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Perth Staff

Chief Executive Officer - Lisa Cunningham

Troy Cook – Role Model

Originally from WAFL club Perth, an outstanding 1996 season saw Troy finish second in the Sandover Medal and he was then drafted at Selection 27 by the Sydney Swans. He made his AFL debut in Round 3, 1997 against Melbourne at the SCG and he received a Rising Star nomination in 1997. Troy went on to play 43 games for Sydney before returning back to WA at the end of the 1999 season to join Fremantle Football Club.

Troy made his debut for Fremantle in round 1, 2000 against Geelong at Subiaco Oval and played 150 games for the club, earning himself Life Membership of the club. He won the club's Best and Fairest, the Doig Medal, in 2000 in a stellar debut season for Fremantle and in 2005 he received the Best Clubman Award. A noted hard-man around the contests, he was the club's leading tackler in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005, finishing in the top 10 in the AFL for tackles on three occasions (2000, 2002 and 2003).

During his time with Fremantle, Troy made a significant contribution to the community in Western Australia through the time he gave to assist numerous school, indigenous and charity organisations, and has done so over many years.

Troy was also an Ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Association of WA in 2005, he was also appointed the Patron of the Kulunga Research Network in 2005 and his role is ongoing.

In 2006 he took on a role as an Ambassador for Be Active WA as well as the Department of Indigenous Affairs PALS Project (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing).

Player honours: Doig Medal 2000; AFL Rising Star nominee 1997, Fremantle Life Membership 2007

Troy Cook began full time employment with the foundation in February 2008 working as a project Officer & Role Model and has developed his own program - Troy Cook Health and Fitness. Troy is currently on the Diabetes WA Board and Country High Schools Hostel Authority, is an Ambassador for PALS and is the face of Childhood Immunisation for the WA Health Dept. In 2008 Troy won the Nowalenko Award which recognises an individual within the Australian Football family for their contribution to the game and the Indigenous community. Troy continues to play football and is the current captain of WAFL club Perth Football Club.

Bianca Franklin – Role Model

One minute Bianca Franklin was minding her own business, playing at a local netball carnival, when suddenly her whole life changed. A visiting netball talent scout who was watching the game saw her in action, and liked what he saw. From there it was a whirlwind of training camps and team selections, and by the time she was 15 years old, Bianca was representing her state in the under-17 team.

Born in the small country town of Dowerin in Western Australia, Bianca began playing netball at the age of eight. It's not surprising that Bianca excels in sport - her father represented country Victoria in hockey, one sister is a State country runner, another also plays netball, and her brother Buddy Franklin currently plays for Hawthorn Football Club.

"My family has been incredibly supportive," Bianca says. "They used to drive me to Perth for training and matches, three hours each way, three or four times a week. Sometimes I wouldn't get home until midnight. It was pretty full-on."

At 19, Bianca was awarded an Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) scholarship, and moved to Canberra to live and train full-time at the institute.

As part of her scholarship, Bianca now played with the AIS netball team, the Canberra Darters, although she still represented Western Australia in the national championships.

Bianca was selected in 2003 for the under 21 Australian squad which played in England.

To add to her list of achievements, Bianca also won an ATSIC award for 2003 West Australian Young Achiever of the Year.

"I've still got a few more years to reach my peak," she says. "And if you really want something, your dreams will come." Bianca Franklin plays Goal Attack and Goal Shooter.

After her stint at the AIS Bianca joined the Melbourne Kestrels.

2007 saw Bianca play for the West Coast Fever, in the Western Australian team in the ANZ Trans Tasman Competition, and she has continued to be a team member in 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Shannon McGuire – Role Model

Growing up in the town of Gidgegannup playing in the bush and running around on the hockey field, tomboy Shannon McGuire never imagined that one day she would be strutting the catwalks of Australia and International fashion.

In 2003 at the age of 19, Shannon entered a modelling competition that would change life. Shannon represented Western Australia and Indigenous Australia on Fox 8's award winning series o Australia's Next Top Model, Series 1. After eight gruelling weeks of catwalk training, photo shoots, being followed around with camera's and being picked to pieces by Australia's leading fashion names, Shannon came in third place and received 75% of the viewer votes as Australia's favourite top model.

