Glenn Medlend was awarded the inaugural Life Membership of the Broome Sports Association at the 2016 Horizon Power Broome Sports Awards.

In 1979 Glenn Medlend started and organised the very first Sport Star of the Year Awards which he was involved in until 1996. It was revived again in 2009 and Glenn has been at the forefront of organising each award since.
Involved with Broome Turf Club for over 30 years. He played for Towns Football Club winning four premierships in the late seventies. Still does the two up for them at the Roey on Melbourne Cup day. He was a member of Roebuck Cricket Club and represented Broome at the Country Week over many years. He was also a champion surfer. In 1976 he lobbied to secure the current surfboard area at Cable Beach that we see today.

A Councilor from 1979 to 1992 he was chairman of the Sport and Recreation Committee for more than a decade. He was heavily involved in organising the construction of Haynes Oval. When the inaugural North West Games were held in Port Hedland in 1988. Glenn met with all of Broome’s sporting clubs and arranged all the logistics for the event, travelling with about 200 competitors as team manager.

Broome couldn’t hold the games because it had no swimming pool so following the Port Hedland Games he travelled to Perth to look at sporting facilities. He pushed for the development of a swimming pool and recreation centre and to set aside a large area of land for the future development of sporting grounds within the one vicinity. We now call that BRAC, and fittingly the pavilion there is named after him.

So in 1995 Broome hosted the North West games after Glen had successfully applied to do so. The town’s sporting facilities were upgraded leading up to the Games. Glen was on the committee and handling all the accommodation and entry forms for over 1100 visiting competitors and for more than 20 different sporting events. To this day we haven’t seen anything like it in Broome.

In the history section of BSA website is the only collated record of the story of Broome sport. It’s one of the reasons the Broome Sports Awards and the BSA is so important. It wouldn’t be recorded had it not been for the foresight of Glenn Medlend.
Glenn Medlend is passionate about our sporting community and the people involved in it. Even if he doesn’t know you. He still cares. He has been like that for most of his 40 years in Broome.

If you look at the winner of the 1985 rising star on the program. You’ll notice the name Albert Bandamara. Glenn recognised he was an exceptional talent in athletics and basketball so he played a key role in getting him to Perth for the state championships. Worried about how he would go in the big city he arranged for him to train with the state basketball team and organised someone to check in on him during the trip to make sure he was comfortable. A man by the name of Polly Farmer.

Albert Bandarmarra finished the state titles with 4 gold and 2 silver and became the first Kimberley athlete to compete at the event. His talent won the events, but Glenn’s attention to detail played a role. Interesting to note that so many organisations now work hard to ensure mentors are available for those relocating from Indigenous communities. Glenn was ahead of his time.

At the Broome Sports Association and in this community Glenn is the link between the sporting past and its present. Although times have changed and there are new ways to perform old tasks some things never change. To do what we all do you need to have a passion for it and you need to be willing to put in a thankless shift. There is no better example of that than Glenn Medlend.

Mike Doyle was awarded Life Membership of the Broome Sports Association at the 2020 Broome Sports Awards.

Mike Doyle started his commitment to sport in Broome as a journalist for the Broome Advertiser and continuing to kick goals in this area he became a committee member of the Broome Soccer Association which later led to him being the president of the Broome Soccer Association.

Following his career as a journalist, Mike was employed by the Shire of Broome in the role of Club Development Officer. In his early days as club Development Officer it was Mike’s role to assist Broome Sporting clubs to start up and ensure they were following correct governance. There would be very few clubs in Broome today that have not sought out Mike’s assistance, whether it be for the incorporations act, starting up as a new club or just general assistance with day to day operations within clubs.

There was a short period where Mike stepped away from this role to go travelling but as is common with people of Broome, he returned to the same role and to this day continues to provide much valued assistance to sporting clubs which includes the organising and delivery of training and webinars. 2020 was particularly challenging in that area with COVID-19 but Mike organised a series of free webinars that clubs members could participate in.

