2022

George White  – Administrator

Biography And Stats                 “An exemplary contribution.”

George began his running & athletic administration career when he formed and ran the Kambala Athletic Club, WA in 1975. He was introduced to Veteran Athletics race walking in the 1987 World Masters Athletics Championships in Victoria.
George has been a member of South Australian Masters Athletics (SAMA) since 1990, joining the committee in 2001 as Registrar followed by Secretary 2003 & 2020, President 2013-18, Statistician 2003-7. Over these years George secured grants, computerised the membership database and established an historical database of records and digitalised historical newsletters. He is a Life Member of SAMA and Athletics South Australia.  As a member of the AMA board George has revised all the AMA policies, Strategic & Risk Management Plans; National Championship Competition Manual & Programs, including the oversight of AMA technical rules and specifications and ensuring WA/WMA compliance. George is Oceania Records Officer and Statistician representing OMA on the WMA Records Committee. He is also the Oceania delegate to WMA. George has also performed significant roles in the organisation of AMA National Championships, Australian
and SA Masters Games, World Police & Fire Games. He has published “Age is an Advantage” the history of SAMA.
An accomplished race walker George has won over 40 Australian Titles, set 6 Australian records , 5 WMA titles, 26 OMA golds and currently holds 74 SAMA records in distances varying from 800m to the half marathon.

 

Fred O’Connor – Athlete  (Inducted posthumously)

“Supreme multi event athlete.”                                     Biography And Stats

Fred’s athletic career commenced as a schoolboy in 1933, competing in the 100 yards and long jump he set records that stood for 40 years. Competing in Victoria Athletics interclub his favoured events were the 100 & 200 yards, long & triple jumps. As the second ranked triple jumper in the world he was selected to represent Australia at the 1948 London Olympics, unfortunately he was unable to afford the £250 fare so was not able to compete.
Joining NSWMA in his fifties Fred competed in his favourite events and over the years became proficient in all sprints, jumps, hurdles, and decathlon. In WMA events he won 5 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals and was
denied a world record in the M80 decathlon due to no wind reading for the long jump. He still holds 16 records at National and State levels. Fred’s coaching skills encompassed not only athletics but Australian Rules Football, Cricket, Rugby League, Basketball and Soccer. Over his 47 years of membership Fred was NSWMA President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Track Representative and Coach.
In recognition of his service to athletics Fred received many prestigious awards including: Life Membership NSWMA AT&FCA, Athletics NSW & Westfield Athletic Club; AA Merit Award; WAVAC Merit Award; NSW Sport Federation distinguished long service award and an Order of Australia Medal. Fred dedicated his life to all aspects of our sport – high level competing and coaching, officiating and committee service, and his coaching and mentorship made him a hero to his athletes, as evidenced by the trust and respect that they all had for him.