Athletics family recognised in Australia Day honours

Athletics Australia would like to extend its warmest congratulations to six members of the athletics community who were bestowed with prestigious titles at the 2023 Australia Day Honours.

Athletics Australia Life Member Peter Bowman OAM was recognised posthumously for his significant service to sports administration, including his work as a former High Performance Manager at Athletics Australia in the 1990s, and also an administrator at the Australian Institute of Sport, where he directly assisted 300 athletes and 34 coaches across 15 sports.

Two administrators with over 50 years of passionate service to the sport, Ron Stobaus OAM and Valmai Loomes OAM were also honoured. Stobaus has served in Victoria as an administrator, coach and official, including being a founding member of the Keilor St Bernard’s Athletics Club. Loomes, a stalwart of the sport in the Illawarra region of NSW, has had a lifelong involvement in athletics, and has served as a coach, treasurer as well as secretary of the Illawarra Blues Stars Athletics Club – a club founded by her parents in 1953.

Former Athletics NSW club administrator and official Marie Kelly OAM has played an important role in the sport, focussing on her efforts in grassroots and pathways. Kelly was not only involved in her own club but was a prominent School Sport athletics administrator and team official.

Greg Bowman OAM was named on the list for his service to the tourism and hospitality industry. Not just part of the athletics community, Bowman has been a crucial part of some of the biggest sporting events in Australia, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Greg is a true global pioneer in the introduction and growth of event presentation in athletics.

Emeritus Professor Jill Cook AM was a key member of the team which expanded medical services on Australian athletics teams in the decade leading up to the Sydney Olympics, serving as both a physiotherapist and team manager. She is recognised widely for her services to physiotherapy, sports medicine, the Victorian Institute of Sport and other sports, particularly basketball.

Athletics Australia CEO Peter Bromley thanked each individual recognised for their tireless and ongoing contribution to Australian athletics.

“The Australia Day Honours List gives us a chance to celebrate and thank Australians who have contributed to our country at great levels, and I’d like to congratulate each member of our community named yesterday for their significant service to our sport,” Bromley said.

“Many of the individuals in our community honoured yesterday are volunteers or administrators of our sport and not often are they put in the spotlight or recognised for what they do behind the scenes. We’re delighted that Peter, Greg, Rob, Valmai and Marie have been recognised in this way, and I am sure I am not alone in thanking them for their commitment to our community.

“We know their medals will certainly inspire more of our community to give back, and we look forward to seeing more of our wider family recognised in the future.”

The Australia Day 2023 Honours List recognised and celebrated recipients for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service, including awarding 736 in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/1/2022