12 December 2006

At an event studded with the Army’s best and brightest sportspeople, the New Zealand Army Women’s Basketball Team stood out as the stars of the 5th Annual New Zealand Army Sports Awards.

Celebrating an unbroken winning streak spanning 10 years and 50 games, the NZ Army Women’s Basketball team took the NZ Army Sports Team of the Year award, and two of the five individual awards.

The evening’s top individual award, the Tetra Cup for the Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year, was won by Captain Shanon Stallard. Excelling at the top of the demanding field of multi-sport, Shanon’s most recent success story took place at the 2006 Triathlon World Champs, where he came 10th in the world and was the first New Zealander home in his age group.

“He has trained tirelessly and is an excellent role model for young New Zealanders aspiring for excellence”, said the MC for the evening, WO1 Lou Kirby, announcing the award.

The Individual Sportsperson of the Year award was awarded to the NZ Army Women’s Basketball team’s captain, Staff Sergeant Sue Koopu, and the Army Pocket for Administration was awarded to the team's administrator and player, Major Rua Pani.

The self-described “dancing All Black” Mr Norm Hewitt, used his platform as the evening’s guest speaker to thank the NZ Army for their support when his brother Rob went missing earlier in the year.

“I must acknowledge you publicly, as [when Rob went missing] it was Army who were there, it was Army who supported us, it was Army who gave”, said Norm. “I will never forget what the Army gave me, because when my brother was found it was Army who were there – that will go to the grave with me.”

Norm, Rob, and their six other brothers and sisters grew up in a small Hawke’s Bay community, home to more sheep than people. Norm knew from age seven that he would one day be an All Black, and he said it was this passion – “passion is absolutely it!” – that made him successful on and off the field.

“I believe you can take what you learn from sport and apply it to every facet of your life. I took what I learnt from 14 years in the rugby union and I put it into dance: I had to be committed, I had to be dedicated, I had to learn new moves, I had to work as a team, and I had to perform.

“So I know that whatever I do and whatever challenges come my way, I can achieve.”

Norm used his address to condemn violence. He is leading an RNZSPCA educational campaign against abuse of animals and people, and says many violent offenders begin their offending by abusing animals.

He also attacked the effect of political correctness on sport. “I get challenged all the time, particularly when I go to schools, that sport is not about winning, it is about participation. But I am about winning, I am about success, and I am about becoming an All Black at seven years old because that was my dream and I had to fight and win to get there.”

Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner, congratulated the audience for participating in sport and striving to win. He agreed with Norm that a “passion for excellence” drives success in all areas of life.

“Everything you do, you do to the best of your abilities”, he told the audience. “I can assure you that the people who have worked with me who have achieved the most are passionate about what they do – whether it is work, whether it is sport.”

His address also praised sports administrators. “They are a group of people who are overlooked, because the stars of the sport are the people who play. But we all know that without the administrators in sport we wouldn’t have sport. The effort you put in is much appreciated – it’s unsung stuff, it’s behind the scenes, but it’s essential.”

and the awards go to...

Captain Shanon Stallard is the 2006 Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year. CAPT Stallard has achieved excellence as a member of the New Zealand Triathlon Team, with his most recent success being the first New Zealander home in his age group at the 2006 Triathlon World Champs in Switzerland, in September.

The NZ Army Sports Team of 2006 is the NZ Army Women’s Basketball Team, which has won every game at every inter-services tournament since 1996.

The Individual Sportsperson of the Year is the captain of the Women’s Basketball Team, Staff Sergeant Sue Koopu, for her passion and commitment to basketball, both on and off the court.

Sports Official of the Year went to Sergeant Terry Miratana, for his contribution to Army, NZDF, and New Zealand touch rugby. The citation commended him for his exceptional maturity, diplomacy, leadership and professionalism, and said “he is a respected coach whose skills are sought throughout all levels of his sport”.

The Army Pocket for Administration was awarded to Major Rua Pani, for 10 years’ outstanding administrative service to Army basketball. Her citation praised her professionalism, dedication, attention to detail and communication skills, and her ability to create a “high-spirit environment” within the team. The Army Colour was awarded to WO2 Doon Groves, for his outstanding contribution to NZ Army and NZDF softball. As well as being regarded as one of the best softball players in the Defence Force, and as captain of the NZ Army and NZDF men’s sides, WO2 Groves makes a significant contribution to the sport behind the scenes: he is an active member of the Softball Code Committee, helped organise inter-regional and NZDF softball tournaments, and resurrected the Waiouru Softball Club.

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