SWAS extravaganza set to bring smiles amid challenging times

Excitement is building ahead of the 2022 South West Academy of Sport’s annual awards which will be held at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre on Friday night.

The event, which takes several months of extensive planning, has been thrown an additional curve ball this year, with the uncertainty of COVID-19 community transmission threatening the South West.

However nothing will detract from an opportunity to celebrate South West athletes and their success in a COVID-safe environment, according to SWAS chief executive Bernice Butlion.

“There has been a lot of work behind the scenes,” Butlion said. “We have accommodated all of the new changes, so hopefully we will be in for a good evening.”

Aside from several athletes being recognised, recently-retired Australian Kookaburras hockey player Trent Mitton will also share his experiences of competing at international level.

“We are really excited to be hosting Trent,” Butlion said.

“Both his father and grandfather are also former Kookaburra players. Trent retired after winning silver with the team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

“So we are very excited to hear his story.”