Trio joins the Joondalup Walk of Fame
One of the country’s most celebrated weightlifters and two prominent First Nations leaders and are the three newest inductees into the City of Joondalup’s Walk of Fame, which coincides with Joondalup’s 25th anniversary.
Salvatore ‘Sam’ Castiglione, Dr Rishelle Hume and Sharon Wood-Kenney have had their names immortalised on bronzed-plated pavers that can be found along Joondalup’s Central Walk.
They join the 11 inaugural inductees including Justin Langer, Daniel Ricciardo and Sean Tan, who have had strong connections to the City of Joondalup and have achieved success at an elite level.
Salvatore ‘Sam’ Castiglione competed for Australia at the Edmonton 1978 Commonwealth Games, breaking two Games’ records on the way to winning a gold medal in the middleweight class.
Dr Rishelle Hume has had almost three decades of experience in Aboriginal engagement, including roles in employment, education, justice, and health.
Sharon Wood-Kenney is the current Chair of the City’s Reconciliation Action Plan Community Reference Group and has played a key role in the development of the City’s first Reconciliation Plan, which is expected to be endorsed by Joondalup Council in late-2023.
Joondalup celebrates its 25th anniversary on Saturday 1 July 2023.
“As we reflect on our journey as a City, it is a fitting time to honour and thank some of those people who have contributed towards Joondalup’s success over the past 25 years,” Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob said.
“Joondalup is a City that has always encouraged its community members, no matter what area of interest they have, to follow their dreams.
“Since our earliest days, we have been home to many high-achieving members of the community who have made significant impacts at a local, national or international level. Our latest inductees are no exception.
“I congratulate Sam, Rishelle and Sharon and I look forward to seeing more names being added to the Walk of Fame in years to come.”
Among the selection criteria, Walk of Fame recipients must have resided in the City for over five years and /or attended a school within the City for more than five years.
The trio joins Justin Langer (cricket), Daniel Ricciardo (Formula 1), Greg Hire (basketball), Matt Priddis (football), Casey Dellacqua (tennis), Jessica Bratich Johnson (karate), Brian Bratich (karate), Shaun Tan (artist illustrator, comic books and film), Michael Malone (iiNet), Mike Hussey (cricket) and David Hussey (cricket).
The profiles of all members can be viewed via a QR code at the location or here.
Inductees – Background
Weightlifter Salvatore ‘Sam’ Castiglione competed for Australia at the Edmonton 1978 Commonwealth Games, breaking two Commonwealth Games’ records on the way to winning a gold medal in the middleweight class (75kg class).
It was the highlight of a long and distinguished career which included numerous state records (in NSW) 32 national records – 14 of them Commonwealth records and two Games’ records (1978).
He has remained in the sport ever since his athletic career concluded, inspiring the next generation of lifters as a coach and as an administrator.
Sam is the former President of Australian Commonwealth Games WA Division and started the Connolly Weightlifting Club; a suburb where he has resided for the past three decades.
Sam was also instrumental in resurrecting weightlifting in WA in 1988 which was dormant for many years.
He has filled many roles at Weightlifting WA – where he has been a life member since 2005 – including that of Honorary State Treasurer, Honorary Vice President and Honorary State Secretary, as well as serving as an Executive Council member.
Sam was the Australian Oceania team’s U/15 and U/17 assistant coach that competed at Commonwealth Championships on the Gold Coast in 2017. The current coach at Grizzly’s Weightlifting Club, Sam is also an accredited National weightlifting referee and a Life Member of the Commonwealth Games WA Division.
Dr Rishelle Hume AM is a proud Noongar woman with traditional ties to the Whadjuk, Ballardong and Gnaala Karla Boodja peoples.
A mother of three, the Joondalup resident is a direct descendent and granddaughter of the highly respected Noongar Wadjuk Elders, Mr Patrick, and Ms Lorna Hume; a duo that spent their lives tirelessly promoting Aboriginal rights and Noongar culture.
Following in her grandparent’s footsteps she has had almost three decades of experience in Aboriginal engagement including in the fields of employment, education, justice, and health.
This has included roles as chairperson of the Mandjah Boodjah Aboriginal Corporation and co-chairperson of the Western Australian Aboriginal Leadership Institute, a body she co-founded to inspire and support Aboriginal people to take up leadership opportunities to strengthen their families and communities.
Sharon Wood-Kenney is a proud Noongar Yamatji woman with connections across Whadjuk Boorloo, (Perth) and connecting songlines across Western Australia.
The Sorrento resident is changing the narrative when it comes to moving forward as a nation and towards reconciliation.
A Sorrento resident, Sharon is the designer and presenter of the Perception Is OUR Truth Diversity, Equity Cultural Immersion training program
Sharon is confident we can all walk together respectfully to be the “generation of positive change.”
Inducted into the WA Women’s Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in areas including mental health, domestic violence, youth, families and Elders’ yarning circles, Sharon is also the founder and chair of the Djinda Bridiya Wellbeing Australian Aboriginal Corporation, Djinda Falcons and various other education, leadership and mentoring programs that connect children, families, teachers and agencies to achieve best-case outcomes.
Sharon is an advocate for cross-cultural awareness through community representation in media, local government and media.
In her latest role as business owner and executive cultural navigator for South West Kinships Cultural Immersions, Tours, Education and Training, she engages and delivers unique cultural experiences and behavioural change workshops for children, schools and businesses including Tourism Australia.
Through a new initiative for wellbeing and leadership, The Brody (Wood) Kenney Legacy, Walk for Brody – Sharon promotes safe spaces to belong, heal, grow and innovate for living our best lives, together respectfully. In 2022 Sharon was the Chair of the City of Joondalup Reconciliation Action Plan Community Reference Group.
