- 2025 Mike Stidwell Medal awarded to local volunteer Kevin Theyer for contribution to speedway racing
- Volunteer Rosemary Wolter recognised for her contribution to netball with the Great Southern Service to Sport Award
- Annual award coincides with National Volunteer Week, which runs from 19-25 May and highlights the important role of volunteers in our community
Great Southern volunteer Kevin Theyer has been awarded the 2025 Mike Stidwell Medal in recognition of his decades-long contribution to speedway racing in Australia.
The Mike Stidwell Medal honours the memory of former regional manager at the Department of Sport and Recreation, Mike Stidwell, and his selfless, long-term contribution to sport and recreation in the Great Southern.
This year's event marked the 25th anniversary of the Mike Stidwell Medal, which was awarded to Mr Theyer at an awards ceremony at the Albany Entertainment Centre last night.
Mr Theyer was instrumental in securing funding for the development of speedway infrastructure in Albany, which is now recognised as one of the best regional tracks in the country.
For more than 30 years he has volunteered in various capacities for the Albany Speedway Club, and also Speedway Western Australia and Speedway Australia.
The Great Southern Service to Sport Award was awarded to volunteer Rosemary Wolter for her significant contribution throughout the region over the past 20 years as a committee member, coach, official, and for delivering training to volunteers for Albany, Denmark and Katanning netball associations.
Mrs Wolter has played a critical role in the formation of the Great Southern Netball Association, has been awarded life membership of the Albany Netball Association and received Netball WA's Coach Achievement Award for the State.
The presentation event was held at the start of National Volunteer Week, Australia's largest annual celebration of volunteering.
This year's theme, 'Connecting Communities', recognises the power of volunteering in bringing people together, improving wellbeing and enriching communities.
To support festivities, the Cook Government has delivered small grants through Lotterywest to 233 community organisations, including in the Great Southern, to host special events throughout the week to recognise their hardworking volunteers.
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti:
"I'd like to extend a huge congratulations to Kevin and Rosemary for their very well-deserved awards and recognition for their efforts
"Local sport, especially in our regions, cannot operate and deliver the fantastic benefits it does right across the community without people like Kevin and Rosemary who generously volunteer their time.
"Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sporting community and National Volunteer Week is a great opportunity to say thanks for everything they do to help foster a cohesive, prosperous, vibrant and healthy community."
As stated by Volunteering Minister Hannah Beazley:
"Volunteers are the heart and soul of our regional communities, and I commend Kevin and Rosemary for their decades of service to local sport - their contributions are truly inspiring.
"These awards held during National Volunteer Week are an opportunity to give thanks to those who donate their time and expertise to helping others and make our State a better place.
"On behalf of the Cook Government, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our hardworking volunteers across regional and metro WA who strengthen and enrich our communities through their generous contributions."
