Bunbury Geographe Sports Awards: Bunbury-raised soccer star Josh Risdon to be keynote speaker

Bunbury-raised soccer star Josh Risdon has been revealed as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Bunbury Geographe Sports Awards. Risdon, who has played 14 games for the Socceroos including three at the 2018 World Cup and is gearing up for his 16th season in the A-League Men’s competition, will be in conversation with South Western Times editor Amber Lilley about his journey from the South West to the summit of the sport on July 11 at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre. The South Western Times AJ “Tood” Buswell Sports Star of the Year award will be presented on the night, with jockey Lucy Fiore, pole vaulter Nina Kennedy, surfer Jack Robinson, footballer Ella Roberts, swimmer Alex Saffy and cricketer Sam Whiteman among the finalists. Other awards being presented include The Junior Sports Award, Para-Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, Official of the Year, Coach of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Event/Program of the Year. Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel — also a former teammate of Risdon’s on the soccer pitch — said the Perth Glory full-back perfectly captured what the awards were all about. “I played with Josh a long time ago. He was, like, two years younger than us, and the best player on the team by a long way, so he was destined to go on to big things — we were only about 10, but still,” he said. “To have someone like Josh Risdon having a conversation about his journey, and knowing that there’s going to be quite a few young sports stars there as well, listening to that (will be great). “Josh made a lot of sacrifices, in a way, going to Perth at such a young age, away from his family living up there, but went on to have the ultimate dream representing Australia, and clearly having a very celebrated career at the highest level in Australia. “It’s great to see him back down and that’s why we celebrate these events — to see those who go on to make it, but also recognise the people who helped get them there in the first place.” Mr Miguel said he was looking forward to the chance to celebrate the vibrancy and strength of the region’s sporting community. “This event, we pulled it together a couple years ago and it was actually two days after the birth of (my son) Cooper, so it was very rushed in the first one, and then last year was the night of the Withers tornado, so we’ve had a little bit of a slightly interrupted event the last two years, but (we’re) looking forward to a very successful one now in its third year,” he said.