Athletics Foundation Committee forms to support athletes & coaches
Published Wed 17 Oct 2018
The Board of Athletics Australia today announced the formation of a Committee to help drive and co-ordinate the work of the Australian Athletics Foundation. (AAF)
Working in partnership with the Australian Sports Foundation, the Athletics Australia Foundation exists to provide the opportunity for individuals, entities or groups to make deductible donations and support the future of our great sport.
The AAF will focus on providing funding to eligible Australian athletes, coaches and officials, helping to turn their dreams into reality through the provision of scholarships and financial support.
Leading the Foundation’s committee as Chairperson is Andrew Salter, Director of Matsal Property Investments and Taphouse Group, as well as Managing Director of the Salter Family Group. Andrew will help to drive fundraising initiatives with the support of AA.
A life-long lover and supporter of athletics, Andrew comes from a family passionate about the sport. Over the years the Salter family have generously supported a number of athletes financially to help them pursue their dreams.
“As a genuine supporter of Athletics, I am both honoured and excited to accept this role to Chair the Athletics Australia Foundation,” said Salter.
“With the support of Athletics Australia and the fellow committee members, I look forward to achieving great success in building a Foundation to support both athletes and coaches, with a scholarship program that can help them achieve their goals.”
A major goal of the Foundation will be to provide support to our athletes through scholarships, with Geoff Nicholson selected to Chair a Scholarship Committee. Geoff was appointed to the Athletics Australia Board of Directors in November 2015 and is the Chair of the Athletics Australia Audit & Risk Committee.
The Committee will also be made up of two of Australia’s most successful athletes Jana Pittman and Angie Ballard.
Pittman, two-time World Champion and Commonwealth Games Champion in the 400m hurdles, and Angie Ballard, five-time Paralympic Games medallist in T53 wheelchair sprint events, will collectively bring a tremendous amount of athletic knowledge to the Foundations committee.
“Having experienced the challenges and financial hardships of being elite sportspeople, Angie and Jana are both well positioned to make decisions on where and how Foundation funds will be allocated,” Darren Gocher said.
The Foundation’s first function this year was its re-launch, which was marked by the ‘Lane 10’ cocktail event in the Chairman’s Villa, Crown Melbourne on September 11th.
Australian legend and recent recipient of the prestigious Don Award, Kurt Fearnley, was the guest speaker on the night. His inspiring speech exemplified the power of sport to provide opportunity, hope, purpose and belief
While the Foundation’s first goal is to establish its scholarship process and criteria, it will drive a number of other initiatives that will be further supported by Australian 400m champion - John Steffensen. A true advocate for our sport, John is passionate about working with AA to support our athletes.
“Athletics in Australia like all sports must seek alternate forms of funds and not just rely on the support of Government. Philanthropy and corporate fundraising are important areas that Athletics Australia sees as having major potential and we are working closely with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) to achieve our financial goals,” said Darren Gocher.
To donate, please visit the Australian Sports Foundation Website
Athletics Australia Foundation Committee
Chair: Andrew Salter
Member: Geoff Nicholson
Member: Angie Ballard
Member: Jana Pittman
Scholarships Committee
Chair: Geoff Nicholson
Member: Andrew Salter
Member: Angie Ballard
Member: Jana Pittman