Cycling)
– Michael Storer (Cycling)
– Sam Welsford (Cycling)
– Jessica Zimmerman (Water Polo)
The WAIS Athlete Career and Education Excellence Award continually provides a glimpse into the remarkable commitment show by so many WAIS athletes, who embark upon successful sporting pursuits whilst continuing to chase their career and educational goals.
In 2014, Medicine students and graduates come up against a fire fighting kayaker, whilst course juggling, world championship representatives have also earned nomination for what will be one of the toughest fields ever assembled for the award.
The 2014 WAIS Annual Dinner will see close to 500 guests celebrating one of Western Australian high performance sports’ most anticipated events.
