Five members of the Australian Athletics Family recognised in King's Birthday Honours

Athletics Australia is always delighted when members of the Australian Athletics Family are recognised further afield – particularly twice each year in the Order of Australia national honours lists.

This year’s King’s Birthday Honours have acknowledged the achievements and contributions of four dedicated servants of our sport and a para-athletics pathfinder.

Penny Gillies OAM made her initial forays into track and field as an athlete – in sprint hurdles and combined events. Twice an Olympian, the Athletics Australia Life Member’s best result was fourth in the 100m Hurdles at the 1970 Commonwealth Games. She was five times national champion in the event.

But Penny’s much longer and perhaps greater contribution has been as a coach and from 1996 as a national team official. Outside athletics, Penny has made a distinguished contribution to secondary education and was for a decade a member of the New South Wales Sports Advisory Council.

At 90 years young, Heather Doherty OAM has been an athlete for life. A silver medallist in the javelin at the 1962 Australian Championships, she has since been a doyenne of masters athletics in Australia – engaging and shining in all five throwing disciplines.

But Heather also found time to excel as a technical official, most notably not surprisingly as a throws judge - including at the 1982 Commonwealth and 2001 Goodwill Games. She received the AA Platinum Pin acknowledging 40 years of officiating in 2004.

A Life Member of both Queensland and Queensland Masters Athletics, she has also made her mark in administration – as president of both state and national masters bodies.

David Archbold OAM is likewise a recipient of the AA Platinum Pin – in his case largely for a lifetime commitment to club administration that is now also recognised in this year’s June Honours. First joining Sydney’s Northern Suburbs Athletics Club committee in 1969, David has been a committed clubman both there and more recently at Blacktown City AC.

The Athletics NSW Life Member has made his mark beyond club-life as an event organiser for the World Fire and Emergency Services Cross Country, the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life and the International Maccabi Games. 

Another devotee to club athletics, Jeff Franklin OAM is also recognised in 2024. After becoming an Ivanhoe Harrier in 1977, Jeff set about making a broader contribution – first joining the club committee in 1984 before stints in every executive role including as vice-president for seven years and more recently as president since 2014.

Jeff has also made his mark in schools’ athletics as a coach and manager and as co-chair of the Willinda Park Management Committee.

Jan Randles OAM was Australia’s first gold medallist in women’s marathon when she won the Paralympic class 4 title at Stoke Mandeville in 1984. She also took bronze in the 5000m.

Since that time Jan had been a member of Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria and was twice recognised at the Sport Australia Awards for her athletics achievements including the Award for the Best Single Sporting Performance of 1984.

“Each year, we are thrilled to see members of the Australian athletics community recognised on the King’s Birthday List and this year is no different, with five more of our esteemed members honoured this year with the Order of Australia,” Athletics Australia President Jane Flemming OLY OAM said.

“From Heather Doherty inspiring athletes of all ages, Penny Gillies taking her passion for athletics into the coaching realms to David Archbold and Jeff Franklin paving ways at the grassroot levels, each of these individuals has made a great impact on our sport. I’d like to congratulate each of them and thank them for their service to athletics, and in turn their service to the wider Australian community.”
 
By Brian Roe, Athletics Australia
Posted: 12/6/2024