Athletics NSW Awards: Life memberships awarded

28 April 2024

Athletics NSW Awards: Life memberships awarded

Five Athletics NSW technical officials, with outstanding service, were awarded Life Membership at our annual Awards Dinner held at the Locker Room at Homebush last evening.

The evening was an opportunity to recognise our technical officials, coaches, clubs and administrators; all who play an important role in making our sport successful.

Athletics NSW’s highest recognition of Life Membership was conferred on Susan Newton, Ellen Coker, Carmel McCudden, Liz Radley and Sue Stephens. Combined they have given a staggering 136-years of service.

The hard-working technical officials have given between 23 and 32-years service to Athletics NSW and continue to be some of our most regular officials.

Full details of their service will be outlined in future articles on the athletics NSW website, but some highlights of their service are:

• Carmel McCudden - 25-years service commencing in 1999. Major appointments include: two Commonwealth Games, 2011 World Para-Athletics Championships and 2023 World Cross Country. Athletics NSW State team manager and schools team manager for 25 years.

• Susan Newton - 32-years service commencing in 1992. Major appointments include: 1996 World Juniors, 2018 Invictus Games and 2023 World Cross Country Championships. Decades of club service with Westfields, Sydney Pacific and Sutherland and continues to be one of our most regular officials at winter walks and cross country and all levels of competition during summer.

• Liz Radley - 23-years service commencing in 2001. Major appointments include: 2018 Commonwealth Games and 2011 World Para-Athletics Championships. Served on the Aths NSW Officials Advisory Panel and been an official course lecturer and three decades as a Little Athletics Official.

• Sue Stephens - 26-years service commencing in 1998. Major appointments include: 2000 Paralympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games. Significant service as a trainer on Meet Manager. A schools and Education Department trainer on competition rules and Meet Manager.

• Ellen Coker - 30-years service commencing in 1994. Major appointments, there are over 10, but include two Commonwealth Games, 2000 Paralympics, and World Para-Athletics Championships. Over three decades of club service and also a RFS member for 47 years.

Athlete Awards

Nicola Olyslagers and Brandon Starc were named athletes of the year at the Annual Awards. At the 2023 World Championships Brandon placed eighth in the high jump, his fifth consecutive global championship final. Nicola won the World Indoors Championship, a bronze at the world championships in Budapest and placed second at the Diamond League final in Eugene. She also equalled or raised the Australian Indoor, Outdoor and Australian All-comers records.

Nicola also took the most votes in the People’s Choice Award, just ahead of Mackenzie Little and Mali Lovell.

Jessica Hull and Nicola Olyslagers’ performances in Adelaide at the Nationals were jointly awarded the George Soper Memorial Award for Best Performance by a NSW Athlete at the Australian Championships.

A full list of award winners will be posted here on Monday.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Athletics NSW’s new Life Members Liz Radley, Susan Newton, Sue Stephens, Ellen Coker and Carmel McCudden (image courtesy of Fred Etter)