In 2007 Mike joined the Broome Sports Association Committee in the role of Vice President volunteering his time along Side Paul White. From here they endeavored to bring back the Broome Sports Awards which hadn’t been hosted in Broome since 1996. In 2009, together they saw this major event return to Broome!

In 2014 when Mike returned from travelling, he was straight back into it as Vice President of the Broome Sports Association. In 2014 Mike played a key role in assisting to secure funding and develop the successful program which is now known as the Broome Talent Development Program where junior athletes from all different sports in Broome have the opportunity to train and gain the necessary knowledge they require to become an elite athlete. This program would not have been successful if it wasn’t for the commitment of Mike Doyle, making phone calls and building networks with sports within Broome inviting them to nominate athletes to the program. Mike’s influence and respect allowed the Broome Sports Association to engage former Broome local, Sam Newton and his business partner Mel O’Neil, from Athlete X in Perth to deliver a strong program which put young Broome athletes on the map in the big city.

In 2014 Mike also stepped into the role of President of the Broome Sports Association continuing to deliver the successful Broome Sports Awards which continues to get bigger and better each year.

In 2020 with a heavy heart Mike stepped down from the Presidents role from the Broome Sports Association but continues to assist the current committee when help is needed. Mike served on the Broome Sports Association committee for 13 years and his knowledge is invaluable but he has now earnt a well-deserved rest and spends it with his lovely partner Mon and daughters Suhani and Mae. Broome Sports Association inducted Mike Doyle for life membership in appreciation of the immense work he has done not only for the Broome Sports Association but for sport in Broome. Mike has been an inspiration and a role model to all. Mike is respected and admired through the work that he does and has become an ambassador for the Broome Sporting community.

Mark Hubbard was awarded Life Membership of the Broome Sports Association in recognition of his exceptional service, commitment and contribution to the Association and the broader Broome sporting community.

Mark Hubbard first joined the Broome Sports Association committee in 2017 as a general committee member. From the outset, Mark brought a strong desire to improve the way the Association operated, combining hands-on involvement with a focus on efficiency, professionalism and finding better ways of doing things.

In 2018, Mark stepped into the role of Secretary and began what would become a significant period of modernisation for the Association. He reconfigured the Association’s email systems, improved its communications and completely overhauled the Broome Sports Association website. These changes transformed the Association’s online presence into something more professional and user-friendly and helped it keep pace with the changing needs of the community.

Mark also recognised the need to modernise the Association’s internal processes. He introduced Google Drive to improve document sharing and collaboration across the committee, helping establish more efficient ways of managing Association information. His eye for detail was also evident in the professional presentations he created for the Broome Sports Awards, helping to elevate the experience for members and guests attending one of the Association’s major events.

In 2019, Mark became Vice President of the Broome Sports Association before stepping into the role of President in 2020, leading alongside Kira as Vice President. During his time as President, Mark guided the Association through challenging circumstances while maintaining a strong focus on integrity, fairness and the future of the organisation. His contribution extended across logistics, events and the ongoing operation of the Association, with a consistent commitment to improving the experience of those involved in Broome sport.

Mark’s legacy with the Broome Sports Association is one of transformation and modernisation. Through his work on the Association’s systems, communications, website and internal processes, he helped strengthen the way the organisation operated and supported its continuing role within community sport in Broome.

Throughout his years with the Association, Mark willingly tackled challenges both large and small and contributed countless volunteer hours behind the scenes. His professionalism, attention to detail and humble leadership have left a lasting mark on the Broome Sports Association.

The Broome Sports Association inducted Mark Hubbard as a Life Member in recognition and appreciation of his years of dedicated service, leadership and contribution to the Association and the Broome sporting community.

Kira Fong was awarded Life Membership of the Broome Sports Association in recognition of her outstanding service, dedication and contribution to the Association and the Broome sporting community.

Kira Fong joined the Broome Sports Association in 2019, bringing with her a strong passion for sport and community engagement. Even before joining the committee, Kira expressed her belief that participation in local sport played an important role in building vibrant, energetic and united communities, and she wanted to make a positive and meaningful contribution to sport in Broome.

