Athletics Australia – News Australia Day honours

Former Athletics Australia Board member Elaine Canty was named as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia “for significant service to the community through roles with botanic, health, business and sporting organisations, and as a radio broadcaster.”

Former Australian representative sprinter and President of Athletics International Bob Lay (pictured) was similarly honoured “for significant service to sports administration and athletics in Victoria through a range of executive positions, and to the community.”

Fred O’Connor, a distinguished coach and Life Member of Athletics NSW, was awarded the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division “for service to athletics”.

Former President of Pascoe Vale Little Athletics Allan Thomson was also awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division.

The full citations for the recipients are listed below.  Athletics Australia extends their congratulations to all those honoured.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Ms Elaine Sylvia CANTY

For significant service to the community through roles with botanic, health, business and sporting organisations, and as a radio broadcaster.

Chair, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, 2005-2013; Deputy Chair, 2002-2005.

Chair, Queen Victoria Market, 2007-2011; Director, 2001-2011.

Chair, Melbourne Wholesale Fish Market, 2007-2011.

First female Tribunal Member, Australian Football League, 1996-2005.

Board Member, Athletics Australia, 1998-2003.

Foundation Director, Victorian Institute of Sport, 1989-2000.

Trustee, Victorian State Sports Centre, 1997-2006; Member, School of Sport Sub-Committee, no dates.

Co-Founder, Women's Network, Essendon Football Club, 1996.

Board Member, Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne, 2004-2007; Board Member, Women's and Children's Health Melbourne, 2000-2004; Chair, Community Advisory Committee, early 2000s.

Board Member, Vic Health, 1997-2006.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

First female radio and television sports broadcaster in Victoria, 1980s.

First female to anchor Australian radio broadcast of Olympic Games, Barcelona, 1992; covered five Olympics.

Presenter/Producer, Inside the Back Page radio sports program, 1985-1989.

Host, The Afternoon Show, ABC Radio 774, Melbourne, 1990-1996.

Regular Co-Host, Conversation Hour, 1997-2012.

Life Ambassador, Australia Day.

Mr Robert William LAY

For significant service to sports administration and athletics in Victoria through a range of executive positions, and to the community.

General Manager, Sport Australia Hall of Fame, since 2005.

President, Athletics International, 1997-2012.

Board Member, Athletics Victoria, approx. 10 years.

Executive Director, Victorian Olympic Council, 1991-2001.

President and Committee Member, Olympians Club of Victoria, approx. 21 years.

Member, Rotary Club of Berwick, 2011.

Organised a charity dinner that raised significant funds for the Windamere Community Welfare Centre.

Volunteer assistant at the 2000 Olympic Games and 2006 Commonwealth Games.

President and coach of Lyndale Little Athletics, Dandenong Athletics Club and Springvale Athletics Club.

Represented Australia in Track and Field events at the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Australia and the 1964 Olympic Games in Japan.

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

Mr Frederick William O'CONNOR

For service to athletics.

Coach, Westfield's Sports High School, since 1992.

Co-founder and Coach, Epping Athletics Club, 'currently coaching 4 days a week'; Foundation Member.

Notable athletes coached include Fabrice Lapierre, and John Thornell, who have represented Australia at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Has held a range of positions including President; Treasurer; and Secretary, New South Wales Masters Athletics, 1978-2008.

Executive Committee Member, Australian Track and Field Coaches Association, 15 years and Life Member.

Life Member, Athletics New South Wales.

Life Member, New South Wales Masters Athletics, 1994.

Life Member, New South Wales Veterans Athletics Club.

Recipient, 20 Years Merit Award, Athletics Australia.

Officiated at the Long Jump Event, 2000 Sydney Olympics.

 

Mr Allan Roy THOMSON

For service to environmental conservation through a range of organisations.

Member, Friends of Pallister's Reserve Inc, since 2003.

Treasurer, Warrnambool Field Naturalists Club, until 2014.

Member, Friends of Griffiths Island, since 2009.

Member, Timboon Bush Co-Operative.

Secretary and Newsletter Editor, Pascoe Vale Naturalists Club, 1972-2000.

Founding Member/Treasurer, Merri Creek Coordinating Committee, 1976-1987.

Volunteer, Friends of Organ Pipes National Park, 1972-1978.

Convenor, Environment Standing Committee, North West Regional Council for Social

Development, 1974-1978.

Founder, Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek.

Member, Local Management Committee, Pascoe Vale Church of Christ, 1967-2000;

Brunswick and Coburg Regional Board Representative, 1972-1991.

President, Keep Coburg Beautiful Committee, 1983-1986; Member, 1979-1996.

President, Pascoe Vale Little Athletics, 1970-1974.

Co-Author, 'Plants of the Merri Merri: A Guide to the Indigenous Vegetation of the Merri Creek

Valley and Melbourne's Northern Suburbs', Merri Creek Co-ordinating Committee, 1984.

Athletics  Australia – News 

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