VETRUNNER -...

Y f VETRUNNER

ISSN 1449-8006 Vol. 42 Issue 2 — August 2020

Patron: Dick Telford

Website: www.actmastersathletics.org.au Facebook: ACT Masters Athletics Club

The monthly magazine of the ACT Masters Athletics Club Inc.

Email: [email protected]

See pages 7 & 15 for proposed dates of competition

Coming Back from COVID-Cancellations Reporter and photographer: Suzie Gaynor

After four months of cancelled events, the first of our competi-

tions to restart was the Throws Pentathlon. With an eager, albeit

somewhat rusty, field of ten throwers we delivered our first

COVID-Safe competition on Sunday 12 July. Despite the chill in

the air with the temperature not reaching double figures and the

sun not making an appearance, I am pleased to report the

COVID-compliance was great.

Many of us needed lots of warm ups after the long break, but

getting our arms around the throws wasn’t the only challenge on

the day, the new procedures of sanitising your hands after every

throw and keeping your distance from others kept the COVID

Control Officer and Meet Director, Jayne Hardy, on her feet and

in full voice: ‘SANITISE YOUR HANDS’ was heard more often

than ‘Good Throw’.

Winning the day with a great score of 3578 points was Jean-

ette Williamson, ahead of Jayne Hardy (3557) and Ray Green

(3115). But looking the part in splendid uniform to win the fash-

ions on the field stakes were Shenevelle Dickson, Raylea Ru-

dov, Suzie Gaynor, Charlie Bastecky and Jayne Hardy.

Other special mentions: it was good to see Shane Hutchison

getting his hammer turns happening, Raylea Rudov (Recorder)

and Robert Kennelly pushing through the pain barrier to have a

throw, and new comer Albert Oliver giving the other disciplines

of the Throws Pentathlon a go, after nailing his shot put to al-

most 12 metres.

Suzie Gaynor (cont. p. 4)

Top right; Jayne Hardy (Meet Director and COVID Control Of-

ficer), Jeanette Williamson (overall points winner), from bottom

left; Raylea Rudov, Charlie Bastecky and Albert Oliver.

— August 2020 Vetrunner

Club Supporters The ACT Masters Athletics Club is grateful for the generous support of the following sponsors and local businesses:

National Mailing & Marketing for printing of Vetrunner, the Annual Report and other pamphlets

The Runners Shop for discounts to members for purchases and discounted gift vouchers

Kingston Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre for discounts to members for purchases and discounted gift

vouchers

Go Troppo Fyshwick Markets for a discount on fruit for our Run-Walk Handicap events

Kingston Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre for donating prizes for the King and Queen of the Mountain

in both Thomas & Frylink Series

Belconnen Soccer Club and the Ainslie Football and Social Club for providing rooms for the club meetings

and other functions on request.

Dave Mackenzie for donating prizes for the King and Queen of the Mountain in the Waddell Series.

. “These shoes are designed for trail running. I used them to set a new age group record in

the Mt Ainslie Parkrun on 7 December. I've also used them

for training runs in Black Mountain. They are currently still

in stock at the Runners Shop, and I can recommend them”.

Clare Wall

Phillip Store:

76 Dundas Court

Ph: 6285 3508

Club Sponsors

K I N G S TO N P H YS I OT H E R A P Y & S P O RT S I N J U RY C E N T R E

E x c i t i n g n e w s ! Introducing Dietician & Sports Nutritionist

Sophie Stanwell Sophie recently joined our Physio & Massage team and is

also offering discounted services to ACTMAC members.

C a l l o r g o o n - l i n e f o r m o r e i n f o .

0 2 - 6 2 6 0 8 2 4 4 w w w . k i n g s t o n p h y s i o . c o m . a u

August 2020 Vetrunner — page 3

Patron

Dr Dick Telford AO

Main Committee

President:

Shane Hutchison 0419 009 403

[email protected]

Vice President:

Nikki Phelps 0497 269 935

[email protected]

Secretary:

Suzie Gaynor 0429 812 878

[email protected]

Treasurer:

Leigh Harlow 0421 564 135

[email protected]

Registrar:

Nigel England 0477 341 333

[email protected]

Main Committee Members:

[email protected]

Kathy Sims 0418 408 805

Ken Smith

Public Officer

Robbie Costmeyer 0448 087 054

[email protected]

Sub-Committees and Coodinators

Annual Awards, Trophies and historian:

Bryan Thomas 6161 36

[email protected]

Equipment Officer (Track and Field):

Jayne Hardy 0421 610 053

[email protected]

Publicity, Marketing, Membership:

Suzie Gaynor 0429 812 878

[email protected]

Statistician and Records Officer:

Jacob Grooby

[email protected]

Run/Walk Handicap sub-committee chair:

Impending vacancy

Run/Walk Handicap Rosters:

Deb Gordon

[email protected]

Throws Coordinator:

Jayne Hardy 0421 610 053

[email protected]

Track & Field sub-committee chair:

Nigel England 0477 341 333

Special Events and Communications

Cross Country Championships Co-

ordinator: Ken Smith

Local Organising Committee for 2021 AMA

Track and Field National championships:

Bryan Thomas 6161 3635 (h)

[email protected]

Member Protection Information Officers:

Sue Bourke 0408 266 183

Richard Scutter 0415 738 848

Social Events:

Rosemary Parker 0427 160 129

Robyn Saunders 0403 808 299

Sprint Marathon Relays:

Jim White 02 6231 4168

Uniforms:

Suzie Gaynor

[email protected]

Vetrunner Editor:

Robert Kennelly

[email protected]

Webmaster:

Geoff Moore and Bronwyn Calver

[email protected]

Weekly Bulletin Editor:

Val Chesterton [email protected]

ACT MASTERS ATHLETICS “Fitness Through Fellowship”

The Vetrunner is the official Newsletter of ACTMA, ISSN 1449-8006

Postal Address: GPO Box 2356, Canberra, ACT 2601.

Internet: www.actmastersathletics.org.au Facebook: ACT Masters Athletics Club

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of ACTMA

I am excited about returning to club competition, but equally nervous

about the very fluid situation and the news out of Melbourne getting

worse by the day. I am not completely confident that our restart will

continue. It has been an extraordinary year and we are not out of the

woods yet. I hope everyone is staying safe and well, and looking forward

to our restart of play.

I acknowledge that the interrupted season has meant we have not

had many opportunities to make the most of the popular season’s passes.

In early July, the Main Committee met face-to-face for the first time

since February and our focus was on safe-guarding club members and

volunteers. We reviewed the event COVID-Plans from each of the sub-

committees to ensure that risks are well-managed, and members are

protected, especially when we are mostly in the high-risk/vulnerable

category.

At this stage, we can only make competition plans on a month-to-

month basis and this means it is difficult to make a decision about the

season's passes. We could not have foreseen the disruption caused by

COVID. We introduced the passes in good faith that they would support

participation and administration of events, and we are pleased to say

they did make a positive difference.

In the constantly changing situation that is beyond our control, we

appreciate members' patience for us to make the right decision that puts

members' health first. We understand it may be inconvenient and

concerning that there have not been many events in which to realise all

the benefits of the season's pass, but the year isn’t over yet.

However, in some good news, the Main Committee decided to extend

the season's passes until the end of the calendar year to show good faith

and to hopefully allow for more opportunities to realise the pass benefits.

We also decided to offer a dry-July with event fees waived while we

settle back into the new normal, before we go cashless in August. Our president hammering his way to the end of the

virus. (photo: Suzie Gaynor)

From President Shane

We have also set a tentative date for the AGM:

Wednesday 9 September. But this date depends on secur-

ing a venue, which at this stage is difficult. (cont. p.5)


Coming Back from COVID-Cancellations (cont.)

