Royce Fairbrother to lead Australian Masters Games board
Former Australian of the Year Tasmanian state finalist Royce Fairbrother has been appointed to chair the Games Advisory Board for the 16th Australian Masters Games in Tasmania’s North West in 2017.
Recently appointed Games general manager Scott Wade said the appointment of Royce Fairbrother to head the advisory board was a crucial step in ensuring the success of the event, which will attract thousands of participants and visitors and generate millions for the local economy.
“The appointment of Royce Fairbrother as chairman of the 2017 Masters Games Advisory Board validates the significance of the Games for Tasmania and specifically the North West region,” Wade said.
“Royce is a passionate and highly respected Tasmanian and he has great pride and confidence in the people of the North West Coast.”
“For myself and the Games management team to have a person with the credentials and community credibility such as Royce Fairbrother supporting and guiding us will go a long way in ensuring the 2017 Australian Masters Games will be an event that all Tasmanians embrace.”
“We all look forward to learning from Royce and welcoming him aboard,” Wade said.
To Tasmanians, Royce Fairbrother needs little introduction.
Through his involvement in community sport and through running Tasmania’s biggest construction company, the Fairbrother Group which has grown since its inception in 1973 to employ over 500 people through their various enterprises, Fairbrother is a respected figure in Tasmanian sport and business.
A passionate volunteer and participant, he has a long history of involvement in sport and is a passionate believer in the role of physical activity in improving community health.
The chair of the inaugural board of Triathlon Tasmania, Fairbrother is a four time Australian representative in his age group at the World Triathlon Championships and is a keen cyclist.
As a former chairman of the Premier’s Physical Activity Council in Tasmania, he has played a leading role in advocating a healthy lifestyle, with a particular focus on workplace health and wellbeing programs.
A passionate promoter of Tasmania’s North West, Fairbrother was a Director of the Cradle Coast Authority and is well placed to maximise the tourism attractions of the region as a key selling point for participants in attending the Games.
Fairbrother says bringing the Australian Masters Games back to Tasmania is very exciting, but also a huge challenge for the region.
“I learnt early in my business life, if you want to achieve big things you need to start by dreaming big and then being prepared to get out of your comfort zone to make them happen. That’s exactly what the Cradle Coast region have done with their successful bid to host the 2017 Australian Masters Games,” Fairbrother said.
“This is a unique opportunity to showcase our region, and our lifestyle, to a wide range of people from around Australia and other parts of the world.”
“I’ve chosen to take on the Chairman’s role for the Games Advisory Board because of my confidence in the economic benefits these games will bring to our region. And in particular my confidence in the people from the region to get behind the organising committee and provide the support and assistance needed to make them an outstanding success.”
“I’ve had many years assisting with organising sporting events in Tasmania and without doubt, the people from the Cradle Coast region are leaders when it comes to volunteering to help out and ensuring we provide a great experience for the competitors.”
“Over the last few years I’ve seen a growing awareness, from our councils and within our communities, on the benefit’s major sporting and culture events can provide. Attracting these games is a great example of that. I’m sure if we do this well it will open many other doors that will provide similar benefits for the Cradle Coast region.”
Cradle Coast Authority chief executive officer Brett Smith said the combination of Royce Fairbrother and Scott Wade provides a dynamic combination in the leadership of the organising team.
“The 2017 Australian Masters Games will be one of the biggest events to be held in Tasmania and we all want to make the most of the opportunity for our region, Smith said.
“We want to put on a great event for the participants, whether they come from down the street, across Australia, or from overseas.
“Royce knows this region better than anyone, and together with Scott they will no doubt build a first class team and deliver a great event.”
Wade said there is a lot of work to be done but he is excited at the progress that has already been made in the short time since his appointment last month.
“We are in the process of selecting the full Games advisory board, which we will announce in early June to coincide with 500 days to go.”
“Our marketing team is underway, with Melbourne based sports marketing and community engagement experts Jump Media & Marketing extending their previous involvement from the 13th edition in Geelong and 15th edition in Adelaide, and they are already well advanced. Jump know this region well, having conducted the SCAT review in 2102 and they are experts in this space.”
“In addition, we have recently advertised for a Sport and Operations Manager, who will be responsible for the Games sport program, including where each sport will be staged throughout the Cradle Coast region.”
“This is the first of a number of roles including a soon to be advertised position for a workforce and volunteer manager, followed by sport and operations coordinator positons,” Wade said.
The Australian Masters Games is one of Australia’s premier and largest multi-sport mass participation events, catering for participants of all levels across an extensive sport program. The only criteria to participation is that you meet the minimum age requirement, which in most sports in 30 years.
Held every two years since 1987, the Games were last held in Tasmania in 1987, with the inaugural edition conducted in Hobart.
The Australian Masters Games is supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania.
The 15th Australian Masters Games, held in Adelaide in 2015, injected in the vicinity of $12 million dollars into the South Australian economy, with 8,000 participants of which 55% were from interstate or overseas, including more than 250 international participants from 20 countries.
Australian Masters Games Snapshot
| When: | Saturday 21st October – Saturday 28th October, 2017 |
| Where: | North West Tasmania, across nine local Council areas, including Burnie City, Circular Head, Central Coast, Devonport City, Kentish, King Island, Latrobe, Waratah/Wynyard and West Coast. |
| Who: | Over 6,000 people from across Australia and overseas. The event is open to anyone who meets the age requirements of their sport of choice. It does not impose qualifying standards and welcomes participants from all over the world. The only criteria to compete in the Australian Masters Games is you must meet the minimum age criteria which in most sports is 30 years. |
| What: | A week-long festival of sport and festivities. Australia’s largest regular multisport Games will feature an extensive sports program including popular sports such as athletics, basketball, softball and rowing, with some more extreme and specialist sports like parachuting and dragon boating also set for inclusion in the program. |
| Entertainment: | As well as an extensive sporting schedule, the Australian Masters Games will also comprise a variety of social events throughout the week and the region, providing a festival atmosphere for both competitors and visitors to Tasmania. |
– ENDS –
Media enquiries regarding the 16th Australian Masters Games can be directed to:
Samantha Culbert
Australian Masters Games media
T: 03 9822 7110 or 0409 989 409