Six inducted into the Roll Of Excellence

Six outstanding individuals were inducted into the Coles Little Athletics Australia Roll Of Excellence on Saturday 21 October at the Boardwalk Gallery, Wrest Point Hobart.

The Roll of Excellence was formed to recognise former participants who have achieved at the highest level in their chosen sport or profession under the following categories: Track & Field, Sportsperson, Achievers and Volunteers.

TRACK AND FIELD CATEGORY

Kim Mickle

Kim started her Little Athletics career at Hamersley Little Athletics in 1991 and continued on with Little Athletics at Peel Districts Little Athletics Centre and Melville Little Athletics Centre the following years until 2000.

Kim held many State records in Javelin and discus during her time in Little Athletics including the record for the U13 Javelin which was only broken in 2009 and records for U14 and U15 Javelin until the specifications were changed. She was also a member of the U13 ALAC team in 1999.

Achieving international success in 2014 Kim achieved the Commonwealth Games record in Javelin with a throw of 65.96m. In that same year also achieved the Oceania record for Javelin with a throw of 66.83m. Held the Australian record for Javelin with a throw of 66.83 and in 2016 qualified for the Australia team for the Rio Olympic Games.

In 2016 Kim was drafted by the Fremantle Dockers into their inaugural Women’s AFL team, whilst also aiming tocontinue her athletics career.

“As a kid I wanted to play every sport that existed and I think I managed to give everything a crack at least once! Atthe age of 6 I started with Hamersley Little Athletics Centre and loved it straight away! I was always quite good atmost sports I did but found my passion for javelin quite early on.

Saying that it wasn't all butterflies and roses... The first time I threw a javelin, I whacked my head with the back of itand almost knocked myself out! Knowing how hard I hit myself, I knew there was potential for a big throw if I learnt how to do it correctly... So, I hit the training track and tucked into it. I guess the rest is history!”

Not only did I love the sport but I also loved the friends and experiences that came with it and I honestly wouldn't have made it this far in my career if it wasn't for Little Athletics!!!

SPORTSPERSON CATEGORY

Jack Riewoldt

Jack started Little Athletics at Clarence Little Athletics Centre in 1999 and continued until 2002. Jack was selected in the Tasmanian Little Athletics U13 State team in his last year of Little Athletics where he achieved a bronze medal in the Shot Put.

Jack continued competing in shot put with OVA club in Tasmania before playing junior football for St Virgils College. At the age of 15 he moved to his local club, Clarence, where he debut in the senior side at the age of 15.

Jack progressed into the Tasmanian Football Academy where he represented Tasmania in the under 15’s, under 16’s and under 18’s. He then represented Tasmania in the Tassie Mariners in the TAC Cup won the National Division 2 Championships.

While still 17 he was selected in the Tasmanian Devils VFL team where he had an outstanding season winning the rising star award. November 2006 Jack was selected at number 13 in the National Draft by the Richmond Football Club.

Jack made his debut for Richmond the very next year in the Dreamtime at the G match in front of 90,000 spectators. Jack has played 170 games with the Richmond Football Club and has recently signed a 4 year contract to keep him at the club until the end of 2019.

This year Jack helped his team win the AFL Grand Final.

AFL Player honours:

2006 NAB ALF Draft – 1^st Round Selection for Richmond, No. 13 overall

2008 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee

2010 Jack Dyer Medallist (Richmond FC Best & Fairest)

2010 All-Australian

2010 International Rules series (in Ireland)

2010 & 2012 Dual Coleman Medal (AFL Leading goal kicker)

2012 All-Australian nominee

Richmond FC Leading goal-kicker 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is a left-arm fast bowler and is also a handy lower order left-handed batsman. He was a prominent member of the victorious Australian squad that won the 2015 Cricket World Cup and would be declaredMan of the Tournament as a result of his consistent performances.

