Nominations have been coming in for the Albany sporting walk of fame as the city looks to recognise its outstanding athletes, coaches and officials as part of its bicentenary commemorations.
The installation will be created at the front of Retravision Stadium with each inductee having a sign and a QR code which will link to their personal story.
Mayor Greg Stocks announced the sporting walk of fame at the Wellington and Reeves Sportsperson of the Year Awards in April, name-checking hockey Olympian Tricia Heberle and golfer Wayne Smith in the process.
Mr Stocks said he hoped the walk could be completed this summer and lauded the efforts of the communities who have made it possible.
“I always thought it was a brilliant idea, but it has been driven by the community, as the most successful projects always are,” he said.
“The surf reef was driven by the community, as were the mountain bike trails — the walk is on a different scale but if the community wants something, it doesn’t go away.”
The walk will add sporting style to the path leading to the front of the stadium.
Heberle, who grew up in Albany and represented Australia at the 1984 Olympics, said the walk would show it was possible to achieve in sport wherever you were born.
“Getting recognition in your home town is probably the best recognition you can get,” she said.
“It is your local community, in my case, the hockey family which has helped you get on your way.
“It also demonstrates that you can achieve your dreams, even if you come from a country town.”
Wayne Smith, a former Albany Senior High School pupil who spent 20 years as a pro golfer, primarily on the Japan Tour, agreed the walk was a great idea.
“It’s a great way to remember the past and the community you were involved in,” he said.
“It’s also flattering to be recognised, it’s very humbling.”
The budget for the walk is $30,000 and Mr Stocks said the aim was to celebrate the fact that sport has played a central role in Albany life for most of the city’s 200 years.
“The sporting walk of fame is a powerful way to recognise the incredible talent that has come from our community and the dedication behind those achievements,” he said.
“Sport is deeply woven into Albany’s story, and this project will celebrate not only the athletes who have reached the highest levels, but also the support they have received along the way.
“Importantly, it will also inspire future generations by showcasing local role models and the pathways available right here in Albany.”
The inductees will be selected by a panel who will assess each nomination against several criteria.
Aside from being retired from elite competition for at least two years, nominees must also have had a tangible Albany connection throughout their development before going on to the highest level of competition available in their sport.
Footballers, for whom there is no international equivalent, must have been nominated as an All Australian or received a significant medal or award.
Up to five nominees are to be inducted in the walk’s first year, with two per year to follow, according to the nomination criteria.
Nominations can be made through the form on the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre website.
