The Queen Comes to Cootamundra

 In today’s world of endorsements, multi-million dollar contracts and tacky footwear commercials, the words “superstar” and “legend” tend to get thrown around like cheap confetti at a Greek wedding.

 So it was with great excitement that the Cootamundra Sports Leadership Foundation announced in 2005 that they had managed to secure a “genuine” “superstar” and “legend” as the first of their Camp Leaders for the 2005 Sports Leadership Camp.

 Louise Sauvage, through her words and actions, has been a shining example of courage and dedication to people around the world since she burst onto the disability sports scene at the World Championships in 1990 at the tender age of 16.

 Her Gold Medal winning performance at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in-front of 108,000 screaming spectators was for many, the high-light of the games. 

Cootamundra Sports Leadership Foundation Chairman, Mr Michael Campbell announced in October 2004 that Miss Sauvage had agreed to visit Cootamundra to participate as a Camp Co-Leader in the 2005 Camp. 

Mr Campbell stated; 

“Louise has been keen to come down and play a part in the Camp for some time now, however, domestic and international sporting commitments have always stood in the way until now.” 

“I was in contact with Louise in the lead up to the 2004 Paralympics, and knew quite early of her intentions to retire at the end of the games.” 

“Once she got her personal and media commitments out of the way after the games, I met with her and managed to convince her to come to Cootamundra and stay a while.” 

The decision by Miss Sauvage to come on board as a Camp leader adds to an already impressive list of elite athletes who have made their way to Cootamundra in March each year to participate in the annual camp.  

Names such as Duncan Armstrong, Susie Maroney, Mark Kerry and 2004 Athens Paralympic Medallist Heath Francis have each attended the Camp, and each one of them has left Cootamundra as a fan of the concept. 

“Having Louise come along for the weekend was not only good for the Camp, but it also gave the Camp participants and the people of Cootamundra the opportunity to see and make welcome one of the greatest athletes of this or any other era.” said Mr Campbell. 

“Each of the elite athletes that we invite to be a Camp leader are very well versed in what we are trying to achieve as a Foundation. They come here because they believe that they can help in some way – not for the small amount of money that we offer them.” 

“Most of our Camp leaders now come on the recommendation of a previous Camp leader – to have someone of the calibre of Louise Sauvage be recommended to come here and agree to come, speaks volumes for the Camp and its format.”

Canoeing and Archery make a welcome return 

Canoeing and Archery make a welcome return to the program at the 2006 Cootamundra Sports Leadership Foundation Camp after a number of year’s absence.

Both events are scheduled at the Railway Dam on the outskirts of town and should be hugely popular if previous Camps are anything to go by.

NSW Department of Sport and Recreation trainers will again put the participants through a rigorous workout with lots of laughs guaranteed along the way.

Careful with those trendy sunglasses though – once they fall in they never come back!

Camp Leaders to be revealed in December

With the December announcement date fast approaching, The Foundation is on track to announce their Camp leaders for the 2006 Camp.

The Camp leaders play a major role in the success of the Camp and the efforts of both Louise Sauvage and Sarah Ryan at the 2005 Camp will be remembered for many years to come.

The leaders will again speak at the annual Camp dinner and will share their experiences with participant all weekend.

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