Athletics Wellington AGM
Features of last weeks AGM saw two long serving contributors to the sport being awarded Life Membership of Athletics Wellington. At meeting the Board announced the appointment of Andrew Rook to the AW Board. Andrew has young teenagers involved in the sport and comes with a strong combined business and sport background through Rugby. Three incumbent board members Andrew Wharton, Joshua Dorman and Eric Speakman were re-elected. Bernice Dickie presided over the AGM as she commences her third year of her term as President. Both the Chairman Andrew Wharton and General Manager Tony Rogers spoke of a positive year with many significant national events being held in Wellington over the previous twelve months. This enabled growth in visibility, capability and capacity for the athletics community has well as fiscal benefit for members to be involved locally. The upgrade of Newtown Park with new change facilities and stadium lightening due to FIFA WWC 23 gives excitement for the future events and use.
The Life Membership were bestowed upon Brian Seymour [Paraparaumu Track & Field] and Amanda Goldsmith [Olympic Harriers].
Brian Seymour has been serving the Athletics community on National and Regional scale since the 70’s having served 50 years as Paraparaumu Club Captain and also Patron. Brian was heavily involved in the iconic Colgate Games from its early years of inception including being made Life Member of the NZ Children’s AAA for his roles as a committee member, and meeting manager at many Colgates Games around the country as well as a huge number of local major meets including the Smokefree Track Series meets and National T&F Championships. Brain has held many positions within Athletics Wellington fold, including Track & Field Chairman and an excellent Team Manager/Coach. During hIs own athletics career in 1961 he won a Junior National title over 400 yards and silver in 200 yards and in 1963 a Senior title over 100 yards and bronze in 400 yards.
Renown across the country as a sprint coach one of his most successful athletes was his own daughter and prominent international athlete Michelle who held the Women’s National 100m record for almost 30 years until recently broken by Zoe Hobbs. Some of the International athletes he coached included Donald McDonald, David Falealili, Roger Te Puni, Michael Craig ad Tracey Phillips with more recent successes with the Lambert brothers and Josh Lotsu to name a few. Brian was national team Coach at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Canada and most recent manager and coach for Wellington Track & Field teams today. Brian is a massive community spirited contributor to all and like many athletes he was a Rugby rep in his younger days playing for Manawatu-Horowhenua against the 1966 British Lions.
Amanda Goldsmith has been a huge supporter of the development of young athletes across multiple clubs in the Wellington Centre. Starting back in the early 2000’s Amanda coached from 2000-2007 at Titahi Bay 5 days a week. In addition to coaching, she was a
committee member, organizing and managing the storeroom , advising when and what to buy when needed. She assisted with grants applications and managing and organizing teams to participate in all the different competitions on offer in the greater Wellington area each season, including North and South Island Colgate Games. Amanda organized the awards ceremony each year with numerous donations to support athletes – during this time from 2005 she also coached Masterton athletes with regular excursion across the Remutaka hill.
In 2006 Olympic members joined twice weekly Titahi Bay trainings and by September 2007 Amanda commenced coaching full time at Olympic Junior Athletics until today. Athletes from many other clubs attend her sessions. Amanda has been on the Athletics Wellington Junior Committee for 23 years. In 2017, Amanda was awarded The Lion Foundation Volunteer of the Year Award
Amanda was recognised by Athletics NZ in 2019 with a Long Service Award. Amanda has twice been awarded the Athletics Wellington Coach of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards. At the most recent Athletics Wellington Awards Ceremony Amanda was awarded Female Junior Coach of the Year. Her Athletics Wellington serie to Inter Provincial athletics in recent years has been outstanding as a team manager for both Junior and Senior Track & Field Teams. Manada has previously been the Lead organiser for the Athletics Wellington Annual Awards nights for both Seniors and Juniors and the Athletics Wellington uniform coordinator for a number of years
2022 -2023 Annual Report is available Here
