Athletics Australia recently confirmed at its Annual General Meeting honours to five outstanding contributors to the sport.
Legendary coach Pat Clohessy AM was announced as a Life Governor of Athletics Australia while Max Binnington, Chris Bradshaw, Mike Hurst and Peter Lawler were all granted Life Member status.
Below are the details of their award citations. Athletics Australia congratulates them all on their richly deserved awards.
Pat Clohessy AM
Pat Clohessy’s contribution to athletics has been influential and passionate – making an indelible impression on the sport in Australia and earning accolades from around the world.
He was an accomplished athlete. In the twilight of his career at 29 years of age he was selected in the Australian Team for the Commonwealth Games in Perth. He ran both the one and three mile events, finishing seventh at the longer distance.
Max Binnington
The highlight of Max Binnington’s competitive career would undoubtedly be his two Commonwealth Games medals – a silver in Edmonton in 1978 and a bronze four years earlier in Christchurch. But in reality they were just early high points in a long and still continuing devotion to his sport which has included a three year term as President of Athletics Victoria.
Chris Bradshaw
Few people have approached each of their roles in Australian athletics with as much enthusiasm asChris Bradshaw.
As an athlete he was unstoppable – competing at each level from club to international with equal gusto and enjoyment. Perhaps typical of a decathlete, he also gave great support and encouragement to his team mates and opponents alike.
Mike Hurst
Mike Hurst began his involvement in athletics as a more than capable schoolboy and club sprinter and long jumper – but his contributions to the sport as both a coach and journalist went well beyond.
His passion and understanding of the sport were unquestionably evident in his work in both areas.
As a young journalist Mike was a prolific reporter on many sports but quickly he became most known for his writings on his own – athletics. Both at News Limited and with the then specialist publication,Australasian Track and Field Athletics he not only reported the facts but was unafraid of providing opinion as to what might benefit to the sport.
Peter Lawler
Peter Lawler is amongst the finest examples of an athlete who achieved at national level and who then continued to make a fine contribution to the sport of athletics in other ways.
He is perhaps best known as coach to Commonwealth Games champion and Olympic silver medallist, Louise McPaul-Currey and a host of other high-achieving track and field athletes but within the sport he is widely acknowledged for a very special devotion and commitment to coaching in general and coach education in particular.