Play your part in return to play

As we resume activities at ACT Masters Ath-letics, it’s important to remember that it is up to each of us to take the following steps:

Keep your distance: stay 1.5 metres away from other people, no hugging or hand shaking.

Wash your hands: practice good hy-giene, cough/sneeze into your arm and avoid touching things. Sanitise equipment between touches/throws.

Stay away: when you are unwell. Get tested if you have respiratory symptoms or a fever (for more information see pages 18-19).

Download the COVIDSafe App: to pro-tect yourself and others, so we can find the vi-rus quickly.

Throws Pentathlon 12 July 2020

Name Age Gp H Dst H Pts S Dst S Pts D Dst D Pts J Dst J Pts Wt Dst Wt Pts Tot Pts

Albert Oliver M35 16.19 141 11.96 631 27.46 422 22.14 194 0.00 0 1388

Shane Hutchison M45 16.22 194 6.06 324 19.95 348 28.33 344 5.53 257 1467

Charles Bastecky M60 18.35 255 8.13 494 30.32 508 30.43 486 9.06 421 2164

Robert Kennelly M70 8.17 68 5.82 334 15.94 279 13.57 199 6.60 315 1195

Ray Green M75 29.00 640 8.77 623 30.21 732 19.71 403 11.96 717 3115

Shenevelle Dickson W35 0.00 0 8.71 466 26.66 418 17.39 260 10.80 602 1746

Suzie Gaynor W50 19.12 376 6.73 430 15.10 257 13.24 241 7.53 426 1748

Jayne Hardy W55 38.74 1025 8.32 621 24.33 559 23.25 546 11.68 806 3557

Jeanette Williamson W75 26.21 923 6.88 701 19.59 697 13.72 501 10.23 756 3578

Raylea Rudov W75 18.66 608 5.79 569 13.40 441 9.55 322 8.07 570 2510

Report by Suzie Gaynor on front page

Cont. from p.1

Table of the longest throws by men and women in each throwing discipline. The full set of results is at the bottom of the page.

Discipline Womens Distance Mens Distance

Hammer Jayne Hardy 38.34m Ray Green 29.00m

Shot Put Shenevelle Dickson 8.71m Albert Oliver 11.96m

Discus Shenevelle Dickson 26.66m Charlie Bastecky 30.32m

Javelin Jayne Hardy 23.25m Charlie Bastecky 30.43m

Weight Throw Jayne Hardy 11.68m Ray Green 11.96m

Photos below: left,

Suzie Gaynor with

smile and discus;

right, Shenevelle

Dickson with the

weight.

Photo of Suzie Gaynor

by Shane Hutchison,

other photos by Robert

Kennelly

Y f


MARGARET McSPADDEN has been a very active member

since 1999 including being part of our Awards Subcommittee for

the last five years. Recent times have not been easy for Marga-

ret; first she became a widow then in the February handicap on

Issacs ridge Margaret had a nasty fall which resulted in a gash

under her chin that required a trip to the emergency cen-

tre. While still in hospital the follow day she suffered a mini

stroke in which she has now 99% recovered. Since the fall Mar-

garet has been forced to take things very carefully thus limiting

her physical activity. These circumstances led Margaret to de-

cide to sell her Canberra home and move to Queensland to be

nearer family.

Margaret is the identical twin sister of Gwen Vines. Gwen

was a long-time former member (from 1982 to 1998) and a tal-

ented runner and national class race walker. Margaret began

her regular involvement in both our track and field and running

handicap programs at about the same time as Gwen moved to

Queensland, causing many members to make a faux pas due to

mistaken identity. Gwen and Margaret continued to confuse

their friends and others by both participating in the 2001 World

Veterans’ Championships in Brisbane.

Margaret became a ‘regular’ in 1999. She completed her

150th monthly handicap in June 2017 and has now run 170 of

which all but five have been in the long course event. She was

also a regular participant in our summer track and field meets

and in 2006 was the inaugural female winner of the Moore

3000m Series.

Margaret made her marathon debut in the 2002 Canberra

Marathon. Despite experiencing a horror stretch of about 15km

in the middle of the race during which she was grateful for the

support of her brother-in-law Ron Vines who ran alongside her

offering encouragement. She finished in the good time of 4:31.

One year later she improved her time by more than ten minutes

and the following year (2004) she improved again to run 4:16; at

the time it was the eighth best performance on our W55 ranking

list.

Margaret has also completed many half marathons including

thirteen ACT Veterans’ Halves in which she was the W65 and

W70 champion in 2012 and 2018 respectively as well as finish-

ing amongst the leaders of her age group on several other occa-

sions.

However, perhaps her most astonishing distance running

experience was completing the 16th annual Pentathrun held in

Warwick (Qld) on a May weekend in 2018. The Pentathrun con-

sisted of five races over two days in which the total distance add-

ed up to 42.2km - a marathon! The first event was a half mara-

thon from Warwick to Yangan. A couple of hours later a 4.6km

cross county run was held at a local camp ground. Then the

third run of the first day was a 5k road race from the Darling

Downs Hotel. The following day they travelled to Killarney to do

a 10k ascent up the mountain to Queen Mary Falls. The last

event was easy (?) – only a 1500m up and down the main street

of Warwick. Margaret said – “by this time everyone had “jelly

legs” and some were forced to walk”.

Margaret we wish you well with your move to Queensland.

We hope to see you at future AMA Championships and whenev-

er you visit Canberra.

Bryan Thomas

Cont. from p.3)

I apologise for the delay in holding the AGM, but my preference

is to hold a face-to-face meeting rather than via videoconference,

as I don’t believe a video conference would be popular or as en-

joyable as our usual annual gathering to award trophies and

elect your leaders for the next 12 months.

So, as I have heard so many times, ‘We are all in this togeth-

er’, and ask that you follow the directions of our Event COVID-

Control Officers: practice good hand and respiratory hygiene,

observe the 1.5m physical distancing rules and stay home if you

are unwell. Complacency is proving to be the devil in this

COVID deal, and it can happen here in Canberra…I want to be

sure that none of our members are affected, so please, get in, get

active and get out.

Yours in getting in, getting active and getting out!

Shane Hutchison

Dear editor;

When I reached my 60th birthday I partied till midnight

with family, new friends and old friends (which included a num-

ber of ACTMA members). We all danced to the great music pro-

vided by our Angel (Marina). It was a terrific night. A night to

remember.

When I reached my 70th birthday my children surprised

me when they said they would pick us up for dinner and low and

behold a stretch limousine arrived. They were in there with my

favourite music playing, glasses of champagne all round and a

few tears. We toured round the tourist spots of Canberra and

finished up at the Hyatt Hotel for dinner. Just a lovely night. A

night to remember.

Now I have another night to remember for this years mile-

stone birthday. Unable to be with others due to Covid-19 it was

celebrated with just Robin and me, pizzas and a beautiful cake

made and delivered by Robyn Saunders.

Val Chesterton

Margaret McSpadden heads north From President Shane (cont)

A new M80 athlete; Val Chesterton

Immediate right: Margaret McSpadden with her recreational

walkers number on the track during the last season.

Far right: Val Chesterton just after the YMCA/Canberra half

marathon where she won the W75 age group.

(Photos by: Suzie Gaynor)


Calling all track and handicap walkers

Reporter; Val Chesterton

ACT Walkers finally started off their Winter Season on Saturday 4 July with an 8k, 4k and 2k on the recreational path opposite

Dickson Pool. Conditions were perfect. Walkers were started at 20 second intervals in line with current Codiv19 social distancing

rules and all but officials left upon completion of their walk. Under normal conditions afternoon tea is provided but, alas, this is not

to be for some time yet.

Our walks are at various locations around Canberra. All of the venues for our walks have public toilets.

The Club would like to extend an invitation to all ACTMA walkers to come and try till the end of August at no cost. You don’t have

to be a race walker, in fact most of our walkers are fitness walkers and current members of ACTMA.

