Coaching legend Ric Charlesworth finds talk on culture and team building resonates with St John WA volunteers
Ric Charlesworth's talk on culture and team building in Albany last week resonated with St John WA volunteers as the coaching legend passed on his wisdom to mark National Volunteer Week.
Charlesworth, a former opening batsman for WA and four-time hockey Olympian, was the keynote speaker at an event for St John WA volunteers at Retravision Stadium in Albany on May 23.
Volunteers from around the Great Southern gathered under the banner of 'connecting communities' to take part in a program of activities which included State officials, specialist paramedics and members of the community who had been impacted by St John WA's services.
Charlesworth may be best known for coaching the Australian national hockey teams to huge success, but he was also able to draw on his experiences as a doctor and Federal politician when he addressed the volunteers.
His words certainly struck a chord with Denmark volunteer Nerida Harley who said teamwork in her role was vital.
'We all have different characters and different personalities so the ability to work in a team with other people is vital and is exactly what we do,' she said.
'All the things he spoke about applied to us as volunteers.'
Charlesworth said the overall culture of the organisation was key and there was no room to cut corners.
'If you can create an environment where there are no shortcuts you can have an approach to your training and preparation where you can really push yourselves,' he said.
Toni Melia, the district operations manager for the Great Southern, said the event had had positive feedback.
'All the contributors were really well received and Ric was excellent,' she said.
'The key takeaway for the volunteers was a chance to reconnect with each other.
'We are all spread so far and wide that we don't often get the chance to be together as a whole team so it was a real opportunity for everyone to catch up with old friends and to make new ones.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies legend reveals why he turned down Lions invite
Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper admits time has caught up with him after turning down the opportunity of a final playing farewell against the British and Irish Lions. Hooper was invited to play for the combined Australian and New Zealand XV against the Lions in Adelaide, but told Stan Sport's Inside Line podcast he felt his body was no longer up to the rigours of facing the world's best players. This masthead reported earlier this week that Hooper would not feature in the game, after the former Wallabies captain finished his eight-game stint with Japanese side Toyota Verblitz last month. 'I've played the Lions before, I know that they're a week out from a three-game Test series, and it's getting pointy end of that tour, and you've got probably a fully-fit starting team who's going to play against the Wallabies a week later, champing at the bit, battle-hardened,' Hooper said. 'And I looked at myself and I thought, 'Well, I've had a good time in Japan, they pour a good Asahi [beer], they make a nice rice ball at the local conveni [convenience store]. 'I'm about eight weeks to 10 weeks out of being battle-hardened, not in a Test environment. So I'd have to come home now, train by myself, maybe try and get a run for Manly – which would have been cool as well – but come up against those [Lions] guys in a team that you pulled together for a week. 'As a young guy? Perhaps two years, four years, five years, six years ago – oh my God, how good. 'As an almost 34-year-old who made a fleeting comeback? No, it didn't sound like a game that would be a fairytale ending for me. Not that I was ever after a fairytale ending.'
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Spurs prepared to let skipper Son leave for right price
Tottenham will only listen to significant offers for captain Son Heung-min this summer amid renewed interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, the PA news agency understands. Son was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia two years ago, but rejected advances to stick around for the start of Ange Postecoglou's tenure. Postecoglou subsequently named Son as Spurs captain and last month the South Korean forward led the team to Europa League success to achieve his goal of winning silverware at the club. Speculation over Son's future has been rife during his 10th season at Tottenham and whilst the club triggered a 12-month option in his deal in January, he is set to enter the final year of his contract in July. Son will also turn 33 next month and was affected by injury problems during the 2024-25 campaign, but the Premier League club will only let their talismanic skipper leave for a significant transfer fee, PA understands. Spurs are set to visit South Korea again later this summer for their pre-season - the third time in four years they have travelled to Son's homeland to prepare for a new campaign. Even though Son, who is currently on international duty, only managed 11 goals last term - his lowest return since his debut season - his global status offers enormous commercial value to the club. Son is not the only key figure with an uncertain future with no clarity over Australian head coach Postecoglou, who remains in the dark as to whether he will get a third season at Tottenham. Tottenham will only listen to significant offers for captain Son Heung-min this summer amid renewed interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, the PA news agency understands. Son was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia two years ago, but rejected advances to stick around for the start of Ange Postecoglou's tenure. Postecoglou subsequently named Son as Spurs captain and last month the South Korean forward led the team to Europa League success to achieve his goal of winning silverware at the club. Speculation over Son's future has been rife during his 10th season at Tottenham and whilst the club triggered a 12-month option in his deal in January, he