Rod Gibb awarded Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award

18 November 2020

Rod Gibb awarded Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award

Tonight, one of NSW’s longest serving volunteers Rod Gibb OAM, was bestowed a Distinguished Long Service Award at the Sport NSW Community Sports Award, held virtually due to COVID-19.

‘Gibb’, as he calls himself, has contributed to the sport in so many areas. He, along with his wife Jan Gibb another enormous contributor to the sport, is most famously known as the owner of the property Willandra, the host venue for a staggering 30 NSW State cross country championships, the first in 1990. The venue has also hosted four national cross country titles over 17 years. In addition, thousands of schools, local club and area cross country events have been held there over the last three decades. Rod and Jan, spend thousands of hours and dollars preparing the property for the enjoyment of so many.

But his work on his cross country venue is just a tip of the iceberg of the volunteer work Rod does for the sport. He has been a key committee official at two clubs in Nowra since 1961 and an Athletics NSW official since 1975. At club level he has been secretary for five years, treasurer one year, president eight years and patron 41 years.

He has been a manager of numerous teams. He was manager of the Australian team to the World Cross Country and other teams to travel overseas.

His extensive cross country experience and knowledge has been called upon throughout NSW and Australia for advice on cross country courses.

His own athletics career was as a sprinter with Northern Suburbs. Growing up in Northbridge in Sydney. His career was been as a civil works supervisor.

He his contribution to athletics was recognised in 2006 when he was awarded an OAM.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Rod Gibb