After the series, Shannon moved to Sydney permanently and was signed to modelling agency, Scene Model Management. Through their representation Shannon has worked through Fashion Weeks in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth modelling for some of Australia's biggest designers such as Wayne Cooper, Kooey and Romance Was Born. Shannon has featured in magazines Cleo, Cosmopolitan, NW, Womans Day, STM and Marie Claire. Shannon has had clients in South Africa, Singapore, Japan, Europe and the US.

In 2007 Shannon returned to Perth to be with her family, and in 2008 entered the Miss Universe Australia Pageant. Shannon made the State Finals, and then competed in the National Finals in Melbourne, making her the first Indigenous woman to ever make it that far in the competition.

Shannon's modelling career is now winding down, but hopes that she has helped pave a pathway for young indigenous girls to follow in to the main stream Australian Fashion industry.

Josie Janz – Role Model

When Josie Janz was growing up in a small town she never thought in her wildest dreams that she'd be playing netball against players she idolized as a youngster. Originally born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait where her mother is from Janz's family moved when she was 4 years old and believes the reason she loves sport so much was because she grew up in the small town of Derby in the North-West Kimberleys.

"I grew up in a tiny town with one round-about and one stop sign, the only activities that were available to us were sport," says Josie. "I had something on everyday and really pushed it on Thursdays because I would do my swimming training and then jump on my bike and race down to the rec centre for netball training still wreaking of chlorine."

"I remember being so starstruck when I saw players like Liz Ellis and Mo'onia Gerrard warming up on the same court as me," says Josie. "Then I had to play against Sharelle McMahon or Cath Cox, and they are the elite of the elite, I was in awe of their ability but would be grounded almost immediately because I realized I was supposed to be stopping them."

Representing her dusty red soiled town in athletics, basketball and swimming Janz proved she was an athlete in many fields, but it was netball that caught her eye and today Janz has represented Australia at the Under 21s level, donned the black and gold state dress for 7 years.

"I was coming down to go to boarding school at PLC which I attended for 3 years," she says. "My parents really pushed for my education and school was always going to come first, I just had a natural talent for netball that seemed to fit in quite well."

At 18 and being the youngest, Josie was awarded a scholarship to the Australian Institute of Sport where she played for the Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. "I really learnt a lot at the AIS, we had lots of very intense training sessions that set me up for the level I play at now."

"I really want to show that no matter what circumstances you are given in life you can achieve anything and everything you can possibly imagine," she says. "You just have to put your mind to it, and believe in yourself, that's the most important part."

In 2008 Josie moved back to Perth and is currently a member for the West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championships in which she has played goal defence and goal keeper for two seasons. "Representing your country is something we all aspire to and playing for The Diamonds at open level would be amazing, but I am just so grateful because I get to do something I love every day, I am living my dream really."

Kirby Bentley – Role Model

Introductions to netball usually begin at a young age but Kirby Bentley was accidently discovered as a natural talent at the age of 13. Having stepped foot on the netball court and played a maximum of 3 games before she trialled for the state team she proved that dreams really do come true even when you grow up in a small country town in the Great Southern. Having won selection to the Western Australian 17/U netball team, Bentley being the youngest at 14 years showed great speed and flare against her older counterparts and was named in the National 17/U Talent Squad.

Still living in her small town of Mt Barker Kirby was awarded a part scholarship to WAIS. "My dad used to drive 4 hours up to Perth so I could play state league and then we would stay the weekend so I could do my state trainings as well," she says. Kirby knew that if she wanted to make it to the elite level she would have to move to Perth as her training sessions became harder and more frequent. Being awarded a netball scholarship to Aranmore Senior High School Kirby continued to represent her state and gain selection in the National Talent Squads. "It was exciting to be able to play against the top 20 girls from around Australia and see the different levels and intensities they trained at, it was a great opportunity to learn and develop my game," she says.

