The golden strains of Ted Simmons’ voice were heard at Australian athletics events for nearly five decades but as dedicated and consistent as his voluntary work as an announcer has been, it was but a part of his exceptional service to, and involvement in, athletics over more than 70 years. The sport was saddened earlier this week by Ted’s passing after a grand life of 97 years.
After representing Cleveland Street High School in jumps and sprints, Ted joined the Eastern Suburbs club in Sydney in1947, competing in New South Wales inter-district and state championships competition, most proficiently in jumping events until 1960 when he first became an official. As an athlete he had been good enough to be selected in a train-on squad for the Helsinki Olympics in 1952.
Within a year he got his first appointment with the then Amateur Athletic Union of Australia as an announcer for an international meet at ES Marks Field. He was keen to be as knowledgeable as possible in his new role – passing officials exams in track, field and administration. Coaching was also an attraction – undertaking the then national coaching exams and putting it all in practice for the next ten years. Ted was also elected to the Executive Committee of NSWAAA in 1958.
Ted’s profession as a journalist and radio announcer proved to be of huge benefit to athletics both at state and national level. His knowledge of the sport and excellent delivery style soon ensured that he was a number one choice as an announcer at local, national and international events in Australia.
Both in his work for the Daily Mirror, Radio 2SM and most notably with Australian Associated Press (AAP) and in a voluntary capacity, Ted was most adept and prolific in composing and publishing media releases and articles. He was particularly keen to source, research and present for publication articles on athletics when he noted that there was a shortage of stories on other sports. This regularly gave coverage to athletics’ stories that might not otherwise have got a run.
It was common at local competitions in Sydney for Ted to spend all day announcing and then go to the results and media room to tap out a recap of the day’s highlights for general distribution.
Ted was ever-present at the microphone for club meets, myriad state and national championships – very often alongside fellow AA Life Member, Betty Moore and for 23 years at the City to Surf throughout his long career as a volunteer in athletics.
But he was equally recognised for his presence in the role at so many major international events in Australia – Pacific Conference Games (Canberra 1977), Commonwealth Games (Brisbane 1982), IAAF World Cup (Canberra 1985), World Under 20 Championships (Sydney 1996) and the World Masters Games (Sydney 2009).
When the Olympics came to Sydney in 2000 Ted was in broad demand – firstly as announcer for the Australian Trials and then during the Games and Paralympics as deputy media manager for athletics. He took on the latter role once again a year later for the Goodwill Games in Brisbane.
Ted was widely recognised for his substantial contribution to athletics – beginning in 1990 when he became a life member of his club Athletics Easts and was bestowed with the Athletics NSW Merit Award.
In 2000 he was one of Athletics Australia’s nominees for the Australian Sports Medal which acknowledged his outstanding service as a competition official, especially as an announcer and as an athletics writer.
Ted was elected as a life member of Athletics NSW in 2003, a year later was nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards and in 2005 received the Australian Athletics Platinum Service Award for 40 years service.
In 2006 Ted was further recognised by the Australian Honours System with the Medal of the Order of Australia – which acknowledged not only his service to athletics and journalism but also to soccer as a referee and historian and as an administrator in ten pin bowling.
More recently in 2015 Ted was presented with the Distinguished Long Service Award at the NSW Sports Awards and then in 2018 he became a Life Member of Australian Athletics.
The Australian Athletics Family extends its condolences to Ted’s family and appreciation for sharing Ted with us for an extraordinary period of time.
By Brian Roe, Australian Athletics
Posted 6/3/2026
