Life Membership: Phil Donelan

24 November 2021

Life Membership: Phil Donelan

Phil Donelan’s first involvement in athletics started in 1960 when he joined Asics Wests club. Over the next 50 years, his service would be wide and extensive with Athletics NSW and his club.

For over 30 years, Phil served on his club committee, receiving life membership of Asics Wests in 1980. His involvement went far past his club. He was involved with Athletics NSW and Athletics Australia organizing committees for various state and national championships, most in race walking. After helping assisting to organize the competition he then officiated at the event. He has been an Athletics NSW official for over two decades. He has held positions of timekeeper, starter, lap scorer, clerk of the course and referee. He was appointed a technical official for the 1996 World Junior Championships where he held the position of track umpire.

A specialty of Phil’s was liaising with teams and athletes, interstate or international, who travelled to NSW and Sydney for events, including Australian Championships.

In 2000 he was named a sports specific official for the Sydney Olympics, appointed to training sites. He was an Australian team manager for a race-walking match against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1975.

Awarded an Athletics NSW Merit Badge in 2004, Phil Donelan is now awarded life membership of Athletics NSW.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: Phil Donelan the official and with 2021 Athletics NSW Board Member David Lewis (courtesy of David Tarbotton)