Runners: This could be a challenge for you to try a new sport to help with your fitness and get in some cross training.

Any enquires please contact [email protected]

Winter walks Program 2020 – Draft

Date Location Events and start times

Sat 1 Aug Lake Ginninderra, Diddams Close, un-

der bridge

Pointscore No. 4 Long: 1.00 pm 12k on 2k course Middle: 1.45 pm 6k on 2k course Short: 2.00 pm 2k on 1k course Mini: 2.00 pm 1k on 1k course

Sat 8 Aug Lennox Gardens (ACTMA Race Walk Championships) Fitness walkers are welcome to partici-

pate as usual

Non-pointscore X Long: 12.30 pm 20k on 2.5k course Long: 1.30 pm 10k on 2.5k course Middle: 2.00 pm 5k on 2.5k course Short: 2.00 pm 3k on 1.5k course Mini: 2.00 pm 1.5k on 1.5k course

Sat 15 Aug Lake Tuggeranong (Followed by AGM) Pointscore No. 5 Long: 1.30 pm 7k course – lake lap Short: 2.00 pm 2k on 1k course Mini: 2.00 pm 1k on 1k course

Sat 22 Aug Lake Ginninderra – Townsend Place

Pointscore No. 6 Long: 1.30 pm 7.1k course – lake lap Short: 1.35 pm 2k on 1k course Mini: 1.35 pm 1k on 1k course

Sat 29 Aug Jerrabomberra Wetlands Pointscore No. 7 Long: 1.30 pm 8k on 2k course Middle: 2.00 pm 4k on 2k course Short: 2.00 pm 2k on 1k course Mini: 2.00 pm 1k on 1k course

Sat 5 Sep Dickson Pool (ACTMA Race Walk Championships

and ACT Walkers Championships)

Pointscore No. 8 Long: 1.30 pm 10k on 2k course Middle: 2.00 pm 5k on 1k course Short: 2.00 pm 3k on 1k course Mini: 2.00 pm 1k on 1k course

A biography of our treasurer—Leigh Harlow It's great to be part of the ACT Masters Athletics club and to

support the club through undertaking the Treasurer duties.

There's always been a special place for track and field in my life

even though I haven't really done much. In fact, I never knew

about Masters Athletics at all. I thought often about getting back

into athletics through my 30s but I always thought Masters was

for people over 40? Then as I approached the big 4-0 I started

looking into it and realised I missed a few good years I could have

been participating. Not to worry, here I am!

The Early Years!

I grew up north of Brisbane in Qld and I always enjoyed

sports day at school—the sprints and jumps in particular. How-

ever athletics wasn't always my first love. Through the early pri-

mary school years I wanted to participate in Little Athletics, but

my parents had a one sports (extra curricular) rule. This meant it

was basketball or athletics. Nothing could compete with basket-

ball. I started basketball at age 8 and was a prolific scorer. Even

in the under 10s I averaged over 20 points per game, one game

winning 33-10 where I scored all 33 points. Let's say my parents

got their game fees worth every week (but other parents must

have hated me). Continued on page 12

Leigh Harlow, far right, with medal in Mackay photo Suzie Gaynor


How to get there

Turn at the lights on the Cotter Road into Kirkpatrick

Street, Weston then proceed past the RSPCA and park on

either side of Kirkpatrick Street or in the parking area fur-

ther down overlooking the pond.

Course description

Short course: 5km

Long course: 10km

Both courses start and finish on the gravel road behind

the RSPCA and go north initially, then follow the road

around the pond, turn left at the end towards Cotter Road

and then through the underpass at Cotter Road (behind the

fence closer to the water) and continue towards Dixon Drive.

Turn right at Dixon Drive and cross a small bridge using the

pedestrian path, then veer slightly right and join a dirt road

parallel to Dixon Drive. Continue until just after 2km, then

pass between two power poles and turn right onto a bitu-

men service road, proceed along this road and join the bike

path going up a hill.

At the top of the hill veer left onto a gravel road.

Short course: At the turn around point retrace your steps

to the finish.

Long course: Continue along the gravel road up the hill

and behind houses until it reaches Settlement Road at the

top of the climb. Retrace your steps back towards the finish

until approximately 100 metres before the finish where you

will be directed to turn left and run on a bike path towards

Scrivener Dam.

The turnaround is before the bridge on the Parkway over

the river. Return along the path but take the bike path up a

hill (a section of white concrete marks this junction and is

also the 8km mark going out) towards the Staff College and

the RSPCA and follow the bike path to the finish downhill.

August Run/Walk Handicap—Coombs Molonglo 9.00am start 30 August 2020

Club Sponsors

Members are entitled to discounts on prices for goods

purchased from The Runners Shop and for services from

Kingston Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre

and the Walking Clinic. The Walking clinic is currently

celebrating its 40th birthday. Congratulations. Please

inform The Runners Shop that you are a Club member

when you make a purchase, and inform the Kingston

Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Centre and The

Walking Clinic that you are a Club member when you

book a session.

As part of their sponsorship arrangements with the

Club, The Runners Shop and Kingston Physiotherapy

and Sports Injury Centre each remit to the Club a

payment equivalent to a percentage of their sales to

members. Nick Walshe of The Runners Shop and Craig

Wisdom of the Kingston Physiotherapy and Sports

Injury Centre are Club members.

DATE VENUE DISTANCE

January 26th Nth Curtin Oval(8.30am) 6.3/3km

February 23th Isaacs Ridge (8.30am) 7/4km

March 28th Stromlo Forest Park 8/4km

April 26th Mt. Majura 10/5km

May 31st Mt. Taylor 7.3/3.5km

June 28th Mt Ainslie 9.3/4.5km

July 26th Little Black Mt 9/4.5km

August 30th Coombs Molonglo 10/5km

September 27th O'Connor Ridge 8/4km

October 25th Ainslie Woodlands 7/3 7/3.5km

November 29th Weston Park (8.30am) 6/3km

Run/Walk Handicap Program 2020

ACTMA is hosting the National Championships in

Canberra from 5 to 8 March 2021

RSPCA

—August 2020 Vetrunner

Around Our Region—History of Telstra Tower courtesy of ACT 4WD

With COVID-19 curbing our organised sporting activities

many have been making the most of our beautiful city and the

unique landmarks that we enjoy. Although we have not been

able to visit inside many of these facilities, they have provided

amazing structural backdrop to many a walk or run. We are

grateful to the ACT 4WD Club for allowing us to share this

brief history of our very own ‘Black Mountain Tower’ (Telstra

Tower). Unfortunately, at the time of publication, Telstra Tow-

er remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Keep an eye on

the website for more updates https://www.telstratower.com.au/.

History of the Telstra Tower

Telstra Tower located on Black Mountain and often re-

ferred to as Black Mountain Tower, was officially opened on

15 May 1980 by the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.

Black Mountain is a sensitive and stunning part of the Can-

berra environment. It includes a national park of significant

interest to the ecological world for its unique collection of flora

and fauna.

The Tower was clearly going to be a land mark which

some people felt would dominate other aesthetic Canberra

structures. Prior to construction, feelings of outrage and vig-

orous objection emerged from some residents against the pro-

ject. Protests opposed to the Tower on aesthetic and ecological

grounds were strongly voiced during the earlier stages of the

approval procedures, and at the various hearings which in-

cluded a lengthy Supreme Court case. Telstra Tower is owned

and operated by Telstra. The tower has a number of functions

and facilities including:

telecommunications facility

indoor and outdoor viewing platforms

café

executive briefing centre – consisting of five conference

rooms, a theatrette and breakout areas

souvenir shop

Canberra's highest operating posting box

"Telstra Heritage Exhibition" which traces the history

of Australian telecommunications

revolving restaurant – currently closed.

