This is a question which has often been asked by fencers who have recently come into the fencing arena in Western Australia, and which cannot be answered simply by giving a list of tangible benefits.
This is because WAFA does not solely exist to �give out� the goodies in return for a basic payment. It is there to offer a doorway to a network of fencing. WAFA is often the starting point for all enquiries relating to fencing. The WAFA network extends most obviously in the first instance to the clubs in Western Australia, to the other States and then to the rest of the world. It ensures that Western Australian fencers have the best possible access to the national and world-wide fencing network.
WAFA is not a group of administrators acting as a separate entity from the fencers in this state. It is made up of fencers from your club, representing your club members, in a way that can most benefit the sport. WAFA is �you� and �you� are WAFA. The success of WAFA is directly related to the input and support from every fencer in the state.
The best way to try to understand the advantages of WAFA is to imagine what it would be like to have no Association at all � a situation which was a reality as recent as 1995.
For the competitive fencer, the most obvious effect would be the lack of organized State competitions. It is possible for clubs to promote inter-club competition fairly successfully, but without any progression to the sport. The need for a formal structure of competition rankings is essential in the sport. It provides the incentive to strive for higher personal goals and is the only means of moving further up the ladder to interstate and international competition. Without a State Association, no WA fencer could compete interstate unless they affiliated through South Australia (as our closest neighbouring state) because the Australian Fencing Federation [�AFF�] requires all fencers to affiliate through their State body. Without interstate competitions, the standard of WA fencing remains static and boring.
For the social fencer, WAFA also provides a means to contact other clubs and meet other social fencers. Through the other benefits listed below, social fencers can improve their fencing and get the maximum enjoyment out of their fencing. Social fencers can participate in WAFA training camps. They are also regularly informed of the changes in fencing and upcoming events, even if only to be a spectator. On the other hand, social fencers may find the less competitive WAFA competitions worthy of participation.
Qualified coaches conforming to AFF requirements were non-existent in WA in 1995. Through the reformation of the Association, the means to provide fencers with the opportunity for coaching training at both a local and interstate level became available. Three Level 1 courses have been held since 1995 by importing qualified coaching instructors to Perth and six places in the OFMA international level fencing coaching course have been offered to WA coaches in recent years with substantial financial assistance along with it. These programs have a direct and crucial effect on the establishment of WA clubs and could only have been accessed through a peak body like WAFA.
Government funding is the only means by which a sport can improve and progress. Government funding can only be accessed for fencers through the peak body of the particular sport. As a minor sport, fencing in WA has progressed from nil funding in 1995, through to Sports Lottery funding at first, then to Business Level funding within a few years. The annual WAFA awards dinner is regularly attended by representatives of the Department of Sport providing a great deal of impact for the public image of fencing. Government funding over the last seven years has allowed WA fencers to access visiting overseas coaches from Ireland and England, and interstate coaches from South Australia and Victoria. Ultimately, it has allowed WA to arrange for its first ever State Coach and Development Officer to be established under formal and government-approved conditions.
Government funding has resulted in coaching courses, presiding courses, residential camps, equipment repair courses and squad training groups to be administrated. Government funding has assisted interstate fencers in travel expenses and provided reward and encouragement for inaugural interstate competitors. It has also provided electrical equipment for competitions and medals and trophies for the champions.
Through access to government funding, fencing in WA has grown in stature and been given the resulting publicity that accompanies the funding. The funded Development Officer has introduced and developed the best schools programme in Australia [including the Duel des Ecoles] and developed specialized programmes to improve the standard of WA fencing. The bringing of the nationals to Western Australia received wide media interest. All such WAFA initiatives create a growing awareness among the general public which is essential for the growth of fencing and the creation of new clubs. It also creates a new interest for veterans and ex-fencers out in the community who are inspired by the publicity. The potential input from experienced retired fencers can have a very positive effect on fencing in WA, especially when planning major events such as the Nationals in Western Australia.
The links between a state Association and the national federation are very important. The AFF is affiliated to and is a voting member of the world fencing body known as the FIE. An essential information base has been built up through a national information network which allows information to be passed on WAFA affiliated clubs for their benefit. Examples of such information are the Drugs in Sport policy, changes to international [FIE] rules, guidelines for coaches in the area of child protection and sexual abuse, amongst others. Much of this information is crucial to the understanding of the ongoing changes occurring in fencing, particularly in the rules and legal aspects of the sport. The expected standards of behaviour and operational methods in sport have risen dramatically in recent times. WAFA is in the position to receive full information as it comes to hand, and of being available for the distribution of such information to the relevant areas. A network of fully functional member clubs is the only way for this information to be effectively distributed.
The Australian Fencing Federation has been very supportive of WAFA. Each year Western Australia is represented at the Annual General Meeting in Sydney by the Western Australian Board member or other WAFA members. A whole day is set aside each year for discussion of the agenda items by representatives of all the states. This forum is followed by the AGM where the decisions are voted upon. Western Australia plays a dynamic role in the decision making at these meetings with some very substantial benefits. An example is the decision by the AFF to provide a scheme which allows a discount on airfares to delegates meetings proportional to the cost and distance borne by the particular state sending the delegate. Such is the impact of recent WAFA�s success in providing a radical rise in affiliation numbers and practical facilities that our state has been awarded the honour of holding the National Championships here in 2003 and obtained an agreement by the AFF to hold at least one national circuit in WA each year for the next 5 years. These achievements are a highlight in the fencing history of our state and have had untold flow-on benefits for the development of fencing in Western Australia.
