Valmai Loomes awarded Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award

20 May 2021

Valmai Loomes awarded Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award

Next month at a ceremony at Bankwest Stadium, one of the hardest and longest working volunteers in athletics in NSW, Valmai Loomes, will be awarded a prestigious Sport NSW Distinguished Long Service Award. It is most deserved recognition for the Illawarra Blue Stars Athletics Club Secretary whose service to athletics has lasted her entire adult like – 58 years.

Born into an athletics family, Valmai Loomes has been the key volunteer administrator with one of NSW’s leading clubs, the Illawarra Blue Stars Athletics Club, for a staggering 58 years. Aged 18 in 1963, she became Treasurer of the club and a year later Secretary and has held that position since 1964 – 57 years.

So many great athletes have emerged during those nearly six decades, including Olympic medallist Louise McPaul (Currey) and Olympian and Commonwealth Games champion Robyn Woodhouse.

The club conducts weekly competition, has hosts NSW Country Championships and the annual Illawarra Track Challenge where in 2021 Rohan Browning ran sub-10 seconds in the 100m.

In addition to other administrative roles like holding key positions with the South Coast Branch, Valmai has been a coach for over four decades. One of the first coaches of the NSW Branch of the Australian Track and Field Association after it was formed in 1974, she is a level 3 qualified coach. She coaches athletes from as young as 11 to masters and from state to national level. She has also been a state team manager of junior teams.

She has been a leader and advocate for sport in Wollongong, helping setup a committee to develop an athletics track and helped establish the track and field program at Illawarra Sports High School. Valmai has written, for over four decades, for the local newspaper promoting athletics in the area.

Her athletics volunteer work aligns with her career as a qualified Youth and Community Development Officer, working with groups like YMCA, Berkeley Community Centre, Cringila Community Co-Operative, Mature Workers Program and others. For the last 16-years Valmai has worked for Campbell Page who provide employment opportunities for job seekers who are out of work.

Valmai will receive her award at the 2021 Sport NSW Community Sport Awards to be held on June 17 at Bankwest stadium.

Thanks Valmai for a lifetime of volunteer service to athletics. You have without doubt make a significant different in the lives of thousands of people who have been involved with your club.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Valmai Loomes with a group of athletes from her club