From Telstra Tower we communicate, educate, entertain

and inform. This magnificent structure cost $16 million to

build and attracts 430,000 visitors per year.

ACT 4WD CLUB NEWSLETTER Issue 373 June 2020 p. 4

Image courtesy of https://www.freeimages.com/

The Ray Green Champion Thrower Awards, both female

and male, are awarded on the following basis:

1. Athletes must be current financial members of ACT-

MA, as their first choice club.

2. Athletes must compete in one more than half of each of

the throwing disciplines at the ordinary Thursday

night programs during the ACTMA track and field

season. (NB championships are not included.)

3. At season’s end eligible athletes’ distances in all disci-

plines over the season are compiled and the best dis-

tance for each athlete in each discipline is determined.

4. The athlete’s best distance is compared to the world

record for each discipline.

5. The percentages are added and a mean average deter-

mined.

6. The athlete with the highest average is declared the

champion.

The female and male champions for the 2019-20 season will

be announced, and trophies presented, at the July 25 throw-

ing handicap. See trophies with Sharon Gibbons and Ray

Green opposite.

Over the past 10 years the awards have been dominated by

Jayne Hardy and Duncan Macnicol.

Ray Green.

The Ray Green Champion Thrower Awards: to be announced at

the throwers handicap on 25 July 2020


Around Our Region—The Australian War Memorial

Courtesy of the ACT 4WD Club

Photos by: Jacqueline Yong (left) and Joe Brooks

(right) at www.freeimages.com.au

The Vetrunner would like to acknowledge and thank the ACT

4WD Club for allowing us to publish this interesting and inspir-

ing history of the Australian War Memorial and those who

worked so hard to shape it.

The Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial ranks among the world's

great national monuments. Sharply etched grandeur and digni-

ty in its stylised Byzantine profile contrast with a distinctively

Australian setting among lawns and eucalypts at the head of a

wide ceremonial avenue, Anzac Parade. The Memorial is more

than a monument. Inside the sandstone building, with its cop-

per-clad dome, selections from a vast National Collection of war

relics, official and private records, art, photographs, film, and

sound are employed to relate the story of the Australian na-

tion's experience in world wars, regional conflicts, and interna-

tional peacekeeping.

The Memorial forms the core of the nation's tribute to the

sacrifice and achievement of the more than 102,000 Australian

men and women who died serving their country, and to all those

who served overseas and at home. A central Commemorative

Area flanked by arched cloisters houses the names of the fallen

on the bronze panels of the Roll of Honour. At the head of the

Pool of Reflection, beyond the Flame of Remembrance, stands

the towering Hall of Memory, with its interior wall and high

dome clad in a six-million-piece mosaic and illuminated by

striking stained glass windows. Inside lies the Tomb of the Un-

known Australian Soldier, a symbolic national shrine.

The founding fathers

Two men, above all others, shaped the Memorial: Charles

Bean, who became Australia's Official Historian of the First

World War, and John Treloar, the Director of the Memorial be-

tween 1920 and 1952.

Charles Bean (1879–1968) was born in New South Wales

but grew up and was educated largely in Britain. He returned

to Australia and worked as a journalist, and in 1914 was chosen

by the journalists' association as official war correspondent.

Bean went ashore during the landing on Gallipoli on 25 April

1915, and for the rest of the war followed the movements and

battles of Australian soldiers. As well as conceiving and lobby-

ing for the creation of the Australian War Memorial, he was

appointed to oversee the production of the 12- volume Official

History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 and he wrote six

of the volumes, completing the last in 1942.

John Treloar (1894–1952) contributed more than any other

person to the realisation of Bean's vision. Treloar, who came

from Melbourne, also landed on Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. In

1917, as a captain, he was appointed to head the newly created

Australian War Records Section (AWRS) in London, responsible

for collecting records and relics for the future museum and to

help the official historian in his work. After the war Treloar

devoted his life to the Memorial, and influenced almost every

aspect of its development. Appointed Director of the Memorial

in 1920, he remained in this position for the rest of his life,

apart from a brief period in charge of the Military History and

Information Section (MHIS) during the Second World War.

Continued on page 10.

—August 2020 Vetrunner `

Around Our Region—The Australian War Memorial—Continued

Courtesy of the ACT 4WD Club

Continued from page 9.

Building the National Collection

The Australian War Records Section (AWRS) was set up in

1917 to ensure Australia would have its own collection of records

and relics of the great war being fought. Treloar devoted himself

especially to improving the quality of the unit and formation war

diaries, which recorded operations and activities daily, and to

ensuring that after the war the official historian would have a

well-ordered collection of the diaries an;d supplementary primary

source material to work from.

Others, such as Sid Gullett and Ernie Bailey, went out into

the field to collect relics or material evidence of the conflict. At

the same time orders were given to soldiers to do their bit in col-

lecting for the projected museum and, in this way, some 25,000

relics were gathered.

A permanent home: the Memorial's design was a compromise

between the desire for an impressive monument to the fallen and

a budget of only £250,000. An architectural competition in 1927

failed to produce a satisfactory single design for the building.

Two of the entrants in the competition, Sydney architects Emil

Sodersteen and John Crust, were encouraged to submit a joint

design, incorporating Sodersteen's vision for the building and

Crust's concept of cloisters to house the Roll of Honour with its

more than 60,000 names. The joint design was accepted and

forms the basis of the building we see today, which was complet-

ed and opened to the public on Remembrance Day, 11 November,

in 1941.

Guiding ideas

In keeping with the sombre, commemorative tone of the Me-

morial, Charles Bean was from the start concerned that it should

not be seen to be glorifying war or triumphing over the enemy.

He urged Treloar and others not to speak about "trophies", pre-

ferring the term "relics". He also urged that captions and text

should not use derogatory terms for former enemies, such as

"Hun" or "Abdul". In the 1950s Bean drew up a list of exhibition

principles, suggesting among other things that the galleries

should "avoid glorification of war and boasting of victory" and

"perpetuating enmity … for both moral and national reasons and

because those who have fought in wars are generally strongest in

their desire to prevent war". In general, he decided, former ene-

mies should be treated as generously as were Australians. The

exhibitions also needed to be made relevant and engaging, for

example, by presenting relics as objects with their own story ra-

ther than as just examples of a type. Bean also thought of the

future exhibits should be "so described and displayed as to be

understood and interesting 75 years after the events”.

As published in the ACT 4WD CLUB NEWSLETTER Is-

sue 374 July 2020 page 4-5.

Photo by: Peter Mackay www.freeimages.com.au

The Vetrunner is online at the following website: http://www.actmastersathletics.org.au/index.php?

module=Vetrunner&action=Vetrunner.ListView

Black and white hard copies will be at the run/walk and

throwing handicaps and track and field meets.

Due by: Saturday 15th August 2020

All copy and queries for the August edition should be sent

to the editor at: [email protected] Late submis-

sions may only be accepted if space allows.

Articles

All reports, articles and stories submitted for inclusion in

Vetrunner should be created in Word, in Century Schoolbook

9pt. font. I welcome member contributions which are of an

athletic theme, or tells of a member achieving an important

milestone or award, or simply a story that relates to a mem-

ber’s background outside of athletics. Please include photo-

graphs and illustrations where possible or appropriate. Mi-

nor editing may be undertaken. Letters to the editor are wel-

come. It is important that the club has a vehicle for receiving

and answering constructive factual criticism and comments.

As a general rule I will publish material that is publicly

acknowledged. Articles submitted to Vetrunner but not pub-

lished are usually the result of page limitations, and may be

included in the following edition of Vetrunner. Constructive

comment is welcome and should be addressed to the editor at:

[email protected]

Photos

When taking photos/selfies please ensure:

you are looking towards your phone/camera

check your surroundings and ensure the background is

appropriate and does not detract from the photo

request subjects remove their sunglasses.