is set to enter the final year of his contract in July. Son will also turn 33 next month and was affected by injury problems during the 2024-25 campaign, but the Premier League club will only let their talismanic skipper leave for a significant transfer fee, PA understands. Spurs are set to visit South Korea again later this summer for their pre-season - the third time in four years they have travelled to Son's homeland to prepare for a new campaign. Even though Son, who is currently on international duty, only managed 11 goals last term - his lowest return since his debut season - his global status offers enormous commercial value to the club. Son is not the only key figure with an uncertain future with no clarity over Australian head coach Postecoglou, who remains in the dark as to whether he will get a third season at Tottenham. Tottenham will only listen to significant offers for captain Son Heung-min this summer amid renewed interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, the PA news agency understands. Son was linked with a move to Saudi Arabia two years ago, but rejected advances to stick around for the start of Ange Postecoglou's tenure. Postecoglou subsequently named Son as Spurs captain and last month the South Korean forward led the team to Europa League success to achieve his goal of winning silverware at the club. Speculation over Son's future has been rife during his 10th season at Tottenham and whilst the club triggered a 12-month option in his deal in January, he is set to enter the final year of his contract in July. Son will also turn 33 next month and was affected by injury problems during the 2024-25 campaign, but the Premier League club will only let their talismanic skipper leave for a significant transfer fee, PA understands. Spurs are set to visit South Korea again later this summer for their pre-season - the third time in four years they have travelled to Son's homeland to prepare for a new campaign. Even though Son, who is currently on international duty, only managed 11 goals last term - his lowest return since his debut season - his global status offers enormous commercial value to the club. Son is not the only key figure with an uncertain future with no clarity over Australian head coach Postecoglou, who remains in the dark as to whether he will get a third season at Tottenham.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Expect plenty of support for England's Barmy Army
England fans are ready to back the team's Ashes tilt in Australia, with more than 50,000 tickets already snapped up by eager travelling supporters. COVID-19 restrictions meant limited support on the last tour of Australia in 2021/22 but, with no such barriers in their way this time, there is set to be a major England presence at the five-match series. Cricket Australia sold a massive 311,066 tickets on the first day of their international pre-sale - a record one-day tally - and reported almost one in six of those were purchased from the United Kingdom. Joel Morrison, CA's general manager of events and operations, said: "We have never seen anything like this in Australian cricket history. "A huge thank you to fans for their incredible passion for the game. Their overwhelming response to this pre-sale reaffirms international cricket's standing as a leading live sporting experience. "With demand at record levels, we encourage fans to secure their tickets early so they don't miss out on summer's biggest event." England - led by allrounder Ben Stokes - and Australia, with Pat Cummins at the helm, will battle for the five-Test Ashes series beginning on November 21 in Perth and ending on January 8 in Sydney. England fans are ready to back the team's Ashes tilt in Australia, with more than 50,000 tickets already snapped up by eager travelling supporters. COVID-19 restrictions meant limited support on the last tour of Australia in 2021/22 but, with no such barriers in their way this time, there is set to be a major England presence at the five-match series. Cricket Australia sold a massive 311,066 tickets on the first day of their international pre-sale - a record one-day tally - and reported almost one in six of those were purchased from the United Kingdom. Joel Morrison, CA's general manager of events and operations, said: "We have never seen anything like this in Australian cricket history. "A huge thank you to fans for their incredible passion for the game. Their overwhelming response to this pre-sale reaffirms international cricket's standing as a leading live sporting experience. "With demand at record levels, we encourage fans to secure their tickets early so they don't miss out on summer's biggest event." England - led by allrounder Ben Stokes - and Australia, with Pat Cummins at the helm, will battle for the five-Test Ashes series beginning on November 21 in Perth and ending on January 8 in Sydney. England fans are ready to back the team's Ashes tilt in Australia, with more than 50,000 tickets already snapped up by eager travelling supporters. COVID-19 restrictions meant limited support on the last tour of Australia in 2021/22 but, with no such barriers in their way this time, there is set to be a major England presence at the five-match series. Cricket Australia sold a massive 311,066 tickets on the first day of their international pre-sale - a record one-day tally - and reported almost one in six of those were purchased from the United Kingdom. Joel Morrison, CA's general manager of events and operations, said: "We have never seen anything like this in Australian cricket history. "A huge thank you to fans for their incredible passion for the game. Their overwhelming response to this pre-sale reaffirms international cricket's standing as a leading live sporting experience. "With demand at record levels, we encourage fans to secure their tickets early so they don't miss out on summer's biggest event." England - led by allrounder Ben Stokes - and Australia, with Pat Cummins at the helm, will battle for the five-Test Ashes series beginning on November 21 in Perth and ending on January 8 in Sydney.
