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.
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
NEWS 
