New MPO

Yachting Western Australia’s new MPO

Yachting Western Australia is proud to announce its latest service to all boaties. Our new Programme Administrator, Michael Downing, is now a qualified MPO.

Michael has attended the Member Protection Officer and Member Protection Officer Children training courses provided by the Department of Sport and Recreation. This training emphasizes in part the need for organisational cultures to be aware of the issues of harassment and child abuse and awareness of the law in these areas.

Yachting WA’s Board and administration is committed to creating an organisation where everyone is respected and treated lawfully. Michael should be your first point of contact if you require any information regarding these areas. Michael is also a first point of reference for people with concerns or queries.

All contact to Michael is treated with extreme confidentiality as with any information provided and full for respect the individual who has come forward to discuss any concerns. If an issue concerns a child he will seek additional advice from child welfare professionals or appropriate parties as requested.

Michael is also part of a linked network of others who have attended the program, and are supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation. As information comes to hand Michael will disseminate it through to the clubs and their MPOs.  Should you feel it is inappropriate to contact Michael or Yachting Western Australia an alternative contact can be Samantha Poke at DSR (9492 9726). She is similarly qualified or can assist you in contacting an appropriate person.

Should you wish to discuss the role or have a look at the content of the course, Michael is keen to hear from you.

2005 Meet the Champions

Meet the Champions - a fantastic turnout. Nearly 300 family, friends and yachting identities turned out to recognise WA yachting's top sailors. Photograph:Michael Downing

2005 MEET THE CHAMPIONS

On a glorious evening the Meet the Champions and the 6^th WA Yachting Awards function was held at Fremantle Sailing Club on Friday, 27 May 2005. Just under 300 people attended this prestigious event to acknowledge the thirty five Australian Champions and three World Champions as they were presented with Yachting WA medals. These sailors have made Western Australians the successful winners of eighteen Australian Championships and two World Championships.

The evening saw The Ron Tough Yachting Foundation present twenty six grants for travel and financial assistance and award The Ron Tough Scholarship to Steven Thomas.

In the WA Yachting Awards section the Junior Sailor of the Year Award (The Ron Tough Bronze Medal) was won by Mark Whittington, the Youth Sailor of the Year Award (The Ron Tough Silver Medal) was won by the winning combination of Elise Rechichi and Tessa Parkinson and The Ron Tough Gold Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Yachting was won by John Standley.

The Power Yachtsperson of the Year Award was won by Neil Elsmore.

Sailors who represented Western Australia for the first time were presented with badges and certificates from the Department of Sport & Recreation.

Winners of the WA Yachting Awards were:

Administrator of the Year                                    John Milne

Official of the Year                                              Bill Morris

Coach of the Year                                              Tony Merton

Sailor of the Year – Female                                 Elise Rechichi & Tessa Parkinson

Sailor of the Year – Male                                    Colin Dibb

Sailor of the Year                                               Colin Dibb

National Champions acknowledged were:

Contender – Masters                  John Cassidy                                        Skipper

Skate                                        Gary Caporn/Mike Forbes                      Skipper/Crew

Skate – Veteran                         Gary Caporn/Mike Forbes                      Skipper/Crew

Skate – Junior                           Gavin Caporn/Brett Andrews                   Skipper/Crew

Windrush – Cat Rigged               Rob Thompson                                     Skipper

Windrush – Super Sloop             Rob Thompson                                     Skipper

125 – Junior                               Sam Threlfall/James Dolan                    Skipper/Crew

Cherub – Junior                          Phillip Vance/Andrew Vance                  Skipper/Crew

Optimist                                    Mark Whittington                                   Skipper

470 Women’s                            Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson              Skipper/Crew

420 – Youth Male                       Luc Tasker/Brett Sharpe                        Skipper/Crew

Endeavour                                 Brandon Hughes/Rob Simmons              Skipper/Crew

                                                Sue Pratley/Tony Finch/Rex Sleeman                  Crew

Flying Fifteen – Open                 Grant Alderson/Dean M^cAullay               Skipper/Crew

Flying Ant                                 Nick Brownie/Daniel Roberts                  Skipper/Crew

Mirror – Veteran                         Geoffrey Brown/Tristan Brown                Skipper/Crew

Mirror – Ladies                           Caroline Pitt/Katelyn Farwell                  Skipper/Crew

Mirror                                        Nicholas Davis/John Collova                   Skipper/Crew

Mirror – Junior                            Stephen Locke/Lois Pickering                Skipper/Crew

World Champions acknowledge were:

420 – Youth                               Elise Rechichi/Tessa Parkinson              Skipper/Crew

Laser – Masters                         Colin Dibb                                             Skipper