WAFA is in the position to link in with other sporting associations and related areas. WAFA is affiliated to the Sports Federation in WA [WASF} and has a permanent representative of the WAFA Committee on WASF who regularly attends their meetings. In this way, the voice of fencing is heard along with those of all other sports in the state and can have important spin-offs in areas such as the availability of permanent sporting venues, access to sponsorship information bases, access to seminars, courses and discussion groups covering many diverse subjects.
Through the WA Sports Federation, WAFA also has access to the Sport Development Forum which provides a point of contact for the Fencing Development Officer to link in with all other sports and development projects. These links were only made available to fencing through the establishment of WAFA.
By being a peak State body, WAFA is able to establish high and consistent standards for fencing in terms of behaviour and administration ethics in order to protect its members and encourage excellence. Policies exist in such areas as a Code of Behaviour, State Selection, Tournaments, Funding and Safety. WAFA also advises clubs on current fencing rules and can provide guidelines for the expected standards of club administration, if required. It assists new clubs in starting up by passing on information from the collective experience of established clubs, including information regarding the availability of coaches, equipment, and current fencing activities. WAFA also loans fencing equipment to new Clubs until they can purchase their own equipment.
Group insurance is an important aspect of membership to WAFA. A comprehensive policy is more readily affordable through a larger group, and this can be an advantage for small clubs particularly in their starting phases. Many sporting insurances are designed to be distributed through WAFA for the benefit of the affiliated clubs.
There is no doubt that a peak body is the only real means of providing an orderly and effective development of the sport of fencing in WA. WAFA was re-established in 1995 to provide exactly that. The two existing clubs at the time were struggling without the support of a peak body and went to great lengths to ensure that the new WAFA would be recognised as a strong force within the Australian fencing circuit and provide an innovative and efficient administrative base. It�s success was proven within a few years when Western Australia was acknowledged as one of the leading States in terms of affiliated numbers and competition results.
It is in the interests of the fencers and the clubs to fully support WAFA. The structure of membership is not only designed to support WAFA but also to act in the interest of its member clubs. Fencer affiliation is not valid for fencers who do not belong to a club, therefore the Association only accepts affiliations through an affiliated club. This ensures firstly that clubs are financially supported by their fencing members and secondly that they are in the position to take a voting stance in WAFA affairs. The affiliation of club members needs to be properly administrated by the club before it can attain its fullest effect and greatest advantage from WAFA. The first six affiliated members enable the club to vote at meetings and the number of following affiliated members determines the strength of the club in its general interaction with WAFA activities and competitions.
The individual fencer can play a very strong supportive role in WAFA in the following ways.
Membership � this is an annual affiliation payable upon joining your club, enabling you to extend your fencing to recognised state levels and to interact both socially and competitively with all other fencers. It provides eligibility for your participation in all events and courses run by WAFA.
Club Representation � this enables you to represent your club on the WAFA Committee and become an effective liaison between WAFA and your club members, maximising the benefits to your club.
WAFA Office Bearer � this means giving extra of your time to assist in the smooth and proper running of WAFA and to provide a continuing high-level standard of service to the members.
WAFA Sub-Committees � this is where you can offer your part-time assistance in an area of your expertise to enable WAFA to set the highest administration standards possible for the extra activities on offer to the members.
Financial Support � your memberships subscriptions provide the additional financial resources to fund the many WAFA programmes and services to members. Your affiliations fees paid to the AFF, give you, through WAFA, a greater say in the development of fencing in Australia and the world.
For someone who just enjoys fencing, or has worked their way up the competitive ranks, or for someone who has enjoyed moving into a coaching role, the necessity for a State association cannot be overstated. If you are a beginner fencer faced with the choice of becoming affiliated or not, the direct benefits from your membership may be a little less obvious to you.
You will need to ask yourself a few questions. Who is my fencing instructor? How did that person become experienced as a competitive fencer or receive coaching qualifications so that I can learn to fence? Where would my club find its coaches if some of its fencers did not take the WAFA & AFF coaching courses, or go further afield to the national or international competitions to face more challenging competition? Where would I [or my child] go to attend a fencing camp or be given the opportunity to experience highly qualified visiting coaches to make my sport more interesting? How would I insure myself against third party liability? Who will provide me access to and protect my interests at a state, national and international level?
�What goes around, comes around� may be very apt in to your membership of WAFA. What you learn as a beginner and as a fencer will be what you will be able to put back into it at a later stage. Your club exists because other fencers and other clubs exist. The stronger your support for the wider fencing picture in WA, nationally & internationally, the stronger and more interesting WA fencing becomes. The collective spirit of fencing is embodied in WAFA and you ensure the success of WAFA.
So what can you get out of WAFA?
The answer lies within you �. as your dreams for an exciting fencing future �. For you, your club & your State �.. begin to unfold, please remember WAFA is you.
Committee
WAFA
