Athletics Australia Merit Awards

Athletics Australia was delighted to confer its Merit Award upon ten outstanding contributors to the sport.

The presentations were made at a special function held in conjunction with the Australian Athletics Championships in Brisbane in March.

The awards were the first made since Athletics Australia, in conjunction with its Member Associations, reviewed the national awards system, and established a Special Awards Committee.

They will also most probably be the last in this format, with Athletics Australia moving towards a resolution by the end of 2008 that will see all existing and future recipients of its current Merit Award, become Life Members of the sport, and existing Life Members being accorded the title of Life Governor.

The recipients were:

Peter Bowman (ACT) – a former athlete and coach, Peter Bowman was one of the original employees of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) when it began operations in Canberra, rising to hold a number of key positions with both the AIS and Athletics Australia, including as a manager of Australian athletics teams.

Peter became the first High Performance Manager in Australian sport when the AIS and Athletics Australia collaborated in developing the jointly appointed position. His knowledge of how the system worked was of immense value to the sport as it enjoyed a highly successful period in particular during the 1990s as it prepared for the Sydney Olympics. Athletics Australia could have had few better people in its corner as sport in Australia moved into a new era of high demand on its key personnel.

He continues to make a contribution to the sport as President of the Australian Track and Field Coaches’ Association.

Pat Clohessy (Queensland) – after representing Australia in the Commonwealth Games in Perth in 1962, Pat Clohessy began an impressive career as a coach that continues to this day.

A “guru” to the distance running fraternity, Pat is perhaps best known for guiding Rob de Castella from a promising schoolboy to world and Commonwealth champion, but he is equally respected for his willingness to help any athlete whatever their ability and his never failing optimism for what the athlete might be able to achieve.

Pat served as a coach on Australian teams and spent a long period as a professional coach at the AIS, before moving to Brisbane to become part of the team that has developed an excellent athletics hub and culture at the University of Queensland track.

Ron Crawford (New South Wales) – a three time Olympian as a race walker, Ron Crawford has subsequently produced a lifetime of dedication to athletics at all levels.

Whether it be as a doyen of his club, Randwick Botany Harriers, or as a fervent advocate for race walking, Ron has always aimed to ensure that athletics at the grass roots receives the same level of attention and recognition as the elite end.

And he succeeded in achieving just that through fruitful periods of service as a board member of both Athletics New South Wales and Athletics Australia, in addition to he relentless commitment to club athletics.

Ron continues to serve his sport, particularly his first loves – his club and race walking.

Lyn (Young) Foreman (Western Australia) – like a number of her fellow recipients of this award on this occasion, Lyn Foreman, was not content to merely retire from her sport after a successful career as an athlete.

That career netted Lyn four national titles in the 400 metres hurdles, an event in which she finished seventh in the first World Championships in 1980, which were staged when the IOC decided that it, along with the 3000 metres should not be contested at the Moscow Olympics.

Lyn represented internationally on four other occasions, including the 1981 Pacific Conference Games at which she was a dual gold medallist.

After converting to the 800 metres, Lyn retired and immediately began to make an impression as a coach, both in voluntary and professional capacities, including a period as head coach of the national junior team.

Her continuing dedication to her athletes and the sport, is a wonderful example to others. 

Trish Kinnane (Queensland) – a highly dedicated and qualified official, Trish Kinnane has been a long standing servant of athletics.

Whether in her best known roles as a call room or administration manager or in a range of on field capacities, Trish has been committed to increasing standards in officiating, especially in order to provide better opportunities for athletes.

She has had a particular interest in the growth of one of Athletics Australia’s most successful programs, the Schools Knockout competition. She is also remembered as successfully seeking election to the Athletics Australia Board in order to play a role in immediately voting herself and her colleagues out of a job to make way for a new structure for the sport.

A highly respected former national junior team manager, Trish has also served as the manager of the Oceania team for the World Cup.

Alan Launder (South Australia) – the strength and success of the original Athletics Australia junior program was due much to the relentless drive of Alan Launder.

His ability to identify the opportunities available on the international scene to the country’s talented under 20 athletes, resulted in a program that was the envy of many other countries.

On the competition arena, the results flowed accordingly, with Australia consistently amongst the highest placed nations in world junior competition during Alan’s involvement as program leader and team head coach.

He also coached many of Australia’s most successful field event athletes, and continually produced pole vaulters of quality in all ages groups, playing a key role in introducing the event to females.

Whilst retired from squad coaching, Alan continues to make a valuable contribution to athletes through his writing of text books and mentorship of other coaches.

Tony Rice (Queensland) – from the time of his arrival in Australia, Tony Rice set about making a contribution to athletics, firstly at club level in Sydney and then as Athletics NSW’s director of coaching, which led to a period of strong success for the state, particularly at youth level.

Tony took up a coaching position at the AIS, where he served as head coach and earned many honours as both a team and personal coach.

He then moved to Brisbane and became the national coaching convenor and executive officer of the AT&FCA, and later a member of the IAAF’s Coaching Commission.

Tony quietly continues his involvement as a personal coach and mentor to others.

Pam (Kilborn) Ryan (Victoria) – one of the greats of Australian athletics on the track, Pam Ryan has continued to find a variety of ways to serve her sport.

One of the principal contributors to a golden era in international athletics for Australian women, Pam was a national champion on 17 occasions in hurdles, long jump and pentathlon. She represented Australia in major competitions seven times, during a period when world championships were not contested, restricting athletes mostly to big events only every two years.

Nonetheless Pam won nine medals, including Olympic silver and bronze and a formidable six Commonwealth golds, represented by treble victories in the sprint hurdles and relay.

Off the field Pam has been a committed and successful coach, particularly of junior athletes, as well as serving on the board of Athletics Victoria.

Neville Sillitoe (Victoria) – regarded as a fearless advocate for the development of school based athletics competition and training programmes, Neville Sillitoe has been a contributor over many years to athletics in Australia.

Neville guided many of Australia’s most successful athletes at the height of his successful coaching career but in recent years has turned his attention to assist in the development and growth of athletics at a school level, particularly through his involvements with Caulfield Grammar and Athletics Victoria’s schools programme.

He served as a coach on national teams, including the 1982 Commonwealth Games alongside Tony Rice.

Trevor Vincent (Victoria) – six times a national champion in either his preferred 3000 metres steeplechase or at one or three miles, Trevor Vincent was a fine athlete, whose career was highlighted by a gold medal in the steeple at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth and Olympic representation two years later.

But his commitment to his sport has perhaps been even greater in retirement – serving as a relentless committeeman and manager for his highly successful club, Glenhuntly; a commission member of both Athletics Victoria and Athletics Australia and as a well organised and respected manager of state and national teams.

Trevor’s principal driving force has always been what is best for the athletes, and has made a particular contribution to ensuring adequate opportunities for distance runners of all levels of ability. 

Brian Roe
Athletics Australia
Special Awards Committee