ANNUAL REPORT 2019 CONTENTS 3 CONTENTS 4 President’s Report 6 CEO’s Report ILLAWARA ACADEMY OF SPORT 2019 OVERVIEW 10 Corporate vision statement 12 Board of Directors 13 Administrative Operations 14 Academy Position & Structure 16 Scholarship Programs 18 Advancements in 2019 19 Total Scholarships Offered 20 Honour Roll ILLAWARA ACADEMY OF SPORT 2019 PROGRAMS 24 Program Manager’s Report 26 AFL Girls 28WD A 30 Basketball 32 Cycling 34 Golf 36 Hockey 38 Lonestar 40 Netball 42 Rugby Union 44 Swimming 46 Triathlon ILLAWARA ACADEMY OF SPORT 2019 AWARDS 50 Tobin Award Winner 51 Past Tobin Award Winners 52 Athlete of the Year Awards by sport 63 Scholarship Holders by Sport & Region 64 Class of 2019 ILLAWARA ACADEMY OF SPORT 2019 FINANCIALS 66 Financial Reports ILLAWARRA ACADEMY OF SPORT ANNUAL REPORT 4 PRESIDENT’S REPORT PRESIDENTS REPORT 5 GOVERNANCE of Sport is our most significant financial shapes the Academy’s athlete development We review the past year with considerable as the Academy’s commitment to investing in supporter. Without that support the Academy offerings. The more recent addition of satisfaction as we witness not only the its coaching quality via coach education and The governance of the Academy is overseen system of state-wide Regional Academies Mitchell Nielsen as Physical Performance achievements of our current athletes, but development. Additionally, building essential by the Academy membership and a would be unlikely to survive. The five Councils Coach adds a strong contribution to overall also as we follow the success of our past strength and conditioning programming sub-set of that membership, the Academy of the Illawarra Academy’s region are programming through strength and fitness athletes, our alumni – who have competed into our scholarships, has carried with it cost Board. The membership comprises the generous financial and in-kind supporters, enhancement together with faster recovery with considerable success at national and implications. Added to this is the expiry of a Mayors of the Region or their nominees, particularly through their annual Mayoral and injury management results. international level. Surfer Sally Fitzgibbon, couple of sponsorship arrangements and the the Vice- Chancellor of the University receptions. Our home, the University of swimmer Emma McKeon and cyclist Caleb non-indexation of government and members of Wollongong or his/her nominee, Wollongong provides not only finances but The engagement of Emily Robinson as Ewan immediately come to mind. contributions. This combination of factors has community representatives from the five access to a range of quality facilities and Communications and Event Officer has led to a deficit result for the year, albeit much Local Government areas of the region and advice. brought about a tangible improvement in A series of significant events have marked lower than had been anticipated. a representative of the Australian Institute of Academy communications at all levels. A the calendar for athletes of the 2018-19 year. Sport. All members are volunteers who give BluescopeWIN Community Partners and calm and super-efficient operator, Emily The Tobin Family award winner and athlete Achieving a financially sustainable Academy unstintingly of their skills, experience and time. Aceit Sportswear have been longstanding demonstrated her versatility by delivering of the year of 2018 was skateboarder Kieran is the Board’s foremost priority going I extend the community’s gratitude to each of private sector supporters. BaiMed has an excellent Golf Day for our partners Woolley. Since receiving the award Kieran forward. Particular thanks go to staff member them. been pivotal in the Academy’s strength and and friends, a clear display of her event has performed outstandingly in Australia and Selin Kahraman and auditors O’Donnell conditioning space. WIN has contributed management capability. Selin Kahraman across the globe and is placing himself in a Hennessy and Co for their stewardship of the During the years, the Academy has had a strong media support. The sporting continues to efficiently provide excellent good position to represent Australia in the Academy’s accounts. series of full agendas which has seen the associations themselves contribute financially financial management and reports to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. introduction of a risk register, consideration and in-kind to the delivery our scholarships. Academy. Her membership of our team is PROGRAMS of which is now a standing item of business. To all our supporters, a very big thank you appreciated by all. Our Orientation Day for athletes and their Close monitoring of the Academy’s financial from all our athletes. PRESIDENT’S families was a great success, with the It is clear that Regional Academies position and the pursuit of sponsorships and On behalf of Vice President Amy Duggan presentation by Dr Juanita Weissensteiner continue to have a role to play in the talent additional funding support has been and will The Illawarra Academy of Sport is a multi- and myself I extend