Week 22: Sport

Monday, 11 August 2014

The University of Western Sydney has a long and very distinguished sporting heritage (dating back to 1891 with its predecessor organisation, Hawkesbury Agricultural College's first Rugby Union team). Staff and students have always been encouraged to pursue sports as well as caring for their general health and wellbeing with many gym and sporting facilities available and with the introduction of the  UWS Elite Athletes Scholarship and the Elite Athlete and Performer Program (EAP).

To name but a few students/graduates of UWS:

• Frank Puletua studied a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) graduating in 2006, and played rugby league for Penrith Panthers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Samoa
• Sandra Brondello studied a Diploma of Teaching (Component of Bachelor of Education) in 1990, represented Australia at three Olympics in basketball (1996-2002 wining 2 silver and 1 bronze medal) before retiring and becoming a coach. Sandy is currently coaching the Phoenix Mercury in Arizona
• Fiona Crawford studied a Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) in 1997 and was in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Softball teams (winning bronze and silver medals)
• Stephen Wooldridge studied a Bachelor of Technology Management (Manufacturing) in 2000 and represented Australia at the 2004 Olympics in cycling
•  Josh Lalor studied a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Marketing) in 2013, and plays cricket for NSW and the Sydney Sixers
• Mal Meninga studied a Graduate Certificate in Management, graduating in 2002 and played rugby league for the Canberra Raiders, Queensland and Australia and now coaches Queensland
• James Clark, a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (Property) student, made his Olympic debut as a Goalkeeper in the Australian Men's Water Polo team in London 2012
• Michael Auprince, a Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Primary) student, represented Australia at the 2012 London Paralympic Games and won gold and bronze medals in swimming
• Dani Samuels UWS Bachelor of Arts student, represented Australia in the Women's Discus Throw in 2008 and 2012 and has just recently won a gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games

From the archives

Image gallery

From the Archives this week we have:

• In the above image gallery, Football (Rugby Union) team - 1st XV, 1891 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)] (P621)
• Intercollegiate sporting teams and the College Principals [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)] 1969 (P1296)
• Hockey team - 2nd XI, 1917 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)] (P1222)
• Cricket team, 1898 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)] (P1664)
• Intercollegiate Rifle & Tennis Teams, 1937 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC)] (P6062)
• Staff Member - Michael Reid - Body building pose on a beach (P3642)
• 51st Annual Athletics Meeting - Programme & Results, 1946 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College Sports Club] (AI-19907) (PDF, 363.12 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Newspaper articles - Tennis & Rifle Matches, 1937 [Hawkesbury Agricultural College] (AI-19906) (PDF, 75.88 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Student Card Andrew Murray (Boy) Charlton (Special Course - Plots, Shops, Carpentry, Blacksmith & Saddler) (12/015780) (PDF, 1052.17 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Women On The Move: Women, Sport and Physical Activity Nov 1990 (CP99-0705) (PDF, 558.42 KB) (opens in a new window)

Did you know?

The earliest Olympian to study at one of UWS' predecessor bodies was Andrew "Boy" Charlton who studied at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and first represented Australia in swimming as a 16 year old in 1924. Charlton represented at three separate Olympics and won one gold, three silver and one bronze medal.