When submitting photos, please ensure:

photos are sharp and sent as high resolution/large

photos. Small or blurry photos are unusable.

You send the photo/s as separate image files (JPEG,

PNG etc.) and not imbedded within the Word docu-

ment.

Please note:

Action photos are particularly welcome

Photos may be cropped where appropriate.

Welcome to the first Vetrunner edition since April that re-

ports on a sporting event (Throws Pentathlon front page and

page 4).

All being well we re-begin in earnest next weekend 25 and

26 July, please see pages 7 and 15 for our 2020 program. We

thank the run/walk handicap sub committee and Jayne Hardy

and her team for getting everything ready for us. Need a little

incentive to come along and join us? The July handicaps will

be free! But wait there is more; you will also be able to pick up

copies of all the recent Vetrunner editions you are miss-

ing.

Again, thanks to all our contributors Rosemary Parker, Val

Chesterton, Jayne Hardy (throws results page 4), Ray Green,

Sharon Gibbins and Roger Pilkington (for his report on the

Mt. Ainslie training run), The ACT 4 wheel drive Club for two

fascinating articles on two Canberra icons (see pages 8-10).

Another big thank you to Suzie Gaynor for preparing our lead

article, with photos and additional COVID-19 material to

keep our members safe, as well as a trip down memory lane

on the back page—looking at some of the highlights from last

winter. Heart felt gratitude to Bryan Thomas who provides

many articles and without whose contribution we would have

had a very thin Vetrunner. Another special treat is the long

awaited biography of our Treasurer Leigh Harlow (starting on

page 6). Continued thanks to our many photographers who

help bring our stories alive and our proof readers Dave Mac-

kenzie and Cory Collins. Please note the advertisement on

page 13 for our long awaited AGM.

Vale Peter Trotter 1935 to 2020; obituary in next

Vetrunner.

I was very fortunate this month to have my daughter, Lau-

ren Watt, co-edit. Lauren works in communications and mar-

keting and of course had a two-year stint as editor a few years

ago. Thanks Lauren.

A very big welcome to Suzie Gaynor, our club secretary,

who will take the role of guest editor for the first time next

month. We saw some of her creativity in the May Vetrunner

— standby for more.

We continue to look forward to receiving your stories, po-

ems, songs, running, walking and throwing tips, as you train

and compete in a physically-distanced and COVID-safe man-

ner.....all with photos!

Please check the Bulletin each Monday for updates.

Lauren Watt and Robert Kennelly

[email protected]

The Registrar of the Club, asks that you check the website and ensure the club has an emergency contact for you. The club has, at least, a moral obligation to let your next of kin know if you have encountered health issues at an ACTMA event. Also please advise Nigel when changing phone numbers and or email addresses. Contact Nigel England at:

Email: [email protected]


Submissions for September Vetrunner

Editorial Comment

Editorial Comment (cont.) Vetrunner Online

From 1 May each year, annual

membership is discounted to $33. Now’s

the chance to renew if you forgot, or sign

up a keen friend. As events recommence

members are encouraged to read the

weekly Bulletin, to keep informed of any

updates.

To renew membership or join the club,

go the club’s website, and following the links to the

M e m b e r s h i p R e v S p o r t p o r t a l .

www.actmastersathletics.org.au, under the first tab —>

Membership, click on RevSport and follow the prompts. If

you don’t have internet access, please call the registrar to

arrange a manual renewal. (0477 341 333)

The 2020-2021 Membership Year starts on 1 October.

Half-Price Membership

Your Emergency Contact?

It was great see 45 people to come out for the unofficial run-

ning of the ACTMA June handicap at Mt Ainslie, Sunday June

28th, a cool morning to start but warmed up nicely for a perfect

morning to run the 9.3 km long course or 4.5 km short course

and set us up for the restart of Masters Athletics in ACT.

It was great to see many people out there; the Englands, who

had trekked overnight from down south to the tropical north;

Ruth and Dave Baussmann, Ruth using it for additional mara-

thon training; a rare appearance for the twins Margaret and

Gwen; Ken and Deb Gordon; Rosemary and Bob Parker; and

Nadine Morrison, normally a long course runner, just ran the

short course to protect her Achilles.

Alice Scott and Mario Larocca had managed to run the

gauntlet of the border controls into ACT to make an appear-

ance.

Of course the stalwarts of the club were there like Bryan

Thomas, Will Foster, Sherryl Greathead, John Suiter, Graeme

Small, Kevy Chapman, and the flying wingman Angel Marina

was also seen trotting around the mountain.

It was very well organised by Peter Clarke, Robbie Costmey-

er and the Handicap Sub-Committee. Roger Pilkington

Continued from page 6

I was short but fast—of course ball skills helped too. But I

always had a genuine love for track and field. I was chosen as

the primary school athletics house captain not because of any

particular linguistic skills, but because it was evident I loved it

so much—so much so that me and my friends used to run 100m

sprints timing each other during lunch times and jumping long

jump. Into high school and all of the sudden I was surrounded

by people who were shaving, had different voices and were

much taller than me. In fact I was 5'1" at the start of year 10

(age 15). But I was still reasonably fast and my ball handling

skills kept me competitive at basketball, but I couldn't get a

place in any athletic event in high school for the first three

years.

However, I eventually grew, 5'6" (age 16), 5'11 (age 17). All

of the sudden I was breaking school records in the jumps and

back on the school relay team. I had kind of given up on the idea

of athletics. I was the school basketball captain, playing club

and representative basketball—3 games a week plus training

kept my focus away from other sports. However after winning

the Men's A grade final and MVP at age 18, I had tested the

basketball waters enough. I was good but at only 6' tall I didn't

have the right mix to make it professionally. I actually dropped

out of basketball and went surfing...and back to track and field

training. However, as the State titles rolled around my father

got the flight times wrong and we missed the flights and my

events. I was quite upset but I knew although I had potential

that there were better athletes than me, so I decided to put my

energy into surfing and travelling and it was bye, bye to athlet-

ics forever...or so I thought!

Real Life!

I wanted to do something more with my life and I became

quite religious and ended up doing a two-year mission for my

church aged 20-22. On return I enrolled in University and even-

tually completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). During my

studies I started working with youth-at-risk for an organisation

that housed wards of the state. This was a really fun and trying

time working closely with extremely disadvantaged kids. It

makes you dig deep trying to help often innocent children who

find positives in a life that's been full of unfairness and tragedy.

Life simply is not fair and people don't get the same opportuni-

ties. But, we all have enough opportunities in this country that

we can still make a hell of a life!

During this time my sporting endeavours turned to adven-

ture; rock climbing, hiking, mountain climbing and the odd

snowboarding trip, amongst the continued surfing. I travelled

around the world (over 70 countries so far) seeing the sights,

enjoying the food and having adventures such as riding a bike

from London to Paris, climbing Mont Blanc, snowboarding the

Himalayas in India, surfing north shore Hawaii etc. And other

obscure experiences, 11:30pm tee off during Midsummer Swe-

den, floating in the Dead Sea, wine tasting in Burgundy, visit-

ing the ice hotel, road tripping in Cuba etc. Career wise I moved

into finance in my 30s and found myself working as a trading

educator in London for a couple of years. I followed the love of

my life at the time to Cambodia for a stint where she ran a

women's refuge, and then on to Canberra where she wanted to

pursue a career in the public service. So I decided to do the

same! But after a solid 15 years of marriage and the loss of a

couple of kids through different circumstances we dealt with our

grief differently and eventually decided we saw different fu-

tures.

Onto Athletics!

In 2017 I had a shoulder operation (rendering me unable to

climb) so I started cycling and running. Now although reasona-

bly active I really didn't do much cardio—like ever!!

Continued page 15


Mt Ainslie Training Run—28 June 2020 Leigh Harlow Biography (cont)

◄ Photo (left): A gaggle of athletes ready for a solid training run, far

right is our Robbie Costmeyer who pulled it altogether.

