2019

Lynne has contributed forty years of service to Masters Athletics at local, regional and world levels as a competitor, official and administrator. A successful athlete in her chosen events, it is in Lynne’s administrative skills that she excels. Lynne holds and has held many executive positions on behalf of masters athletics – President, Oceania Masters Athletics; Executive Vice President, World Masters Athletics; Oceania Representative to WMA; President, Vice President and life member, Masters Athletics Western Australia and AMA President. She was also a member of the AMA team who successfully bid for the 2016 WMA Championships in Perth, then continued to serve on the Local Organising Committee and as the WMA Liaison Manager.

On behalf of AMA, Lynne was instrumental in the development of the AMA website and on-line entry system; reviewing and updating of governance and constitutional issues; co-editor of the AMA handbook and project manager of AMA history “Age is no Barrier”.

Due to her passion for masters athletics, Lynne has contributed many hours of voluntary unpaid administrative work to ensure Masters athletics in Australia, Oceania region and world-wide is well organised, well promoted and widely recognised by our sporting and general community.                                                      

 

  Mary Thomas – Athlete  

Mary commenced her athletic career at the age of 14 and 60 years later after joining New South Wales Masters Athletics in 1976, still competes in her favoured throwing events at local, regional and world levels. A pioneer woman to throw javelin using the over the shoulder method and rotary shot put, Mary has won every javelin event over all her age groups at New South Wales, Australian and Oceania Masters Championships. She has also medalled at these same championships in all other throwing disciplines.

Mary has competed in 18 World Masters Athletics Championships and World Masters Indoor Championships in Budapest and Daegu where she made a huge medal haul across her six throwing events (Javelin, Hammer, Shot put, Discus, Weight and Throws Pentathlon). Across all these disciplines, age groups and championships Mary has set up to 100 records. Mary has been the recipient of many awards recognising her athletic achievements including life memberships, Royce Foley Award, 2017 WMA Best Master of the Year – Female Thrower, Australian Federation of Sports Medicine, Australian Sporting Achievement – Australia Sports Medal, Sports Australia – Best Single Sporting Performance and AMA Thrower of the Year.