Surfing Western Australia were awarded Best Community Event for the Telstra Drug Aware Pro, Margaret River at the WA Sport and Recreation Industry Awards hosted by the Department of Sport and Recreation on Friday night. Held every two years, the awards recognise innovation and exceptional achievement across the areas of sport and recreation in WA. Surfing WA won the Best Community Event category for their efforts in formulating and coordinating the significantly enhanced Telstra Drug Aware Pro in 2010/11. The event set new Association of Surfing Professional (Australasia) records in 2010, which it again surpassed in 2011 for top-ranked surfer attendance, cable TV and web streaming audiences, as well as new records for the event itself in spectator attendance and media registrations.
 
By engaging in working partnerships with local suppliers and community groups, the Telstra Drug Aware Pro has ensured an ongoing commitment to the Margaret River Region not only through the tourism and employment that comes with the event, but also through school visits, coaching clinics, event wild cards and a junior competition for local talent that runs alongside the main event, all guided by the world’s best.
 
Surfing WA CEO Mark Lane was honoured to receive the award.
 
“It’s great to be recognised for an event that gets such huge community support." He said.

“The community of Margaret River and our sponsors have been pivotal in nearly every aspect of this event, and in turn its success. We look forward to the continued partnerships that have already built the event up to what it is at present.” He commented further.

Minister for Sport and Recreation; Gaming and Racing Terry Waldron noted the importance of the industry to the WA community.
 
“The high quality of entries received reinforces the important work being done by the sport and recreation industry to ensure WA continues to be a world leader in the delivery of better lifestyle opportunities to the community.”
 
Surfing WA were also finalists in the category of Best Innovative Use of Technology.

For more information contact:
Surfing Western Australia – Erin Molloy
T: +61 8 9448 0004
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