Mount Isa celebrated the best its in sporting achievements at Saturday’s Australia Day awards at the Civic Centre.
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The junior and senior sports award were handed out among the other awards on the day.
Patricia (Trish) Richards was a popular recipient of the Senior Sports Award.
Ms Richards’ nomination said she was an active volunteer and leader with the Brothers Rugby League and Pirates softball teams, and a highly respected Indigenous community leader.
Ms Richards said she had been volunteering in both sports for the last 20 years.
“I do it to get our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into sport and divert them from anti-social behaviour,” Ms Richards said.
“At the end of the day we’ve got to make our community safe for everybody.”
Ms Richards said she loved volunteering.
“I wasn’t expecting this recognition,” she said.
“It puts a smile on your face to get those kids out on the footy field.
“Not only our kids but all the kids involved in the sport.
“At the end of the day it is promoting physical activity within the community.”
The Junior Sports Award goes to Patrick Roche, 15, who is an Australian champion martial artist and an assistant instructor with Sikaran Martial Arts Mount Isa.
He helps new students learn the ropes, teaching them the basics as well as the rules of the dojo.
He also fundraised every weekend for 12 months so his whole team could attend the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation World Titles in Hawaii in July 2018.
He was part of a six-strong delegation who competed at the WEKAF World Titles in Hawaii in July 2018 as members of the Australian team.
Roche brought home one silver and two bronze from the games, silver in Knife Point 14-15 years and bronze in Single Stick 14-15 years and Kulata Point 14-15 years.
Although a junior student in age, Patrick holds the rank of Senior Green Belt 2nd Class, the second-highest ranked student under 18 at the club.
I train twice a day, dad gets me up every morning at four o’clock
- Patrick Roche
Patrick said he had been involved in the sport for three years and competing in Hawaii was exciting. “I train twice a day, dad (Christopher) gets me up every morning at four o’clock to get me started,” Patrick said.
Patrick said his next goal was to train for gold at Cebu in the Philippines later this year.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
