Norwest Flyball wins 2022 Club of the Year award

At it’s 2022 Annual General Meeting held in August, the Australian Flyball Association has announced the winner of this year’s awards, with the Norwest Thunderdogs Flyball Club taking out the award for CLUB OF THE YEAR!

Recognised for its continuous progress and commitment to growing the sport, the Norwest Thunderdogs Flyball Club was awarded Club of the Year for earning the most amount of points out of all the flyball clubs across Australia.

The criteria and accrued points for this prestigious award is calculated as follows:

  • for each race meeting hosted by the club during the year – 25 points for each full day of racing;
  • for each race meeting held during the year in which the club has entered a team in regular class – 10 points
  • for the first team entered in regular class and 2 points for each additional team entered in regular class;
  • for each demonstration hosted by the club during the year – 25 points;
  • for each member of the club who is a member of the AFA committee – 10 points;
  • for each member of the club who is a judge – 10 points;
  • for each member of the club who is a registered timekeeper – 5 points;
  • for each member of the club who is a registered steward – 2 points.

This is then awarded yearly to the club with the highest number of points for the year.

The Norwest Thunderdogs were proud to receive this national honour in recognition of our efforts in striving to excel despite the challenges of a lingering pandemic.

Well done Thunderdogs for all of your hard work!

Norwest Flyball wins 2022 LUXlife Magazine award

LUXlife magazine has announced the winners of this year’s Pet Product & Services Awards, with the Norwest Thunderdogs Flyball Club taking out the award for Best Flyball Dog Training Club 2022 – Australia

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which was founded in 2015. Distributed to a circulation of 238,000 globally, LUXlife launched the Pet Products and Services Awards several years ago to recognise those companies and individuals who endeavoured to define the luxury pet market. This year, following a challenging couple of years, they have aspired to recognise those that have thrived despite uncertainty, grown despite overwhelming odds, and capitalised on any opportunity.

LUXlife aims to acknowledge the every-day hard work and achievements of those that set best practices and benchmarks for all others to follow. On the eve of the announcement, Awards Coordinator Emma Pridmore took a moment to congratulate the winners. “It has been a delight to engage and inform all of those awarded that their hard-earned achievements have been recognised. It is my pleasure to be able to offer you my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the rest of the year.”

To find out more about these prestigious awards, and the dedicated establishments that have been selected for them, please visit http://www.lux-review.com/ where you can view the full winners list.

Norwest Flyball Inc. COVID-19 Plan

Version 3, last updated 11th October 2021
(Originally based on NSW Dept of Sport and Recreation proforma).

Plan for Flyball training activities and sanctioned flyball competitions.

Norwest Flyball Club Inc. (the Club) has updated its COVID-19 Safety Plan to create and maintain a safe environment for all Norwest Flyball club members, volunteers and visitors effective from October 2021. The update takes into account the NSW Roadmap for return to community sport effective from the State achieving the 80% fully vaccinated level. A further update of this Plan will occur prior to 1st December to reflect the Public Health Orders as from that date.

Please Note – All Organisations MUST follow the current COVID-19 Public Health Orders, and also manage risks to participants and other people in accordance with Work Health and Safety laws. For more information visit  nsw.gov.au.

Effective from the “Target date” – 25th October, the likely 80% Vaccination date, Community sport can resume for fully vaccinated participants. Norwest Flyball Club has established a register of members over 16 years of age who have supplied evidence of two doses of vaccine and only those vaccinated members, members with medical exemption under the Health Orders or members under the age of 16 may take part in flyball training or competition up until 1st December. Attendance will be checked against the Register at each visit and members may be asked to display proof of vaccination. Members who achieve double vaccination status subsequent to 25th October should submit evidence of vaccination to the Club Treasurer who will update the Club Vaccination Register.

The following requirements and actions are to be adhered to keep members, participants, volunteers and visitors safe.

All members and participants are required to comply with this plan when organising or undertaking any flyball activity.

All members are required to stay away from all flyball activity if they are not fully vaccinated or are feeling unwell or displaying any symptoms of flu like infection. They should stay at home and arrange to get tested for coronavirus. Members who at any time feel they may be immune-compromised should consider avoiding Club activities during that time. In the event that a member/participant is identified as having been a close contact of a person with Coronavirus or returns a positive test they must immediately advise the Club Coronavirus Coordinator/Organiser Brian L via email or phone.

Wellbeing of members and visitorsThe Club will display conditions of participation, including this Plan, on the Club website and will plan all activities to comply with the current restrictions on participant numbers.

When hiring any facility, the Club will consult with the owners/operators to address these requirements and to understand what measures may already be in place. 

