Five star advisory board convenes with 500 days to go 

 

Tomorrow marks 500 days to go to one of the biggest sporting festivals ever staged in Tasmania, with two key elements of the event confirmed with today’s announcement of the Games Advisory Board and tomorrow’s release of the event logo.

 

The Games Advisory Board members join the two key appointments already announced, chair Royce Fairbrother and Games general manager Scott Wade. 

 

The duo will be joined by a diverse group of experts covering media, sports administration, marketing, tourism and local government, who will join key Games staff in delivering the Games and maximising the benefits of the event for both masters sport in Australia and Tasmania as the host.

 

The 2017 Australian Masters Games Advisory Board will meet for the first time tomorrow (Wednesday 8 June), at which time the Games logo will also be released.

 

The 2017 Australian Masters Games Advisory Board members are:

 

  • Royce Fairbrother – Chairman
  • Scott Wade – General Manager, Australian Masters Games
  • Rob Bradley  – President, Confederation of Australian Sport
  • Cheryl Fuller – Chair, Cradle Coast Authority
  • Courtney Greisbach – Editor, Advocate Newspaper
  • Tony Jermyn – General Manager, Australian University Sport
  • Ian Locke – Innovator, Consultant, Business Advisor
  • Brian Roe OAM – Sports Administration and Media Consultant
  • Clint Walker – Tourism Operator, Deputy Chair Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania
  • A Tasmanian government representative (TBC) will also join the board

 

Games chair Royce Fairbrother said the board will make a significant contribution to the success of the 16th edition of the Australian Masters Games.

 

“The mix of skills and talents on the Games Advisory Board is impressive and they will all make an important and valuable contribution to the delivery of the Games,” Fairbrother said.

 

“We have some lofty goals, which will require a significant contribution from all the key partners in the event – from the sporting side to government, tourism and media,” Fairbrother added.

 

Games General Manager Scott Wade said, “The offers of partnership and involvement are already coming in and I am confident that the Advisory Board will also open the right doors, locally throughout the Cradle Coast, across Tasmania and also around Australia to ensure the Games are a success.”

 

Games logo to be unveiled

 

Celebrating masters sport, and a unique Tasmanian location the event logo is a play on the map of Tasmania, the use of the natural dominant colour palate of green along with a stylised celebratory pose of the participating athletes. It represents the key brand values of activity and vitality, achievement and celebration.

 

The logo will be used across all event promotional material, advertising, merchandise and event signage.

 

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.

 

Games Advisory Board Profiles

 

Royce Fairbrother – Chairman

Through his involvement in community sport and through running Tasmania’s biggest construction company, the Fairbrother Group, Royce 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. An enthusiastic promoter of Tasmania’s North West, Royce 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.

 

Scott Wade – General Manager, Australian Masters Games

A former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club during the 1980s as well as 282 games in the Tasmanian Football League, Scott had 16 years in the CEO role with AFL Tasmania, before resigning in March this year. However the national reach and community appeal of the Australian Masters Games made him re-think his retirement plans and he was appointed Games general manager in April.

 

Rob Bradley  – President and CEO, Confederation of Australian Sport

The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS), which owns the Australian Masters Games, was established in 1976 with the overriding aim to contribute to the development of a society in which the social, economic and health benefits of widespread participation in sport and recreation are recognised and valued by all. Rob has been a director of CAS since 2009 and commenced as chief executive officer in January 2013 following 16 years as CEO of Royal Life Saving.

 

Cheryl Fuller – Chair, Cradle Coast Authority

Cheryl is Chair of the Cradle Coast Authority (CCA) Board, appointed in January 2016. She has been a Board member for the CCA for the past three years. She had previously served on the Central Coast Council for more than six years. She has a qualification in Business and Public Policy from the University of Tasmania and is a proud graduate of the Tasmanian Leadership Program. Residing in Penguin, Cheryl works in the adult education and training sector and is a keen rower and member of the Penguin Lions Club.

 

Courtney Greisbach – Editor, Advocate Newspaper

Starting at The Advocate as a cadet journalist in 2009, Courtney rose to chief of staff in 2012 and was appointed the first female editor in 2015. Born and bred in Burnie, Courtney is passionate about building and growing the North-West and West Coast community. A finalist in the Fairfax Women of Influence awards in 2013 and 2014, she also volunteers with the youth organisation Whitelion and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

 

Tony Jermyn – General Manager, Australian University Sport

The Confederation of Australian Sport (CAS) engages Australian University Sport to manage the organisation of the Australian Masters Games. As general manager, Tony is responsible for the appointment of the Games staff, contractors and the overall outcomes of the Games on behalf of both CAS and AUS. Tony also manages similar outcomes for the Australian University Games and the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western University Games events.

 

Ian Locke – Innovator, Consultant, Business Advisor

The principal at Ian Locke Consulting, with strong business and community connections, Ian has diverse skills in corporate management and governance with profit, not for profit and social enterprises. With double masters’ degrees and qualifications as a director, Ian has experience on various boards including the staging of major events.

 

Brian Roe OAM – Sports Administration and Media Consultant

A lawyer by profession and former president of Athletics Tasmania, Brian has more than 40 years’ experience as a sports administrator and event organiser.  A member of the IAAF Technical Committee, he is one of the IAAF’s senior International Technical Officials having been appointed to officiate at four Commonwealth and six Olympic Games, serving as Competition Director at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. He has been a key member of event organising committees in a range of roles including as general manager of the World Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington in 1990.

 

Clint Walker – Tourism Operator, Deputy Chair Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania

Clint lives in Stanley and has operated the Stanley Seaview Inn for 15 years, Horizon Deluxe Apartments for nine years and Burnie City Apartments for four years.  He has served on the committee of the Circular Head Tourism Association for all of this time, and more recently has sat on the board of the Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania for the past six years and the Cradle Coast Tourism Executive for the past two years.  In May 2016 Clint was elected co-deputy chair of the Tourism Industry Council.

 

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