our genuine gratitude of the NSW Office of Sport being identification and athlete development continue to be a high priority. The structure faceted support network for developing to all associated with the Academy. We will REPORT particularly well received. Juanita introduced pathway – the mention of the success of of the Regional Academy system and the athletes in the region. The Academy continue to commit to the region’s future by athletes and parents to the FTEM model of our Alumni this year is ample testimony to Illawarra Academy’s capacity to assist other endeavours to secure coaches, support staff preparing our young scholarship holders for 2019 athlete development and the elevation of this fact. In year 2018-19, whilst the sport of Academies has exercised our minds and and educators / consultants of the highest excellence in both competition and lifelong expectation, demands and performance surfing chose to withdraw from the Academy resulted in discussion with both government calibre and this is a pursuit which is being citizenship. as athletes progress through to the level of system, the sports of Rugby and Swimming and the Regional Academies of Sport better resourced following adoption of the mastery in their sport. re-joined our program, and the AFL Women’s incorporated .The introduction of a strength Academy’s Strategic Plan. Your pivotal role in 16’s squad was expanded to 16’s and 18’s. and conditioning resource and program was our athlete development programs is greatly Around 110 Academy athletes and staff At years end, we have some 245 athletes delivered this year as part of the roll-out of the appreciated by the athletes, the Academy JOHN WELLS attended the annual “Your Local Club” undergoing programs. recently adopted Strategic Plan. and its staff. PRESIDENT Regional Academy Games held in the Hunter. Our athletes again performed well, Program Manager Dane Robinson has now ACADEMY PARTNERS ACADEMY STAFF and their behaviour and sportsmanship been with the Academy for a full scholarship brought great credit to the Academy. year and is doing a great job. Dane is himself As mentioned elsewhere, the term of some Chief Executive Officer John Armstrong an elite athlete who has represented at the sponsorship arrangements is concluding in is a person of great sporting experience, The Academy hosted a most successful Golf highest level, so has firsthand experience of the near future. One of these is the valuable high qualification in sports administration, Day fundraiser held at the Shellharbour Links what it takes to get to the ‘mastery‘ level. He and much appreciated support by the development and coaching, and who has Course. Around 60 golfers enjoyed a great brings drive, enthusiasm and innovation to Collegians Club. ”Collies” have been a great networking and negotiating skills. day with a number of our golf scholarship his role and his personable manner is very significant contributor to the Academy over He has led from the front in addressing the holders helping more than one ’duffer’ out popular among the squads. the past five years for which we are very diverse range of issues arising from athlete when in trouble. The event was great fun thankful – we wish the Board, membership selection, coaching, sports inclusion, staff and was organised by our recently recruited As foreshadowed in last year’s report, the and staff of Collegians every success in the management, inter-governmental relations, Communications and Event Officer Emily Academy has extended itself by offering to future. partner servicing, financial management – Robinson. Well done Emily. its athletes the services of our new Physical the list goes on and on. Without his suite of Performance Coach Mitchel Neilson. Mitch Registered clubs play a pivotal role in the capabilities and enthusiasm the progress FINANCES provides excellent programmed activity out of support of sport across the nation. We made by the Academy in recent years would The Academy’s financial position continues the various gyms operated by the Councils of welcome the interest of one or more, or not have been possible in my view. to be sound. I extend my thanks to the many the Region. The Academy is deeply grateful perhaps a consortium of clubs in the activities financial supporters of the Academy for for the Councils offering these facilities on of the Academy going forward. Program Manager Dane Robinson also continuing to invest in the Regions youth, and a no-charge basis to the athletes. This is an brings strong enthusiasm and commitment to therefore the Regions future. The past year extremely valuable in-kind giving. The Academy has many longstanding our athletes’ development. I anticipate great has, however, been financially challenging partners. The NSW Government’s Office things going forward as Dane shapes and re- ILLAWARRA ACADEMY OF SPORT ANNUAL REPORT ILLAWARRA ACADEMY OF SPORT ANNUAL REPORT 6 CEO’S REPORT Because your The task of the Illawarra Academy of to ensure that all education sessions are Sport is to provide the best level of interactive and athlete focussed.