Gerry Knights says it’s always exciting to see South West Academy of Sport athletes experience success on the fields of dreams.
But the man who has been there as chief executive officer since the birth of the academy 25 years ago loves it just as much when these athletes return home to give back to their community.
That’s because, as Knights explains, the academy also prides itself on developing the next generation of local community citizens and business leaders.
The most recent example Knights can point to is newly arrived academy sport programs manager Alley Hanagan.
No stranger to either the elite sporting or business arena, this has been the young woman’s full circle moment.
Ms Hannagan says she never thought while being inducted into the academy at age 13 as a hockey squad member in 2011 that 11 years later she would return as sports program manager.
“I started my journey with hockey at the age of five,’’ she says now.
“My parents signed me up for hockey because my pre-school best friend’s family played. Neither my parents, nor I, had any idea the journey that decision was about to take us on.
“The academy was my first experience of what it meant to be an athlete.
“I still remember fondly the pride I had when I was selected for the academy, and each time I put on the academy uniform.
“Whilst small in stature, I always prided myself on my hard-work and determination to succeed. They were, and still are, two of my biggest assets.’’
A bit of a late bloomer, Alley Hanagan was 17 when she played representative hockey.
“Much of my early hockey career included local representative teams, the academy, and junior NSW state squads,’’ she says.
“I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to not only play for NSW, but when the opportunity presented itself to also captain the NSW team, I was ready.
“I genuinely believe the core values the academy embodies are what guides the majority of our athletes to be successful, in so many parts of their lives.
“And I hope my story resonates with our young athletes, and inspires them to keep chasing their dreams.’’