From the beginning, Kira brought that passion to every project, initiative and role she undertook. Her commitment to moving the Broome Sports Association forward was particularly evident through her work developing grants, sponsorships and partnerships for the Association.

Kira played a pivotal role in securing sponsorship support and building connections with local businesses and government bodies. Her work helped provide important support for key Broome Sports Association initiatives, including the Talent Development Program and the annual Broome Sports Awards.

Another significant contribution was Kira’s work connecting the Broome Sports Association with Goolarri Media. Through this collaboration, she played a key role in developing voiceovers and other media content, including live streaming, which helped increase the visibility of the Sports Awards. Kira also brought her own personality to the event through her entertaining work as MC.

Together with her sponsorship work, these initiatives helped enhance the Association’s media presence, professionalism and engagement with the Broome community.

Kira’s contribution, however, extended well beyond major projects and partnerships. She consistently supported her fellow committee members, contributed new ideas and helped ensure the success of Association events. Her positive energy, dedication, sense of humour and attention to detail made her a valued member of the Broome Sports Association team.

During her time with the Association, Kira Fong served as a committee member and later as Vice President. In these roles, she maintained a strong focus on the future of the Association, bringing fresh perspectives, creative solutions and a deep commitment to growing sport in Broome and strengthening the sense of community that surrounds it.

Kira gave countless hours of her time, energy and expertise to the Broome Sports Association. Her leadership, vision and work ethic made a lasting impact on the Association and reflected the passion for sport, Broome and community that originally inspired her to become involved.

The Broome Sports Association inducted Kira Fong as a Life Member in recognition and appreciation of her outstanding service and contribution to the Association and sport in Broome.

Trenna Wadge was awarded Life Membership of the Broome Sports Association in recognition of her outstanding service, leadership and contribution to the Association and the broader Broome sporting community.

For more than a decade, Trenna Wadge has contributed to sport in Broome through her involvement with the Broome Netball Association, Broome Towns Sporting Club, the Broome Sports Association and the wider sporting community. Her contribution has been characterised by a passion for sport, a strong commitment to developing local athletes and a determination to turn ideas into opportunities.

Trenna joined the Broome Sports Association committee in 2019 as a general committee member. In 2020, during the challenges presented by COVID-19, she stepped into the role of Talent Development Program Coordinator and began what would become a significant period of growth and development for the program.

In 2021, Trenna brought a new vision to the Talent Development Program. She wanted to provide Broome’s young athletes with more than a weekend of training at BRAC and proposed taking participants away on a dedicated development camp. That vision became a reality with the first of three camps held at Port Smith between 2021 and 2023.

Under Trenna’s leadership, the Talent Development Program grew from 13 athletes to 38 athletes representing 10 different sports at its peak. However, her contribution went well beyond growing participation. Trenna worked to ensure partnerships were honoured, collaborations continued to develop and athletes had access to strength and conditioning sessions as well as face-to-face and online workshops.

Year after year, Trenna continued to develop the program and provide high-quality opportunities and experiences for its participants. She also encouraged the athletes to become involved in the wider Broome community, including leading the team to a second-place finish in the dragon boat races.

Throughout her time with the program, Trenna was a strong advocate for Broome’s young athletes. She continually looked for innovative ways to overcome some of the challenges faced by regional athletes, including distance, cost and limited access to elite training opportunities. Her belief in the potential of local talent and her determination to create meaningful opportunities helped take the Talent Development Program to new heights.

When the Talent Development Program transitioned from the Broome Sports Association in 2024, Trenna remained an important member of the committee, continuing to provide guidance and support as the program moved towards a collective leadership model.

Trenna Wadge’s contribution to the Broome Sports Association reflects her passion, perseverance and commitment to developing sport in Broome. Through her leadership of the Talent Development Program, her advocacy for young athletes and her wider involvement in the sporting community, she has made a lasting contribution to both the Association and the athletes and coaches it supports.

The Broome Sports Association inducted Trenna Wadge as a Life Member in recognition and appreciation of her outstanding service, leadership and impact on sport in Broome.