At the young age of 18 Bentley was given the golden opportunity to debut for the Perth Orioles in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. "I was achieving my goals and beginning my journey to the top," she says. "Playing in the biggest league in Australia is something everybody dreams of and to represent your state at that level is a great honour."

Bentley who plays centre was training behind current Australian players and spending a lot of time on the side lines. "You can only learn so much from the other girls in your team and your biggest step in development comes from on-court experience" says Bentley. "When the opportunity came to potentially play and hit the court for the Canberra Darters I took it with both hands running," she says. Being awarded a scholarship to the AIS in 2005 gave Kirby a benchmark to train and play at. "All the facilities and specialist coaching is right at your feet, plus you get to train against the best 12 players of your age group from around Australia."

Bentley moved back to Perth in 2006 and played a season with the Perth Orioles before making another move in 2007 which saw her donning the Newcastle Hunter Jaegers dress. "I really wanted to chase my dreams at this stage and I was offered more court-time and I thought it would be a good chance to develop and take that extra step and break into the national league," says Bentley. Kirby's netball career came crashing down when she snapped her anterior cruciate ligament jumping up for a ball in the New South Wales State League.

Since her injury Bentley spent 12 months doing rehab and has just recently been involved with the West Coast Fever squad for 2009. "I'm excited to be back playing and I think I'm fitter and stronger than I have ever been, pre-season had set me up and now I have the opportunity to show what skills I have to offer.

Kirby is currently a squad member for West Coast Fever and is yet to hit the court in the ANZ championship but is proving a real asset to the Western Australian team in the Australian National League.

2009 also saw Kirby debut in AFL Women's Football and after only a few games in WAWFL represented Western Australia in the National Championships held in Perth in June. Her natural ability and tenacity resulted in being named in the AFL All Australian Womens Team to play at the MCG in 2010.

Anthony Little – Role Model

Anthony Little was born November 6, 1980 in the small town of Mullewa, in Western Australia. Like most young boy’s Anthony, was always on the lookout for something to do, and took the opportunity to jump on the bus at age 13 to go to the local PCYC ... and there began his love affair with boxing.

Anthony continued to train and follow his dream and became the first Aboriginal boxer from Western Australia to compete at the Olympics. Collecting numerous prestigious awards along the way Anthony has gone from strength to strength. His career highlights include being the first Aboriginal to win the Mid West Sports Star of the Year award 2004, eight times WA Champion between 1992 and 2008, three times Aboriginal Sports Star of the Year 2000-2002, Oceanic Champion 2004 & 2008 and Australian National Title winner in 2007. Anthony fought - and won his bout for the Commonwealth Games 2006 selection with a broken hand but was not selected for the team due to his injury.

The greatest highlight however for Anthony was to become a member of two Australian Olympic teams in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Describing his experiences of being an aboriginal kid from the bush finding himself rubbing shoulders with the likes of Michael Jordon and the US dream team, often left him with feelings of disbelief and amazement and total awe at his surroundings. Still excited by the wide world that his boxing opened up for him, Anthony takes great delight in sharing his travel yarns. Anthony was the recipient of the Adversity Award in 2009, from the Australian Sports Commission.

Now, a father of four and working as a mentor with DWF and West Coast College of TAFE students Anthony focuses on encouraging children to believe in themselves, set goals and go after them – as anything is possible. Recently returning to training, Anthony’s new focus is gaining selection for the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Casey Narrier – Role Model

I grew up in a small wheat belt town, Mingenew and later attended an all-aboriginal boarding school Wandalgu Tardun Mission during my primary school years. That’s when I first started little athletics I was talent scouted and travelled to Geraldton every Saturday morning during the season.

When high school started my aunt wanted my sister and I to attend schooling in Perth and that is where my sporting High Jump career started off, at a school athletic carnival in 2000. In year 10 my PE teacher saw my talent and asked if I wanted a coach. I trained and made the All School West Australian Team and won silver.

