Athletics Australia Life Membership – Rob Blackadder
Published Sat 02 Nov 2019
2 November 2019
Athletics Australia Life Membership – Rob Blackadder
At Athletics Australia’s recent AGM, long term technical official, Rob Blackadder was awarded Life Membership.
Rob Blackadder first became interested in athletics during his university days in England, continuing through his work as a physical education teacher. Upon his migration to Australia he contributed as an official via the New South Wales combined high schools athletics program.
Rob’s interests as an official were never in specific events but always widespread. Around the mid-nineties Rob also became involved in para athletics through Wheelchair Sports NSW as well as with the events that were being conducted through the schools’ system and ANSW. Rob was one of those who took a special interest in the technical aspects of para athletics. The work he did in provided Australia with a sound foundation for the superb conduct of the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.
Since 1997, Rob has also been involved with the Summer Down Under Wheelchair Racing Series and in officials’ recruitment and education at state level. Under his guidance, the training and development of officials in NSW took a major step forward.
Rob’s technical knowledge of athletics is widely recognised. He has also been appointed to many senior roles for Athletics NSW and Athletics Australia meets including as technical manager and travelled to many Oceania championships serving as technical manager and developing the skills of officials in these countries. He led a technical management course held in association with the 2019 Area Championships held in Townsville, based on the national workshop he conducted in 2016.
Rob was certified as a World Para Athletics International Technical Official in 2005, and served on the WPC ITO Panel for a period until 2017. Other major appointments across athletics at the highest level included the 1996 World Juniors (TIC assistant), 2000 Sydney Olympic Games (throws judge), 2001 Goodwill Games (field judge), 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games (technical judge) and 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (technical manager).
Rob’s contribution to Athletics NSW was recognised with Life Membership in 2014. He was the Athletics Australia Official of the Year for 2008 and has been a long serving and enthusiastic member of the AA Facilities and Equipment Commission.
In all the roles and positions Rob has held, he has at all times conducted himself with good humour and grace, with a smile and encouragement for other officials.