The Club will ensure its COVID-19 Safety Plan is communicated to and understood by all members.
Physical distancing – People attending flyball training or sanctioned events must at all times maintain a minimum of 1.5 metres separation from other people and avoid gathering in groups.The Club will ensure the number of people in an enclosed facility does not exceed one person per 4 square metres – the maximum number of people allowed in the Club gear room at any one time is 3.Masks are to be worn when in any indoor area. Outdoor the limit is 1 person per 2 square metres and masks do not need to be worn.

The Club Instructors will determine training group participation numbers and members are required to avoid co-mingling of participants from different training group.  

The Club will, as far is possible, ensure any spectators are fully vaccinated and comply with 1.5 metres physical distancing.  Note – People who live in the same household are not required to distance.

Members are required to adhere to any nominated staggered arrival and departure times and to avoid group gatherings that may occur immediately outside the grounds, such as with drop off and pick up times.

The Club will use telephone or video platforms for essential club meetings where practical.
Hygiene and CleaningAll members and visitors are required to adopt good hand hygiene practices.

The Club will ensure hand sanitiser is accessible at the venue entry and at training locations on grounds.

The Club will ensure any bathrooms are stocked with hand soap and paper towels.

Members and participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles. Avoid shared food and drinks.

Wellbeing of members and visitors
The Club will display conditions of participation, including this Plan, on the Club website and will plan all activities to comply with the current restrictions on participant numbers.

When hiring any facility, the Club will consult with the owners/operators to address these requirements and to understand what measures may already be in place. 

The Club will ensure its COVID-19 Safety Plan is communicated to and understood by all members.
Physical distancing – People attending flyball training or sanctioned events must at all times maintain a minimum of 1.5 metres separation from other people and avoid gathering in groups.
The Club will ensure the number of people in an enclosed facility does not exceed one person per 4 square metres – the maximum number of people allowed in the Club gear room at any one time is 3.Masks are to be worn when in any indoor area. Outdoor the limit is 1 person per 2 square metres and masks do not need to be worn.

The Club Instructors will determine training group participation numbers and members are required to avoid co-mingling of participants from different training group.  

The Club will, as far is possible, ensure any spectators are fully vaccinated and comply with 1.5 metres physical distancing.  Note – People who live in the same household are not required to distance.

Members are required to adhere to any nominated staggered arrival and departure times and to avoid group gatherings that may occur immediately outside the grounds, such as with drop off and pick up times.

The Club will use telephone or video platforms for essential club meetings where practical.

Hygiene and Cleaning
All members and visitors are required to adopt good hand hygiene practices.

The Club will ensure hand sanitiser is accessible at the venue entry and at training locations on grounds.

The Club will ensure any bathrooms are stocked with hand soap and paper towels.

Members and participants are encouraged to bring their own water bottles. Avoid shared food and drinks.

The Club will ensure that frequently used indoor hard surface areas, such as light switches, door handles. sign in counter, are cleaned before the start of training, first with detergent and water, and then disinfectant. 

Members are encouraged to bring their own pen for signing.

The Club will minimise sharing of equipment where practical and ensure that the handling surfaces of equipment, including flyball boxes, turning boards and jump aids are wiped down with disinfectant before start of activity, at any group changeover and at end of activity.

Disinfectant solutions and wipes need to be maintained at an appropriate strength and used in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions.
Record keepingClub will maintain, via the NSW Government QR code system, a record of all participants attending training or any sanctioned community sports activity. Records are to be used only for the purposes of tracing COVID-19 infections– ALL persons attending any activity MUST sign in via the QR code – if you don’t have a smart phone ask to be assisted.

The Club will make members and volunteers aware of the COVID Safe app and its benefits to support contact tracing if required.

The Club will cooperate with NSW Health if contacted in relation to a positive case
of COVID-19 at its activities.

Cancellation of Norwest Flyball Competitions in 2021

Due to the extended lockdown for NSW, and the continuing risks of COVID-19, the Norwest Thunderdogs regret to advise the flyball community and members of the public that our Flyball race meets for the rest of 2021 will be cancelled.

Following the cancellation of our Chills in the Hills weekend, previously scheduled for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 July at Castle Hill Showground, our upcoming Birthday Bash competition scheduled for Saturday 11 September will sadly meet this same fate.

As the current pandemic crisis increases to pose such a health risk to the community, the Norwest Thunderdogs urge everyone to adhere to the NSW Health measures to help protect the most vulnerable in our community.

With uncertainty surrounding the limitations of community sports post-lockdown, and the impossibility of our club being able to set up prior to the event date, our club has made the unfortunate but necessary decision to cancel our Flyball weekend.

We hope everyone stays safe during what is again a very challenging time for our sport, and look forward to being able to race again in the flyball ring soon

Stay home. Stay safe.