A word from the Mid Wests Sports Federation Chairman Mike Bowley

The Mid West Sports Federation is proud to bring you the 50-year celebration of the Geraldton Guardian Mid West Sports Awards – the longest-standing sports awards in regional Australia.

Fifty long years since people had the foresight to create these awards, it’s so pleasing to call our many different sports together for a fun-filled night of celebration, recognition and good fun.

We will have many of our early award contributors, Hall of Famers and inaugural winners present, including our very first recipient in 1972 – Mr Rod Marsh.

The Awards are a key part of the Federation’s vision to promote and strengthen the Mid West as a leader in regional sport and recreation.

We are very excited to induct Harry Taylor and Fergus Kavanagh — both fantastic leaders and role models in their sports — into our Mid West Sports Federation Hall of Fame.

Anyone who knows the Mid West will appreciate our long and proud sporting history. This year we will celebrate and honour our sporting heritage and recognise many significant achievements and successes, on and off the field.

The “voice of Mid West sport” will be a special on-the-couch session during the awards.

The sporting achievements by individuals and teams over the years would not be possible without the support of administrators, umpires, coaches and sponsors.

These Sports Awards are not only about talented athletes such as Harry and Fergus, but they celebrate the volunteers in our community who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sport possible.

Like all clubs and associations, the Federation has an amazing group of sponsors for these Awards, many of which have been involved for years – or even decades.

In this 50-year celebration, we thank them all along with new event sponsors who have come on board to make the 2022 Geraldton Guardian Mid-West Sports Awards an event to remember.

We again call on everyone to support our loyal Sports Awards sponsors and help keep your dollars in the Mid West.

In celebrating all the successes and achievements we are also really pleased to see the significant improvements to hockey and basketball facilities in Geraldton.

Our congratulations and thanks go to the people in those associations who have worked hard to save money, plan, design and deliver these expanded facilities.

They are a great asset to the Mid West and will help our sports grow. All tiers of governments are also acknowledged for their support to these, and future facility improvements.

As chair of the Federation, I look forward to a night of celebration of our past, present and future.

Our small group of volunteers and talented event supporters have put in a tremendous effort to make the night memorable. I’d especially like to thank our project officer, Kelly Eastough, who has worked incredibly hard to make the event a reality.

Congratulations to the large field of nominees in all categories – everyone nominated is truly deserving.