Tasmanian Sports Awards

Athlete of the Year, TIS Award for Male Athlete of the Year
Winner - Scott Brennan (Rowing)

• 1st place in the 2008 Olympic Games, China - Men’s Double Scull
• 3rd place in the Rowing World Cup 1, Germany - Men’s Double Scull
• 3rd place in the Rowing World Cup 2, Switzerland - Men’s Double Scull
• 1st place in the Australian National Championships - Men’s Double Scull
• 1st place in the Australian National Championships - Men’s Quad Scull
• Recipient of the 2007 Tasmanian Young Achiever Award

TIS Award for Female Athlete of the Year
Winner - Hollie Grima (Basketball)

• Member of Australian Team – Opals
• 2nd place in the 2008 Olympic Games, China
• 2nd place in the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, China
• 3rd place in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament, China
• Member of Australian Opals winning tour of Chinese Taipei
• Member of Australian Opals three game win against Russia, Italy
• Member of Australia Opals two game win against Brazil, Australia

TIS Award for Junior Athlete of the Year
Winner - Carly Cottam (Rowing)

• 1st place in the U/23 World Championships, Austria - Women’s U/23 Lightweight Single Scull
• 1st place in the Australian National Championships - Women’s U/23 Lightweight Single Scull
• 1st place in the Australian National Championships - Women’s U/23 Lightweight Double Scull
• 2nd place in the Australian National Championships - Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull
• 2nd place in the Australian National Championships - Interstate Lightweight Quad Scull

Coach of the Year
Winner - Rhett Ayliffe (Rowing)

• Coached Tasmanian Scott Brennan and his partner David Crawshay to a Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in the Men’s Double Scull
• Coached Brennan and Crawshay to 3rd at World Cups 1 and 2 in the Men’s Double Scull
• Qualified seven Tasmanian rowers for the 2008 Olympic Games and one athlete for the 2008 Paralympic Games from the TIS rowing program

Minister’s Award for Excellence

Winner - The Primary Schools Orienteering Program (Launceston)
Esk Valley Orienteering Club and Launceston State Schools Sporting Association

The Primary Schools Orienteering Program has been operating in Greater Launceston since 2003. Since the start of the program over 1 200 children have been introduced to orienteering. It provides orienteering as an elective school sport for Grades 5 and 6 during term three of the school year. Over the ten week program the kids learn the basic knowledge and skills of the sport.

In 2008, orienteering had the highest participation numbers of all the sports available in term three. This was a great achievement and the Esk Valley Orienteering Club and Launceston State Schools Sporting Association are well deserving of this award.

Contribution to Sport
Awarded to Robin Hood AM

Robin Hood has been a well-known figure in Tasmanian sport in both a volunteer and paid role since the 1950s. As a former physical education teacher he has impacted on the lives and sporting careers of countless students.

A tireless volunteer, Robin has filled a variety of non-paying volunteer roles in the sports of athletics, Australian football, bowls, cricket, softball, swimming and tennis. He has mentored and supported athletes and coaches and has been instrumental in the operations and development of a large number of clubs and other organisations. He has also held the positions of President, Vice President, Chairman and Secretary for numerous sports clubs and associations. He holds life membership with seven different sporting associations and has served on countless boards and committees.

From 1975 until his retirement in 1990 Robin was employed by the State Government as a recreation officer with Sport and Recreation. In that role he worked with countless organisations helping to deliver sport and recreation programs to the Tasmanian community. In 1986, he was appointed as the inaugural Executive Officer of the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame and has continued on to the present as a Hall of Fame Board member.

A true volunteer and supporter of local communities, Robin has also been heavily involved in the Rotary Club of Hobart from 1982 – 2007.

Robin Hood’s contribution to sport and recreation over the last six decades is truly remarkable; he is a true gentleman and inspiration to us all. There is no more worthy recipient of this award than Robin Hood.

Merit Award (for Officials and Administrators)
Winner - Wayne Fletcher (Athletics)

Wayne Fletcher is regarded as one of the world’s most respected Walk officials. He has enjoyed a long and successful career with many great moments.

Although, 2008 has been a particularly exceptional year for Wayne. In his own words, Wayne describes 2008 as being his ‘Gold Medal’ year.

Wayne is on a panel of 30 of the world’s best walk officials, itself a remarkable achievement. Wayne is the only official to be selected for all the recent and upcoming major walk events, these being the 2008 Olympic Games, Beijing Olympic Games Test Event and the World Championships. These appointments are a measure of how highly Wayne’s abilities are valued by the sport of athletics.

It would be fair to say that in 2008 Wayne was considered to be the no.1 Walks official in the World.