News Archive

The worst-kept secret on campus was finally out in the open at the annual Staff Sports and Fun Day.

A flashmob, code-named Beetroot, had been rehearsing for five weeks and they burst onto the stage in the University Club amphitheatre during the sports opening ceremony.

Aya Kelly and Jenny Yeap from the Business School (which produced last year's memorable Gangnam Style ) taught, supervised, organised and enthused more than 30 non-dancers to create a performance that they hope dazzled their colleagues.

The Registrar Peter Curtis handed over the flame to Professor John Dell, whose Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics will take over the running of the SSFD from next year.

Then more than 400 competitors played team sports including volleyball, netball, soccer, bocce and table tennis with other took part in the inaugural Centennial Challenge, which involved hula hoops, eggs on spoons and water bombs.

Samantha Shepherd, who competed in the 2011 New York Marathon, after training with a group of young Indigenous athletes under Rob de Castella, won the women's VC's dash.  (Sam is an engineering graduate who is currently working in the Aspire Office - part of the Registrar's group.)

Mike Brutty from Finance and Resources seemed to float above the ground as he won the traditional Indigenous game of Fly as well as the men's VC's dash.

Determined group from Finance and Resources won the hotly-contested tug-of-war, beating even the fit young Sport and Recreation staff who had worked so hard organising the event.

Unicredit provided hundreds of bottles of cold water and the major prizes; the University Club provided a very welcome late lunch; UniPrint and UWA sport and Rec were also sponsors. Thanks to all of them for making it a successful and memorable day.