Athletics NSW volunteers – the Life Blood of our sport

19 May 2023

Athletics NSW volunteers – the Life Blood of our sport

This week Athletics NSW has been profiling a number of our incredible volunteers that the sport could not operate without. Read about the journeys of:

TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Susan Newton

TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Sue Stephens

COACH & CLUB ADMINISTRATOR – Sharyn Dickson

TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Joshua Henry

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TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Susan Newton

The nearly four-decade journey of Technical Official Susan Newton started in a very family way. Her service sees her now with over 30 years with Athletics NSW and has reached International Level.

Susan Newton’s willingness to help launched her athletics involvement when she accompanied her talented hurdling son Greg Newton to his first competition.

“My journey started in 1984, when I was watching Greg doing Long Jump at Little As as an U7, - a voice said “you look like a lady who could handle a stop watch” and I have been attached to a stop watch ever since. I officiated as the straight track timekeeper at his club until he left for senior athletics. That would have been in 1992, I think,” recalled Susan Newton.

Now a member of a senior athletics club in the early ‘90s, Susan would take her son Greg, still in his teens to E.S. Marks field for interclub competition every Saturday. Then she heard another familiar announcement:

“Unless we get assistance, we can’t run the competition.”

Like her son Greg, on that day 31-years-ago, Susan joined Athletics NSW as an official.

From the start she was encouraged by Len Horwood who was chief timekeeper and “that started my Athletics NSW career,” said Susan.

Officials were encouraged to do the exams, so the following year I did the C level for Track; later I also did the C Level for Jumps and Throws, then Out of Stadia and Walks judging.

“Since joining, I have worked at schools, club, state, national and International events.”

Her first major appointment followed quickly when in 1996 she was appointed to the Technical Information Centre (TIC) where she worked alongside officials she continues to volunteer with 31 years later - John Morris and Rob Blackadder.

In 2000 she volunteered for the athlete village for the Olympics and Para-Olympics. Her amazing contribution continues to today, with her most recent appointment being at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

Thank you Susan for your incredible service of over three decades.

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TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Sue Stephens

We continue the celebration of our people in this National Volunteer week, learning today about how a 25-year journey in athletics started for Technical Official Sue Stephens.

“I started as an Athletics NSW official in 1998,” recalled Sue. “On my first day I was sent to photo finish but still had the opportunity to do a mixture of field and track as well in the following years. I started officiating in schools well before then at school and zone level, moving up to state level.”

She didn’t apply for the 2000 Olympics knowing that she didn’t have the credentials, but did get a call up for the Paralympics, held two weeks after the Olympics.

“Many of the officials got the flu so they were short for the Paralympics,” said Sue. “Janelle Eldridge rang me in the school holidays to work there. In those days the department paid us full pay for being an official at the national or international level. I worked in the Call Room and learnt so much.”

The next years she was appointed for the Australian championships and years later to her second International event, the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

25-years on, Sue Stephens is still volunteering at Athletics NSW and National meets.

Thank you Sue for your commitment and dedication to support our sport over a very long time.

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COACH & CLUB ADMINISTRATOR – Sharyn Dickson

An unsung hero of coaching, club administration and NSW team management in NSW is Sharyn Dickson.

A talented NSW discus thrower with the Westfields Athletics Club, Sharyn Dickson reached a best of 47.63m, with an undoubtedly career highlight, winning the NSW open discus title in 2003. Sharyn first registered with Westfields as an 8-year-old, and now 30 years later, is the second longest serving club member behind Dan Suchy.

Dan Suchy recalls Sharyn’s influence in the club and at the school.

“She has always acted as a role model assisting others and this would carry over into her adult life when she would be a team manager for Westfields at Australian Schools Knockouts and Downunder tournaments.”

After achieving her first coaching qualification in her teens (1999), she has gone on to develop a significant coaching career, with both a personal squad and coaching at a number of schools. When Denis Knowles or Christie Baker were unavailable, she would also coach at Westfields.

She has also involved herself in club administration, serving on the executive of the Westfields Athletics Club as a vice-President for at least 15 years – a role she continues to do today.

She has raised approximately $50,000 for the club by running Trivia Nights each year. The Trivia Nights are very successful due to Sharyn‘s vigilance in writing hundreds of letters to local businesses asking for donations and vouchers. Each Trivia Night, she accumulates well over $5000 worth of prizes.

Also Sharyn is will known by many junior athletes as a team manager for Athletics NSW and Athletics Australia. She has volunteered for these team manager roles both in NSW and when the team travels interstate.

“Sharyn is a true good-Samaritan,“ said Dan Suchy. “She is a meticulous worker and a conscientious helper. She currently coaches numerous athletes of all ages. She is an invaluable asset to athletics in NSW and Australia.“

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TECHNICAL OFFICIAL – Joshua Henry

Recently Josh Henry was named Athletics NSW’s Novice Official of the Year. Here is his journey in athletics to becoming an official.

Josh was initially a competitor commencing as a 3-year-old in tiny tots and going all the way through to under 17s in Little Athletics.

Through his Little Athletics years he helped with timekeeping and learned the ropes at Region Carnivals. He completed his Level 1 qualifications in all events in 2020 and started his journey to Level 2 the following year, officiating at zone, region, state relays and state championships for Little Athletics. Eager to get signed off, he was convinced by Murray Gaudin to start attending Athletics NSW events and in 2021/22 he took on as many events as he could, while completing his HSC. He has officiated as a walk judge, in long jump, triple jump, discus, shot put, timekeeping and track judge. He enjoys officiating and understands there is a need for younger people to take on the role for the future of the sport that has been a big part of his life for so long. Josh is only 18 year-old.

Thank you Josh for your contribution to athletics. We hope it is just the start of a long involvement.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Sue Stephens and Susan Newton (courtesy of David Tarbotton)