annual report 2004-2005 athletics.org.au Bringing home the silver medal - Australia’s 4 x 400m Mens Relay team (from left) John Steffensen, Clinton Hill, Patrick Dwyer & Mark Ormrod celebrate after finishing behind the United States A lone runner pushes the pain barrier at the 2005 Blackmores Sydney Marathon annual report 2004-2005 ContentsContents FRONT COVER Chairman’s Message ________________________________________________5-6 Summary: A Year In Review___________________________________________7-8 Message from Principal Sponsor – Telstra__________________________________9 Chairman & CEO’s Report _________________________________________10-19 Australian Honours List & OAA Merit Award 2005 ________________________20 Message from Sponsor – Australian Sports Commission _____________________21 Media Articles ___________________________________________________22-23 Message from Sponsor – New Balance __________________________________24 Registration Figures – All States 2003–2004 to 2004–2005___________________25 Member Associations’ Reports ______________________________________26-32 Nathan Deakes on the way to victory Institutes & Academies of Sport Reports ______________________________33-38 at the 2005 Telstra A-championships Commission & Committee Reports __________________________________39-43 In Remembrance _________________________________________________44-45 Lest We Forget _____________________________________________________46 Australian Records __________________________________________________47 Athens Mens 4x400m Relay Team: Australian Rankings __________________________________________________48 (from left) John Steffensen, Mark Ormrod, Clinton Hill & Patrick Dwyer Athletics International ________________________________________________49 Catherine Freeman Trust for Young Australians ____________________________________________50 lends her support to the Athletics for the Ron Clarke Foundation_______________________________________________51 Outback program Life Members ______________________________________________________52 Directors’ Biographies________________________________________________53 Athletics Australia Directory ________________________________________54-55 Financial Report _________________________________________________56-84 BACK COVER Suite 22, Fawkner Towers, 431 St Kilda Rd Melbourne,VIC 3004 T: +61 3 9820 3511 F: +61 3 9820 3544 E: [email protected] athletics.org.au Kurt Fearnley wins gold in the marathon at PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY GETTY IMAGES PTY LTD – OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER OF ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA the Athens 2004 Olympic Games PAGE 3 Josh Ross, John Steffensen & some of the international stars of the 2005 Telstra A-series check out the MCG – home of the 2006 Commonwealth Games annual report 2004-2005 Chairman’sChairman’s MessageMessage What an interesting year this has been with so and together with Athletics Australia staff and rep- Athletics Australia for many years and continue to many changes in our sport and some great per- resentatives of the member associations developed support us. formances from our athletes. a strategy for the development of the sport. Athletics Australia was further strengthened when My thanks, on behalf of Athletics Australia, also Our walkers were undoubtedly the stars of our Rob Fildes and Eddie McGuire accepted our invita- extends to New Balance, IGA, Accor, Musashi, Olympic Games athletics team, achieving a bronze tion to join the Board and with their experience Pitcher Partners and Qantas, all strong supporters medal in the men’s and women’s 20km races. and expertise will make a significant contribution of our sport and of course the Federal Nathan Deakes became Australia’s second ever to our sport. Government via the Australian Sports Commission, Olympic medallist in the 20km walk beating a the Australian Olympic Committee, the Australian quality field to bring home the bronze. After Jane We now have a clear vision of the issues that con- Paralympic Committee and the Australian Saville’s disappointing disqualification in our home front our sport and we have a thorough under- Commonwealth Games Association for their con- Olympics in 2000, she certainly did Australia proud standing of what we must do to enable athletics in tinued involvement and funding. in her courageous performance to achieve a Australia to grow with strength. bronze medal in her 20km race, and what an out- During the year Simon Allatson (CEO) and standing effort from our 4 x 400m relay team to Through the efforts of Rob Fildes, committees have Andrew Forrest (Chairman) resigned. I would like bring home the silver medal. been formed to cover areas such as sponsorship, to thank them for their efforts over many years in branding, advertising, communication, marketing, bringing about the initial changes to our sport that During the year we have been well represented at media and events. Many industry experts have it desperately needed. the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the World joined these committees and volunteered their Junior Championships, the World Cross Country time to support Athletics Australia in its transition. Athletics Australia is dependent for its existence on Championships and many other smaller events. We appreciate their efforts and their dedication to the many coaches, officials and volunteers who Our outstanding success at the World Juniors gives our sport. devote so much time to the sport they love. I thank us a great base of talented young athletes to you for your contribution and support, without develop with the possibility of producing some Under the leadership of Danny Corcoran, a strate- which we could not function. world champions in the future. gic plan has been developed and is in the process of being implemented.This plan has been exten- Throughout the year our staff have overcome The highlight of our domestic season was the sively reviewed by the member associations and many challenges and changes and through their Melbourne Telstra A-series (GP II meet) where we has been discussed with the Australian Sports dedication and efforts Athletics Australia is now had some wonderful international stars competing Commission. We believe that it will produce sig- poised to advance, from a solid base of planning, against our athletes, which assisted them greatly in nificant results and benefits for our sport over the with confidence into the future. I thank you for your their preparation for the Helsinki World next ten years. good work and support. I would also like to thank Championships. For this successful event we are my fellow Board members for their support and extremely grateful to the Victorian Government for It is pleasing to report that during the year discus- guidance during this year of change. their support. sions, including a joint Board meeting, have been held with Australian Little Athletics with the objec- It has been a difficult year for our member associa- Our Telstra Australian Championships, incorporat- tive of working together for the benefit of our tions particularly as Athletics Australia has not been ing the World Championships Selection Trials, were sport. Also, an excellent relationship exists with the able to give them the same level of financial held in Sydney and there were many outstanding Australian Track and Field Coaches Association, the support as in the past. I thank you for your under- performances particularly from our talented juniors Australian Sports Commission, the State Institutes standing and support and hope that with the who won nine senior titles. Following these cham- and Academies of Sports, without whose support implementation of our plans for the future that pionships was the Telstra Athlete of the Year dinner, we could not function effectively. Athletics Australia will restore its financial position which proved once again to be a great success, with enabling it to increase its financial assistance to its the evening being enjoyed by all who attended. Athletics Australia is dependent on the support it members. receives from its sponsors. On behalf of Athletics Throughout the year there have been many signifi- Australia, I would like to thank the Australian Sports Although Athletics Australia has significant chal- cant changes following the release of the AA/ASC Commission for its continued support both finan- lenges ahead, it also has some wonderful opportu- Review. Danny Corcoran was appointed CEO fol- cially and administratively and their confidence in nities. We have outstanding talent in Australia as lowing the resignation of Simon Allatson and imme- our ability to deliver the necessary changes in our demonstrated at the World Juniors and at our diately embarked on a program to analyse the sport. Likewise we thank our major sponsor National Championships. The Commonwealth AA/ASC Review and initiate its implementation. Telstra who have been a wonderful supporter of Games in Melbourne will give us a great opportu- Max Binnington was appointed to the newly created position of National Performance Director PAGE 5 Chairman’s Message continued... nity to give many athletes international competi- tion in their own country in front of an Australian crowd.These Games should give us a springboard to assist us in our development programs for ath- letes, coaches and officials. Athletics in Australia is dependent on us all to make it a success, not just a few. Ask yourself what can I do to assist our sport. If we all do this and act upon it our sport will derive enormous benefits and will grow from strength to strength.