▲ Top picture: L-R

Terry Munro (welcome

back), Rosemary Par-

ker (see page 17 for

more cockatoos), Mar-

garet McSpadden

(heading to Queens-

land, see p.6) and

Gwen Vines

(Margaret’s twin visit-

ing from Queensland).

◄ Opposite Ken and

Deb Gordon (in charge

of rosters) Photos by:

Robert Kennelly.

June 2020 Vetrunner — page 13 August 2020 Vetrunner — page 13

ACTMA events are shown in bold, other events will be included as soon as we have confirmation of their programs.

July 2020

Sat 25 Throws Handicap, 1.00pm Masson St.

Sun 26 Run/Walk handicap, 9.00am Little Black Mt.

August 2020

Sun 16 Heavy weight pentathlon


Sun 30 Run/Walk handicap, 9.00am Coombs Molonglo.

September 2020

Tues 1 Club dinner; Venue TBA

Weds 9 AGM Ainslie F&S Club. Tentative!

Sun 13 Oceania Throws pentathlon Challenge


Sun 27 Run/Walk handicap, 9.00am O’Connor Ridge .

October 2020

Tues 6 Club dinner; Venue TBA

Sun 11 Throws pentathlon


Sun 25 Run/Walk handicap, 9.00am Ainslie Woodlands .

AMA 20k Road Walk Championships 2020 on August

30, 2020

AMA Winter Throws Championships 2 to 5 October,

2020 Wollongong, NSW.

OMA Championships - Provisional dates: 17-23 Jan,

2021 Norfolk Island.

AMA Track and Field Championships in Canberra 5 to 8

March 2021.

WMA Indoor Championships 6-13 April, 2021 Edmonton,

Canada

Games of the XXXII Olympiad 23 July to 8 Aug 2021,

Tokyo.

Australian Masters Games in Perth in 2021

AMA Track and Field Championships in Hobart in 2022

Birmingham Commonwealth Games 27 July to 7 Aug 2022.

WMA Outdoor Championships Gothenberg Sweden

2022 from August 17, 2022 to August 27, 2022

Games of the XXXII1 Olympiad 2024, Paris

ACTMA General Committee Meetings monthly on the last

Monday of the month at the Ainslie Footy Club, 52 Wakefield Ave,

Ainslie at 7.00pm. Contact Secretary Suzie Gaynor:

[email protected]

ACTMA Monthly Weight Pentathlons at 9am at Masson Street, Turner Contact Jayne Hardy 0421 610 053.

Customs Joggers meet every Friday at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park at 12.15pm. Mike Stracey 6258 8756

Lake Tuggeranong Stakes every Tuesday on the lake edge near KFC at 12.20pm. Peter Thomson 0407 702 683

BBQ Stakes Handicap every Wednesday from the Senior Citizens Club in Woden at 12.10pm. Adrian Plunkett 6283 2388.

YCRC Women’s and Girls Jogalong at Weston Park on the first Sunday of the month at 9am (8am in summer).

Lake Ginninderra Handicap, last Tuesday of the month, from outside the Lighthouse Bar at 12.20pm. Simon Wall 0404 859 404.

Mount Ainslie Run Up, first Tuesday from Treloar Crescent behind

the War Memorial at 12.45pm. John Harding 6244 1153.

Black Mountain Run Up, held on the third Tuesday at 12.45pm, Clunies

Ross St, 100m south of Botanic Gardens Entrance. John Harding 6248 6905.

Parkrun 5km run or walk held at various locations around Canberra including Weston Park, Lake Ginninderra, Tuggeranong, Coombs, Ainslie & Queanbeyan every Saturday at 8.00 AM.

Calendars of at Home Events

Join a Training Group: Improve Your Fitness

Calendar of Away Events

Meetings and other regular events

Coaching and Training groups

Groups of Masters athletes conduct training sessions around

Canberra. To train with any one of the groups you should contact the

group coordinator listed. It’s always fun to train with others, to share

skills and knowledge. Runners, throwers, jumpers and walkers of all

levels are welcome. As a member of our club participating in

events out of normal hours the level of public liability

insurance varies, see below for details. Please be aware of the

social distancing rules. Please see posters on pp. 16, 18 and 19

ccredited Coaches Training Groups

These groups are led by an Athletics Australia accredited coach. All

ACTMA member athletes and accredited coaches are covered by our

club’s public liability insurance.

Val Chesterton: Strength, speed & general fitness for runners,

jumpers & walkers, Calwell Playing Fields, Fridays 9am, 8.30am in

summer. 6292 8994. (has not restarted)

Non - Accredited Coaches and Training Groups

These groups are led by a group coordinator (trainer) who will train with you

but is not an Athletics Australia accredited coach. All ACTMA member

athletes are covered by our club’s public liability insurance but not the

trainer.

Fran Harris: Strength, sprints and hurdles training at the Belconnen Oval

on Monday mornings. 6230 2341 (h)

John Hunt: Jumps. Sundays, 11:00am at the AIS track. 6241 9392 (h)

currently in recess

Geoff Moore: Distance interval training. (Speedy Geese) Mondays,

Thursdays and Sundays, times and places vary. 0425 276 811 ̀

Greg Stretton: Middle distance training. Sundays except long weekends,

9.00am, also Tuesdays and Thursdays at Canberra Boys Grammar School, cnr.

of Mugga Way / Flinders Way. 0406 377040

‘Tuesday group’: long distance running and walking. Tuesdays

9:00am at Black Mountain Peninsula.

—August 2020 Vetrunner

Historian: Bryan Thomas

40 YEARS AGO (August 1980).

About thirteen Canberra vets (including current members

Roger Abbott, John Bakker and Bryan Thomas) were amongst

the more than 20,000 runners in the 10th City to Surf Fun Run.

Eighteen runners participated in the 9km Hospital Jetty

Handicap in wet and cold conditions. The gold medal went to the

club’s oldest member M65 Joe Mayer. Keith Perroux was second

just in front of Noel Hart while Terry Munro was the quickest.

A short Questionnaire to help plan for the future of this

new club was published in Vetrunner. The questions were –

Would you like a summer T&F program on Saturday after-

noon or Sunday morning?

If we had a T&F Championships, would you a) participate?

b) act as an official?

Do you want to participate in competitions other than the

monthly handicaps?

Should we start our Sunday runs earlier than 9.30am in

summer?

Do we have too many venues for Sunday runs?

Would you prefer a change of venue for the monthly handi-

caps?


This year’s Fun Run was a brand new concept as it was

open to the public and for runners of all ages. The organizing

team of Kate Bridge, Bronwyn Gardner, Rosemary Parker and

Bev Scown conducted the event as a “Turkey Handicap” in

which runners nominate a race time and run without their

watch. 168 participated in the event won jointly by Jim McLean

and Carmen McArthur because both ran their exact nominated

time.

Twenty-one men and ten women participated in the In-

door T&F Meet in the Tally Room at NATEX. The program in-

cluded a medicine ball throw, standing triple jump, 50m dash,

40m hurdles, three lap (540m), seventeen lap (3060m), ten lap

(1800m) walk and 10 X 1 lap relay. Our new lightweight plastic

hurdles made by Jack Thackray proved popular. As this was the

first time we had conducted a race walk indoors Alan Williams

and Gwen Vines have the honour of being the first winners of

such an event.

Our third Monthly Throwing Handicap attracted twenty

competitors. This month’s javelin handicap event was won by

Ewen Drummond from Ray Green (see photo below)_and An-

drina Norden.

Ninety-nine ran the 9.3km Mt Ainslie Running Handi-

cap which was won by Maureen O’Shea from Mike Rudwick

from Richard Morcom. Tony Murray and Jo Cullen were the

fastest. Both Al and Joan Mallory earned their 50 run T Shirts.