In the 2001-2002 seasons I was invited to compete at the Grand Prix circuit with a WAIS scholarship and with a jump of 1.83cm, was a qualifier for the World Junior Championships in Jamaica and 3cm off a B qualifier for Commonwealth Manchester Games later in the year. At Nationals I sealed my spot for World Junior Champs with a jump of 1.82cm. Unfortunately in Jamaica I didn’t qualify for finals and missed out on Commonwealth Games but only being 16 years old the learning experience was to prepare me for the years to come.

I had a break from the Athletic world at 18 for 2 years working and attended an Interior Design courses at Tafe. I guess I just had to find the love for the sport again.

In 2006 I started training with my coach again and a lot of hard work needed to be done, a lot of running, strength and conditioning before any jumping.

In 2007 I jumped 1.75cm at Nationals in Sydney.

I was then invited into the Jump Start to London 2012 Olympics Program, which is aimed at up and coming young Indigenous athletes, preparing, coaching, training and guiding them to their full potential once 2012 Olympics comes round.

With the Jump Start team I competed at the 2007 Arafura Games in Darwin and won Gold with 1.78cm and also competed at the 2007 Singapore Opens and won Bronze also at 1.78cm. A week prior to 2008 Nationals in Brisbane I broke my little toe on my take off foot. I still jumped with a cortisone injection, won the qualifier round but didn’t do so well in finals.

I’m currently training for 2010 Nationals and wanting to be at my peek and full potential when 2012 London Olympics come round.

Kate Malpass – Role Model

You might say I have defied the sceptics and the odds from birth. I was born with Erbs Palsy (a paralysed arm caused by nerve trauma from a traumatic delivery).The neurologist told mum I would never have full strength in my arm and as a youngster I often dislocated my elbow and surgery was a real option. However, both my parents were always playing some type of sport, or coaching juniors, so I spent a lot of my young development years training with my older sisters or sitting around playing grounds waiting until quarter time so I could shoot a hoop, kick a ball or flog someone in a game of something that always involved a ball of some description.

Growing up I played every sport including being the only girl in the U/7s football team not to mention the top ball getter. From aussie rules to softball to netball, athletics, soccer and lifesaving/swimming, dad even cut down a set of golf clubs hoping to get me interested, but I was and always will be a team person. Basketball is the one game that I really get. I like the teamwork, fast pace and physicality compared to other female dominated sports.

I lived in Kalgoorlie for a few years when I was younger. Living in the country introduces you to a much more active lifestyle than some kids are used to, so every weekend or week night was filled with some kind of sport whether it was playing, my sisters or my parents. This is where I first began playing basketball at the age of 8.

My introduction to basketball was accidental. My older sister was playing for the Perth Redbacks in the U/14 WABL COMPETITION. In 1997 my family moved back to Perth and have been here ever since. In 2002 at the age of 13 I was chosen to represent WA in the under 16 national champs and continued to play at the national level for 6 years winning a bronze medal and being selected to go to the AIS for Australian Junior camps and Captaining 3 teams.

In 2007 I moved to Adelaide to further develop my basketball, and after a good state league season was asked to train with the national league team the Adelaide Link Lightning that played in the WNBL. I had the experience of playing on and with Opals players such as Erin Phillips, Jenny Whittle and Renae Camino. The team went on to win the championship that year.

In 2008 I moved back to Perth and was signed to play for the Perth Lynx (Formerly Breakers). In my Debut season I was picked to play in the starting 5 as a point guard, and was Perth Lynx awarded Rookie of the Year and defensive player of the year.

I went on the have a solid State league season in 2009 with my club the Willetton Tigers and captained the WSBL team to a championship. I lead the league in steals per game and was also named the point guard in the All Star Five team for the season.

In the current 2009/2010 WNBL season I have taken on a more experienced role in the team and am currently on the Executive Committee for the WNBL Players Association.

Whilst growing up I was never pushed on the basketball court by my family, however education was focused as a high priority. I went to Mercedes College and completed my TEE giving me a score high enough to study Physiotherapy. I’m currently in my third year of a four year physiotherapy degree at Curtin University.

As a person I believe that life is only as good as you make. My favourite quote I have written on my bathroom mirror is "Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself"