Former Afl Player Appointed First Telfer-based Isdo

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18th November 2008, 01:36pm - Views: 1016





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Media Statement

246 Vincent Street 

LEEDERVILLE, Western Australia 6007 

Tel: (08) 9492 9700  Fax:  (08) 9492 9711 



G O V E R N M E N T  O F  W E S T E R N  A U S T R A L I A

Department of Sport and Recreation

Government of Western Australia


18 November 2008


Attention: Editor



Former AFL player appointed first Telfer-based ISDO


A ground-breaking partnership between the Department of Sport and Recreation

(DSR) and Newcrest Mining Ltd has seen former Collingwood AFL player Tristen

Walker enlisted to help communities in the Western Desert achieve their own goals in

sport and recreation. 


Newcrest recently appointed Tristen as the Indigenous Sports Development Officer

(ISDO) for the region. He has been employed on a fly-in-fly out basis and is based at

Newcrest’s Telfer gold mine, some 450 km east of Port Hedland.


As an ISDO, Tristen’s main mission is to get more Indigenous people from the region

involved in sport and recreation and adopting healthy lifestyles. He will run programs

designed to improve participation and skill levels in a range of sports and enhance

recreational pursuits.


DSR Director General Ron Alexander said the decision to base Tristen at the Telfer

site was expected to result in better sport and recreation services and opportunities

for Indigenous communities throughout the Western Desert.


“I am delighted that Newcrest has been able to secure Tristen in this role in what is

the first agreement of its kind in Australia for this national Indigenous Sports

Program,” Mr Alexander said.


“Geographically, Telfer is in a good position as a base from which to travel to each of

the communities, and as a result, people in each of these communities will see the

ISDO more often and will reap the benefits of improved participation and skill levels

in a range of sport and recreational pursuits.”


Mr Alexander said some difficulty had been experienced over the past couple of

years in attracting staff to deliver the department’s Indigenous Sports Program (ISP)

in the Western Desert.


“As a result, alternatives for future delivery of the ISP in the Western Desert have

been explored and this partnership arrangement with Newcrest Mining to deliver the

program was found to be the most sustainable solution,” he said.


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Telfer’s Community Relations Superintendent Leon van Erp said the partnership was

great news for people in the Western Desert region.


“This is a good example of the strong level of cooperation that has been developed

between Newcrest and the Department of Sport and Recreation over several years,”

he said.


“Tristen has a wealth of experience, skills and stories to share with people in the

communities and their aspiring sports men and women. He himself will also benefit

from the extensive support available to him through Telfer’s Community Relations

team, which already boasts considerable experience and success in the support it

offers to Indigenous people in the region.”


ENDS




Media contact (for interview or photo opportunity):


Amanda Iannuzzi

Public Affairs Officer

Department of Sport and Recreation

9492 9838

amanda.iannuzzi@dsr.wa.gov.au







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