In the August edition of Vetrunner Bryan Thomas com-

menced his series ‘The ABC of the ACT Veterans Athletic Club’

with the letter ‘A’. Items in this first instalment included – AA-

VAC, Abandoned courses, ABBOTT Roger, ACT Athletic Coun-

cil, ACTIVE Australia, ADLER Michael, Adler Series, Age

groups, Age standards, AGM, AIS testing and Australian Rec-

ords. The series continued for many months with the letter Z

published in April 2003.

Sometimes a break in tradition can be beneficial. This

year’s 19th annual ACT Vets’ Half Marathon moved from its

traditional June date, starting and finishing in Weston Park to

August and starting at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Gardens.

Age winners were – M30 Gary Rolfe, M35 Geoff Monro, M40

John Woodall 1:17.00 (fastest), M45 Trevor Jacobs, M50 Des

Brown, M55 Liam Hanna 1:22.55 = 82.83% (best male perfor-

mance), M60 Clive Glover, M65 Bob Chapman, M70 Michael

Freer 1:45.05 (record), M80 Owen Lewis (first 80 year-old to run

our half marathon), W30 Greta Van Gavel, W35 Chris Pauling

1:30.44 (fastest woman), W40 Maree Smith, W45 Cathy Montal-

to, W50 Mary Ann Busteed, W55 Alice Scott, W60 Suzanne

Counsel, W65 Anne Young 1:48.59 = 79.74% (best female perfor-

mance) and W70 Juani O’Reilly.

Thirty-six participated in the August throwing handicap

in shot put and discus. Frank Nugent won the trophy while

Ewen Drummond and Bryan Thomas won silver and bronze

medals respectively.

Mt Ainslie was the venue for this month’s run/walk handi-

cap. 111 ran the 9.3km long course won by Terry Levings from

Jill Brown and Robyn McClelland. Con Kramer was the best of

the fifty-five who ran the 4.5km Frylink Series event, David

Meyers was second and Ian Daley third. The Waddell Series

attracted seventeen walkers. It was won by Anni Schiworski

from Nola de Chazal and Pat Mullins. Pat became the first W75

to participate in a monthly handicap and therefore also became

the first W75 to win a handicap medal. Both Marlene Reid and

Michael Clancy received their ’50 handicaps’ T shirt.


Many members made their annual pilgrimage to Sydney

to participate in the City2Surf. Our quickest was Bruce Graham

46:51. Some other results - Laurie Cullen 49:10, Trevor Jacobs

54:06, Richard Faulks 59:04, Jim White 66:18 and M80 Rad Leo-

vic 101:41; our fastest women were Vanessa Haverd 51:15,

Cathy Newman 66:11 and Kathy Sims 69:43.

The weather was favourable and the new Menzies Walk

made for excellent running in the 29th ACT Vets’ Half Mara-

thon. Age group champions were - M30 Aaron Flower, M35 Mat-

thew Murphy, M40 Anthony Kennedy (78:41 fastest man), M45

Martin Fryer (best male performance 82%), M50 Richard

Faulks, M55 Peter Clarke, M60 Robbie Costmeyer, M65 Bernie

Millett, M70 Peter Kallio, M75 Ray Bramwell, M80 Rad Leovic

(2:34.03 new record); W30 Jodie Barker (88:01 fastest woman),

W35 Michelle Wells, W40 Emma Adams, W45 Cathy Newman,

W50 Debbie Cowell, W55 Maria O’Reilly, W60 Ruth Bauss-

mann, W70 Suzanne Counsel, W75 Anne Young (2:33.23 new

record) and W80 Norma Wallett (2:17.12 new Australian Record

and best female performance 79.7%). M60 Ken Eynon became

the third ‘Bakker’ by completing twenty-five Vets’ Halves. Nick

Blackaby, Peter Clarke, Peter Kallio and Kevin O’Keefe became

our newest ‘Legends’ for finishing twenty while Peter Cullen,

Peter James and Margaret MacSpadden earned their ‘Survivors’

T shirt for having run ten. Cory Collins and Roy Jones also

earned the commemorative T shirt for having officiated on ten

occasions.

Professor, and former club member, Dick Telford

launched club patron Jack Pennington’s new book The Evolution

of Veteran Athletics 1966-1981 following this month’s run/walk

handicap at Mt Taylor. The long course event was won by Sher-

ryl Greathead from Maree Coldrick and Suzanne Counsel.

George Kubitzky won the gold medal in the Frylink ahead of

Ray Bramwell and Faye Todd while the Waddell walk handicap

was won by Peter Hogan from Barry Seedsman and Cilla Chap-

man. Six milestone T shirts were presented – John Suiter ‘200

handicaps’, Ray Bramwell and Judi Edwards ‘150’, Barry Seeds-

man ‘100’ and Peter Hogan and Peter Thomson ‘50’.

Janice and Bob Banens often engage in friendly intra-

family contests and so it continued in this month’s throwing

handicap involving shot put and discus. Janice won the monthly

trophy by a little more than a metre in front of Bob. Jean Thew

was third. Geoff Crumpton equalled his M55 ACT Record in the

100lb super heavy weight by lobbing the mighty steel ball 3.42m

while Bob Banens set a M60 record for the same implement

with his heave of 3.09m.

Bryan Thomas

The Way We Were: August 2020

Ray Green with Hammer last Sunday


2020 Schedule of Events

Return to competition for Athletes in the ACT from 1 July We have returned to competition, please see great story on front page and p.4 about our return. Please be aware

of safe covid habits to protect us all, see pp.16, 18 and 19 for posters. The handicaps in July are free. The Main

Committee decided at last week’s committee meeting to extend the season's passes until the end of the calendar

year to show good faith and to hopefully allow for more opportunities to realise the pass benefits. Please watch your

Monday bulletins for more information on moving to a cashless club. Training and coaching has restarted with

physical distancing and other appropriate measures. Please see details at the bottom of page 13.

The remaining events for the year are:

THROWING EVENTS

Masson Street Throwing Fields, Turner | Event Coordinator—Jayne Hardy 0421 610 053

MONTHLY THROWS HANDICAPS

(Saturday lunchtimes)

May 30 Hammer and Javelin 1.00pm start + non-hcap weight throw + 45lb

June 27 Shot Put and Discus 1.00pm start + non-hcap Super Weight + 56lb

July 25 Hammer and Javelin 1.00pm start + non-hcap weight throw + 100lb

August 29 Shot Put and Discus 1.00pm start + non-hcap Super Weight + 45lb

Sept 26 Hammer and Javelin 1.00pm start + non-hcap weight throw + 56lb

October 24 Shot Put and Discus 1.00pm start + non-hcap weight throw + 100lb

Nov 28 Hammer and Javelin 1.00pm + annual presentations and Christmas function

THROWS PENTATHLONS

(Sunday mornings)

May 17 10.00am start

June 14 10.00am start + weight for distance

July 12 10.00am start

August 16 10.00am start Heavy Weight Pentathlon

September 13 10.00am start Oceania Throws Pentathlon Challenge

October 11 9.00am start

November 15 9.00am start Heavy Weight Pentathlon

December 13 9.00am start

**CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:

2020 WMA Outdoor Championships Toronto Canada 20 July – 1 Aug!;

2020 AMA Winter Throws Championships: 2-5 October, Wollongong NSW.

A biography of our treasurer Leigh Harlow (cont.) Continued from page 12

Running 5km to me was BIG. But it was a great outlet and it

really helped me to feel great. I got right into it and even did a

global training program for cyclists which helped me to under-

stand where I ranked relative to cyclists around the

world...near the bottom! After about nine months of putting all

my energies into that and really feeling like I was enjoying the

dedication and competitive aspect of life again I asked myself

what was I actually good at? I remembered back to those pri-

mary school days running track for fun at lunch, at high school

winning events even when participating with a broken arm,

and feeling like I never really found out what I could do in the

track and field arena as it was always second fiddle.