Mitchell began his under-age cricket career as a wicketkeeper before being convinced to abandon the gloves andturn his talents to fast bowling. He was known to wicketkeeper and bowl in the same innings as a junior. During these junior years, Mitchell played most of his cricket on a Saturday for the Berala club in Sydney, which allowedhim to be able to participate at Parramatta Little Athletics on a Friday night along with his brothers and sisters (Note: brother Brandon is competing in the high jump at the 2016 Rio Olympics).

With his classic left-armer’s action and the ability to swing the ball at pace, Mitchell Starc had long been touted as a future star of Australian cricket and lived up to that expectation in 2015. He received the Man of theTournament award for the 2015 Cricket World Cup (which Australia won) and was the leading wicket taker in theworld in all forms of international cricket for the 2015 calendar year with 87 wickets, including being the leadingwicket taker for 2015 Cricket World Cup (22 at an economy rate of 3.58).

Australian coach, Darren Lehmann says Mitchell Starc (91 wickets) has the weapons to take 300 Test wickets, amark only four Australian quicks have achieved. They are Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lillee, Brett Lee and MitchellJohnson.

ACHIEVERS CATEGORY

Rishelle Hume

Rishelle stated Little Athletics in Western Australia in the early 1980s at the Gosnells & Districts Little Athletics Centre and then by the mid-80s was competing as the Southern Districts Little Athletics Centre.

Richelle held numerous State Championship Gold Medals

In the 1984/85 she won the Gold Medal in the U9 – Discus which was an ABP, a record that still stands today – 30 plus years later.

Rishelle also represented the state on numerous occasions and held a number of state records which can be seen on the screen.

At National Senior Level she also won the Bronze medal in the 1999 Open Women’s Javelin Event.

A proud Noongar Woman she is a direct descendent and granddaughter of the highly respected Noongar elders, Mr. Patrick and Lorna Hume who spent their lives tirelessly promoting Aboriginal Rights and their Noongar culture.

Like her grandparents Rishelle has devoted her working life to the advancement of her Aboriginal people and her Noongar culture.

She has over 22 years’ experience in Aboriginal engagement ranging from employment, education, sporting, justice and health.

Rishelle has completed her Bachelor of Commence with a Double Major in Human Resource Management and is currently the Senior HR Aboriginal Employment Consultant with Chevron Australia. She is highly respected by the Aboriginal community and employers as an innovative and experienced Project Manager.

Andrew May

Andrew started at the Yass Little Athletics Centre in mid-1980’s. As an U13 to U15 Little Athlete, he attended as many Little Athletics NSW coaching camps and clinics as he possible could.

He was always ready to soak up all the coaching advice he could get, especially from John Quinn, who was a Little Athletics NSW Education and Development Officer, who would become Andrew’s friend, mentor, and a big influence in his life.

Andrew obtained a degree in exercise physiology and sports coaching, eventually a Masters in Coaching Psychology.

Andrew has had some high profile roles which included Physical Performance Manager for the Australian Cricket Team and NSW Cricket Team, roles with AFL Teams including the Sydney Swans, and Olympic athletes in track and field, swimming, basketball, netball, hockey and tennis.

Andrew is a leading expert on workplace performance. Assisting organisations to enhance productivity, wellbeing and employee engagement through the high performance of their people.

VOLUNTEERS CATEGORY

Bob Cruise

Bob’s Little Athletics journey began in 1960 when he took his son Dean to Coburg Little Athletics centre in Victoria

From then on Race walking became his passion.

Bob has held numerous positions whilst involved in Little Athletics:

· President Coburg LA (Six years)

· President Northern Region of the Victorian Little Athletics Association.

· Chairman of the Victorian Little Athletics Walk Standards Panel

Bob was also heavily involved in Little Athletics in Alice Springs and Darwin.

In 1982 he officiated at the Commonwealth Games as an International Race Walking Judge.

He was appointed Chief Judge of many Australian Championships as well as gaining appointments to numerous international events such as World Championships and International events.

In 1988 he was Coordinator of the ALAC Championships in Darwin

Bob was an IAAF international race walking judge for 27 years, a member of the IAAF World race Walking Committee six years and has been continually involved in little athletics for more than 50 years. He continues to coach and judge at all levels of competition from little athletics through to masters championships at international level.