Volunteers recognised with 30 and 40-year service pins
Published Wed 22 Jan 2025
22 January 2025
Volunteers recognised with 30 and 40-year service pins
At the NSW Country Championships the significant service of seven outstanding volunteers was recognised with the presentation of their 30 and 40-year Athletics Australia service pins.
Mark Conyers (club Kooringal Wagga) – 30-years in club administration including 15 years as secretary. For over three decades Mark Conyers has had a significant impact on the athletes in Wagga Wagga including 15-years as the secretary and also other key roles like treasurer and competition coordinator. Over the last 20 years he has also coached athletes in their foundation years. Athletes have included triathlete Brad Kahlefeldt, international para athlete Carly Salmon and refugee and migrant African athletes.
Darrel Waddell (initial club Woodberry) - 30-years in club administration and as a technical official. For well over three decades Darrel has been a regular technical official at meets in Newcastle, Sydney and at National championships. In his early days he was in the start crew, but more recently a field event official. Some of his major competitions have included Pacific School Games, Australian Youth Olympic Festival, World Masters and various Australian Championships.
Glenn Thacker (clubs - Lismore, Tweed, Bananacoast, Coffs Harbour, Coffs Coast) – 40 years in club administration. For four decades Glenn Thacker has been a key club administrator at various north coast clubs. At just age 20, he was President of his then local club Bananacoast AAC. Over the decades he has held various committee positions and for the last 15-years has been President of Coffs Harbour Track & Field Club. Glenn has also contributed enormously in coaching, including in the North Coast Academy of Sport Athletics program, school clinics, and coach education to teachers. He has also assisted local schools with athletics carnival rules and officiated at competitions.
Lorraine Searles (club - Woodberry) – 47 years in club administration and as a technical official. Recently retired, Lorraine Searles’ contribution has been enormous. For a staggering 40 years Lorraine was a key committee member with Woodberry and also delegate to the Newcastle Hunter Branch of Athletics NSW. Lorraine has also been an Athletics NSW technical official. Other service of note has been to Port Hunter Zone Little Athletics and Little Athletics NSW in club administration and as an official.
John Morris (club - Nowra) – 41 years in club administration and as a technical official. From initially a club official and administrator in the 1980s, John’s service has been significant and broad across many areas of the sport, reaching the highest level as a Sydney Olympic Games technical official. Internationally it has also included the World Juniors, two Commonwealth Games and World Para Athletics Championships. He has also contributed substantially in technical official education and mentoring, across Oceania, New Zealand and on tours throughout NSW country. He was a NSW State Team manager, member of the Athletics NSW Officials Advisory Panel and senior Technical Official. His 26-years in club administration at Nowra included 12-years as President.
Grahame Searles (club - Woodberry) - 47 years in club and branch administration and as a technical official.
For an incredible 40 years Grahame held the significant roles of President or Secretary or Treasurer or Register at the Woodberry club. For over two decades he was Treasurer at the Newcastle Hunter Branch. He continues to be an Athletics NSW technical official, a service extending over 35 years. He also manages a weekly competition at the Newcastle Athletic Field. Other service of note has been too Little Athletics NSW as an official and former Chairman.
Trevor Height (clubs - UniWA, Macquarie/Hunter) – 60 years in club administration and as a technical official.
Trevor’s service over 60-years has been enormous in club administration. His early years were in Perth and Adelaide with local clubs and Athletics SA including roles in interclub competition, constitution and club administration. For the next five decades he has been in Newcastle, initially with Newcastle Uni, then the same club Myers Park/Hunter T&F/Macquarie Hunter AC. He has been chairperson of a number of local organising committees for major local events from NSW Country Championships to the Newcastle Telstra A Series (Track Classics). An Athletics NSW technical official, he was also involved with the Hunter Academy of Sport Track & Field Program from 1990 to 2012. Trevor’s other service of note includes as a leading coach and for 26 years sports administrator and manager at the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale.
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: left to right – Mark Conyers, Darrel Wardell, Glenn Thacker, Lorraine Searles, John Morris, Grahame Searles and Trevor Height. (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)