So one day at work I looked up ACT Masters Athletics. I

looked up the club and national records and thought I could be

competitive with them. And then I joined, on the spot! And

went the next Thursday night. I guess timing is everything! I

needed a new challenge, something to keep me engaged in life

and to focus on, and this was it. So how's it been? Well it's been

a bumpy ride. The body isn't quite what it used to be! So far

I've torn 2 hamstrings (left one twice), developed patellar ten-

donitis which probably facilitated bursitis (according to the last

MRI). I've spent hundreds on physios and doctors. But I've re-

ally enjoyed being around so many people from all walks of life

and all ages giving athletics a go.

ACT Masters Athletics has some remarkably talented and ded-

icated people both on the track and behind the scenes—all con-

tributing to keep the great sport of athletics alive (in all its

derivatives). We've all only got one life, so live it well. And ath-

letics doesn't take time out of your life, it puts life in your

time!

See you around the track

Leigh Harlow

Leigh Harlow high jumping in March last year (photo: Robert Kennelly)


Athletics Australia COVID-Safe Practices


Our club and our Pollies Those yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos again!

Club Historian; Bryan Thomas

On Monday 22 June four members of our LOC2021 (Bob

and Janice Banens, Jo Klemke and Bryan Thomas) accompanied and led by Consie Larmour met with the ACT Minister of Sport,

Yvette Berry, to discuss possible financial support for the AMA Championships planned for March next year. Yvette’s father Wayne (see picture below right) was also a prominent local politi-

cian in the past and for two decades was a member of the ACT-VAC. Wayne and I ran together in Stromlo Forest on many Sun-

day mornings during which we rarely spoke politics. Following the meeting with the minister I gave her a copy of the following

documents.

I wrote these two items many years ago. Both are recorded within my ABC of ACTVAC / ACTMA document which contains

452 summaries of persons of interest within local Masters’ Athlet-ics (280 are current club members).

Bryan Thomas – National and club historian.

BERRY, Wayne: (m. 1990 – 2011). Although Wayne had been running alone for more than two decades it was not until he

started doing lunch time runs with Keith Johnson that he learned of the Vets. His first handicap was at Lake Tuggeranong

October 1990 and in June 2008 he earned his red ‘100 handicaps T shirt’. Over the years Wayne had enjoyed many sightseeing runs while visiting overseas cities but claimed he didn’t always

feel safe when jogging in some African and Asian cities. Wayne has not run a marathon but has completed many half marathons

and fun runs in good style. He only participated at the track on a couple of occasions although he did compete in the 1997 Australi-

an Masters Games. Prior to the 2003 fires Wayne particularly enjoyed the Sunday morning pack runs in Stromlo Forest. Many

were impressed by Wayne’s genuine running ability considering the hectic lifestyle of a prominent politician but now he has re-

tired it is hoped he will be become a regular at the track.

Politicians: Our first two patrons, Bill McMahon and Don Chipp were federal politicians and our third was well known

local representative Harold Hird. Since ACT self-government we have had three prominent

politicians as members. Wayne Berry has been the most active,

being an occasional participant in our monthly running handi-caps, having completed 105 at the end of 2011, and before the

2003 fires he joined our Sunday morning pack runs whenever possible.

Bill Stefaniak participated in four monthly throwing handi-caps and threw the discus at the inaugural Winter Throwing

Championships. He even entered the 1998 Australian Track and Field Championships and was looking forward to participating

but unfortunately he was unable to make it to Brisbane because the then Chief Minister called an emergency meeting during Easter.

John Stanhope, the long serving ACT Chief Minister, was a very good distance runner

throughout the 1980s but in later years Assem-bly responsibilities seriously curtailed his par-

ticipation in athletics. In 2010 Dr. Andrew Leigh was elected to

the Australian House of Representatives from the ACT Fraser electorate. The year 2016 was

a significant one for Leigh for he not only be-came a member of our club but was also re-

elected to parliament. Leigh is a very good long distance runner - he was fourth outright and easily won the M45 age group in the 2019 AMA

Half Marathon Championships run in conjunc-tion with the YMCA Canberra Runners Club

and the ACTMA Half Marathon.

Bryan Thomas

(editor’s note; I published three of Rosemary Parker’s photos in

the July Vetrunner, alas not the correct one. Here it is below; the

cockatoo eating a grub.)

Picture above taken near where we hold the Coombs/Molonglo

walk/run handicap (see map p.7). (photo Rosemary Parker)

Robin Whyte, has now finished his final treatment. He remains in our thoughts and prayers

as he continues his recovery. We hope to see him on the track in October.

▼ Picture below from Canberra Times in September 1993

and published in the October 1993 Vetrunner. The picture was

taken in Stromlo Forest just prior to the running of our monthly

handicap. From left to right they are Bryan Thomas, Trish Con-

nell (later Thomas) Wayne Berry, Bronwyn Muller (later Gard-

ner) and Tony Cavuoto.

These Veteran athletes minus Wayne Berry were soon to

depart for World Championmships in Myazaki, Japan.

Bryan M50 ran 5000, 10,000m, XC and marathon in Mya-

zaki. He won team silver medal in XC and marathon.

Trish Connell W45 (later Thomas) was 29th out of 36 in

Frylink event. Trish participated in all the throws at Worlds and

won silver medal in hammer.

Wayne M50 finished 36th out of 104 in the long hcp. He was

Health Minister and Deputy at the time.

Bronwyn Muller W40 (later Gardner) was 83rd in long

course. She was a team manager in Myazaki.

Tony Cavuoto M40 was a very good distance runner. He ran

in 5000, 10,000m and marathon at the championships. He was

19th in the 8km long handicap.

Bryan Thomas


As we return to our sporting activities please ensure you

take care of your health and stay home if you are unwell. If

you experience any of the COVID-19 symptoms listed on page

18 it is important to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate at

home until you get your results.

COVID-19 Testing Clinic Locations—Canberra

Information and map below from ACT Health website. For

more information about getting tested, what to do while you

wait for your results and clinics that test for COVID-19 by

appointment visit: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/stay-safe-

and-healthy/symptoms-and-getting-tested

Anyone with serious symptoms such as difficulty

breathing, chest pain or severe fever should call triple

zero (000).

ACT TESTING CLINICS—No appointment required:

COVID-19 Testing Clinic on Garran Oval (entry from

Kitchener St). Open 9:30am to 5pm daily

Walk-in clinic, drive through option weather permitting.

West Belconnen COVID-19 Testing Clinic

6 Luke St, Holt. Open 9:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

Use a mask and hand sanitiser available at the front door.

Weston Creek Walk-in Centre Respiratory Assessment

Clinic

24 Parkinson St, Weston. Open 7:30am to 10:00pm daily, in-

cluding public holidays

Use a mask and hand sanitiser available at the front door.

Drive Through COVID-19 Testing Clinic at Exhibition

Park in Canberra

EPIC, Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell

Open 9:30am to 5:00pm daily (last car accepted at 5pm) in-

cluding public holidays.

This clinic cannot be accessed from public transport or on foot.

You must be a driver or a passenger in a registered motor

vehicle or motorbike to attend this clinic.

Please note that children under the age of eight cannot be test-

ed at the Drive Through Testing Clinic at EPIC.

Winnunga Nimmityjah Respiratory Clinic

63 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah

Open 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday

The Winnunga Nimmityjah Respiratory Clinic provides a cul-

turally appropriate assessment and testing centre for First

Nations people and existing clients of Winnunga. Testing is

available for people of any age. Before visiting, please call 02

6284 6222 to let them know you think you may have COVID-

19.

Stay COVID-Safe and get tested if you feel unwell

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