Swim stalwart recognised

Dedicated Albany Swim Club official Kaye Bolger was awarded the prestigious 2014 Mike Stidwell Medal last Friday night for her long-term commitment to swimming during almost three decades.

Bolger beat a quality field of nine dedicated sports administrators for the medal, which recognises outstanding contribution to sports administration at an association level and honours the memory of the late Ministry of Sport and Recreation regional manager Mike Stidwell.

Having started at the club in 1987 as a timekeeper and parent, Bolger said she was shocked but honoured to receive the medal.

"I wasn't even aware I was nominated," she said.

"I've been swimming all my life from when I used to take my kids to the pool.

"That gave me the involvement and from there, I got heavily involved and have made a lot of friends along the way.

"I just believe sport is such a healthy environment for kids."

Bolger has travelled nationally and internationally as an official and still coordinates the annual Albany Short Course Swimming Championships.

She is the president of Masters Swimming Albany, having also joined the club in 1987 with her involvement with both clubs growing as the years went on.

"It's really nice to receive that recognition even though that's not why you do it," she said.

Nominations for the 2014 medal included Mike Moriarty, Greg Cracknell, Terry Eaton, Dave Wolter, Claire Dozadelli, Robyn Bailey, Ian Donaldson, Kevin Shanhun and Denise Legge.

Previous winners include the medal's first joint recipients in 2013 Christine Venkatachalam and Wayne Peck, Susan Heberle (2012) and George Mumford (2011).

The presentation of the Stidwell Medal coincided with the launch of the Great Southern Sports Talent Association, which will support selected athletes and coaches aiming to progress to an elite level on its chosen high-performance pathway.

One of the first recipients of financial assistance, Albany Swim Club head coach Marshall McAleese told attendees at the launch one of the biggest challenges he faced was a "talent leakage" and the perception athletes needed to travel to Perth to further themselves.

GSSTA chairman Darrell Panizza said the aim was to bring coaching to the athletes in the region.