Perth Staff
General Manager Perth - Lisa Cunningham
David Wirrpanda – Role Model
"After years of doing community work the Foundation is a formal way of recognizing the influence professional people have on the lives of our children. The Foundation is a dream come true for me and after watching my mum and Aunties succeed in their pursuits I am pleased mine are coming to fruition. Now that we have the office open "Wirra Club" we have groups of children coming through each day, its great to see the changes in these kids each week and I hope I play a small part in that"
"The regional visits will be great and we are always keen to take the foundation services to where it is needed. I have met some great kids and if I can help them even a little bit I will be able to sleep each night. I love my football but family is always first and that's why our kids mean so much to me."
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 and continues to make a significant contribution to the community in Western Australia through the time he gives 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 will begin full time employment with the foundation in February 2008
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 sees Bianca trialling for the West Coast Fever, the Western Australian team in the new look Trans Tasman Competition.
