By GARY FRY
SPORT UNE held its annual sports awards on Saturday night, in conjunction with the celebration of 75 years of sport at the University of New England.
The new Member for New England and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce led the official unveiling of sporting infrastructure refurbishments and upgrades.
CEO Dave Schmude said Sport UNE had received a Federal Government Grant of $6.2 million and with contributions from UNE, a total of over $11 million has been spent on sporting infrastructure in the past five years.
Attending black-tie function were nine Honorary Life Members of Sport UNE, as well as the Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, the Chancellor John Watkins, the Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Barber, current and past students, including four former Australian representatives in their chosen sports.
Professor Jim Barber announced the establishment of a Development Fund, which it is hoped will raise the sum of $9 million and fund further infrastructure renewal at Sport UNE, including the 25-metre indoor swimming pool.
He echoed the sentiment of many at the function that sport is an integral aspect of the collegiate experience at UNE, which gives it more to offer than online and (in some respects) metropolitan university studies.
There was an inspiring Q&A panel with the special guest sporting alumni entertaining the audience.
Panel members included Kath Partridge – the UNE Sportsperson of the Year in 1982. She was a hockey goal keeper for Australia in two Olympic Games, winning gold at one. Kath is currently assistant coach of the Kookaburras. Long distance runner, Shaun Creighton also participated. He represented Australia on 24 occasions, including the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics. He still holds the Australian record for the 3000m steeple chase.
Another guest was freestyle swimmer, Melissa Mitchell, who swam at the Athens Olympics and two World Championships. She narrowly missed qualification for the London games and is now focused on Rio in 2016. The Panel included Emma Gillogly who is currently a member of the Australian Women’s Rugby 7s Squad. She represented UNE nationally every year of her UNE studies and had leadership roles at the University.
Contenders for the Sportsperson of the Year were from a diverse array of sporting fields: Melissa Mitchell (swimming); Richie Campbell (water polo); Erin Osborne (Cricket); Amber Arazny (half-pipe snowboard); Sarah Cook (sailing); and Elise Rechichi (sailing).
The winner was Tamworth-born Australian off-spin bowler, Erin Osborne. Unfortunately couldn’t attend the function, as she is abroad with the Southern Stars Women’s Cricket side.
