Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport

Big wins on and off the field at Stan Twight Reserve 🏏⚽️🙌

The reserve has been named Community Facility Project of the Year at the 2026 National Community Cricket Awards. A huge moment for a place that means so much to its community. 🏆

The redevelopment boasts modern facilities and upgraded lighting, making it easier for local clubs and the wider community to train, play and come together.

Home to Shoalwater Bay Cricket Club Inc., Safety Bay Stingers Football Club and Rockingham Rams Masters Football Club, the reserve has seen strong growth in recent years, including more women and juniors getting involved.

Supported by the WA Government through the Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund, the City of Rockingham – Local Government and WA Football through the Australian Football Facilities Fund.

Who’s played or cheered from the sidelines at Stan Twight Reserve? 🙋‍♀️📣

Have you spotted this year’s National Reconciliation Week street banners? 🖤💛❤️

From 27 May to 3 June, National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, recognise Aboriginal culture and achievements, and consider how we can contribute to reconciliation.

Across WA, hundreds of street banners are now flying, supported by organisations and local governments who want to actively show their support for reconciliation.
We are proud to support the project in partnership with Reconciliation WA.

This year’s banners feature artwork by Western Australian Aboriginal artist Melissa Sunfly, a proud Kukatja/Ngardi woman, with her work on display in communities right across the State.

If you see the banners this week, take a moment to look up and reflect on what reconciliation means to you.

https://bit.ly/4dKFMVN

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week!

At CITS, reconciliation is reflected in the work we do every day - across creative industries, multicultural interests, sport, tourism, infrastructure and community.
Through our Reconciliation Action Plan, we are committed to delivering meaningful outcomes that strengthen relationships, respect culture and create opportunities for Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This includes:
📚 Preserving and sharing Aboriginal histories to support truth-telling and connection to Country
🎨 Supporting Aboriginal artists and cultural storytelling through programs like Revealed and PALS
🎓 Partnering with schools and communities to build understanding and connection through education initiatives
🏃 Expanding participation in sport and recreation through inclusive programs and community partnerships
🌏 Supporting Aboriginal cultural tourism and opportunities for businesses to share culture and stories
🤝 Building understanding across culturally diverse communities through shared learning and dialogue
🏗 Embedding Aboriginal culture and design into major infrastructure projects across WA
🏢 Creating culturally safe workplaces and increasing opportunities through employment and procurement

There is more to do, and we are committed to the journey.

Perth is ready to row. 🚣‍♀️

This week, the Australian Masters Rowing Championships arrive at Champion Lakes, bringing the nation’s masters rowing community back to WA for the first time since 2019.

From 27–30 May, competitors aged 27 and over will race across more than 300 events at one of Australia’s leading rowing venues.

One of the most inclusive events on the national calendar, the regatta will draw rowers, officials and spectators from across the country, delivering strong benefits for local hotels, hospitality and small businesses.

Make sure you drop in and catch the action.

➡️ https://bit.ly/4nT09oz

⚽💙 Perth goes Inter blue

Over the weekend, Perth landmarks lit up in Inter Milan’s iconic blue to celebrate the club’s historic domestic double and build excitement ahead of Calico Italiano at Optus Stadium in August. From Kings Park and Botanic Garden’s Fraser Avenue to Optus Stadium, the activation linked Western Australia with celebrations in Milan and brought world football culture into the heart of Perth.

For local fans, the lighting offered an early taste of what is to come, creating shared moments across the city and building momentum ahead of the arrival of Inter, AC Milan, Juventus and Palermo later this year. With blockbuster fixtures locked in at Optus Stadium, the weekend celebrations reinforced Perth’s growing reputation as a destination for major international sporting events and unforgettable fan experiences

🔗 Get your tickets now: https://bit.ly/4dNtpZh

🏐 A powerful day of sport, culture and community in Mandurah.

Last week, the inaugural Mandurah NAIDOC Netball Carnival brought players, coaches, umpires and families together in a vibrant celebration of culture and connection through sport.

Supported by the WA Government funding and delivered by Netball WA through the Inspire and Grow project, the carnival welcomed more than 200 players from across the Peel, South West and Great Southern regions, as well as Rockingham and Kwinana.

The event showcased the strength of culturally inclusive pathways into netball, with a strong focus on growing First Nations participation across playing, coaching and officiating roles.

Through initiatives like the Mandurah NAIDOC Netball Carnival, sport continues to create welcoming spaces that reflect community, strengthen connection and support lasting participation across Western Australia.

Image credit: Netball WA/Madeleine Clark

This week we proudly marked the 26th anniversary of the Mike Stidwell Medal, honouring exceptional volunteer service in sport administration across the Great Southern.

🏅 Congratulations to Darren Berry, this year’s Mike Stidwell Medal recipient! Darren’s unwavering dedication to community basketball has strengthened the sport at every level, building pathways, lifting the Albany region’s sporting profile, and championing sustainable, community‑focused growth. His impact is felt far beyond the court.

🏑 We also celebrated Ray Squibb, awarded the Great Southern Service to Sport Award for his decades of commitment to the Tambellup Hockey Club and the wider hockey community. Ray has been a driving force for participation, opportunity and connection, all while taking the field himself with trademark enthusiasm.

This special evening at the Albany Entertainment Centre was the perfect way to kick off National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Communities’, is a powerful reminder of the vital role volunteers play in bringing people together and strengthening wellbeing across our region.

Learn more ➡️ https://bit.ly/42QXHFp

Today is the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

This World Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to highlight the vital role that cultural diversity plays in building peaceful, inclusive and sustainable societies.

Today is focused on:
🗣️ encouraging dialogue between cultures
🤝 strengthening understanding and respect
🌱 supporting development through diversity.

Find out more from UNESCO ➡️ https://www.unesco.org/en/days/cultural-diversity-dialogue-development

Behind every preserved record is a person giving their time, skills and heart. 📜💛

This National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating the volunteers who help bring Western Australia’s history to life at the State Records Office of Western Australia.

From cataloguing historic collections to contributing technical expertise, volunteers like David Whiteford, David Jones and Lana Badenko play a vital role in preserving stories for generations to come. 🗂️

Whether it’s staying connected after retirement, sharing specialist skills or giving back to the community, their contributions make a real difference.

🔗 Learn more about their stories here: https://bit.ly/495vluK

Image 1: David Whiteford
Image 2: David Jones
Image 3: Lana Badenko

💙 Happy National Volunteer Week to volunteers across WA!

Every year, people across the state give their time to support local organisations, services and community life. It adds up to nearly 400 million hours of generosity.

This week is about recognising the impact volunteers make across our communities. That includes supporting initiatives that celebrate volunteer legends and help them thrive where they give their time. 🙌

Learn more and take a moment to recognise the volunteers who make a difference in our community ➡️ https://bit.ly/495vluK