2012 Avon Descent Legends Announced – Congratulations!!!
AVON DESCENT LEGEND – IAN WILLIAMSON
Ian Williamson has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent.
Ian is a long serving member of the Power Dinghy Racing Club. He has held many office bearer positions and was the Club Commodore in 2002/03.
Ian has unselfishly given of his time to the development of the sport of power dingy in Western Australia. His advice, assistance and encouragement is well known.
Ian has successfully competed in thirty two (32) Avon Descents, achieving a top three (3) finish on thirteen (13) occasions, and with son Todd, as a father and son racing team are the holders of the course record in the ten (10) HP Sport category. Ian has competed in the Murray River Marathon and is active in encouraging overseas and Interstate participation.
Ian’s 12 years of management service for the Avon Descent has had a strong focus on research, experimentation and development. He has been a contributor to the evolution in power dinghy design, was instrumental in upgrading the chute at the Northam Weir and his initiative led to the experimentation with the Vinidex tubes at Extracts Weir.
Ian Williams, you deservedly qualify to be recognised as a Foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
AVON DESCENT LEGEND – NEIL LONG
Neil Long has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent.
Neil has had a thirty (30) year involvement with the sport of canoeing. He has competed in many National White Water Championships and has represented Australia at White Water World Championships on four occasions. Neil has always been a strong club member, undertaking significant tasks that have contributed to the high success of his club. Among his outstanding contributions have been the running of intermediate courses for club members and managing the white water discipline committee. He has also coached many paddlers to state and national levels in white water paddling.
Neil has been either a competitor or an official for twenty five (25) Avon Descents. He has won several Avon Descents in different categories such as under eighteen (18) male, mixed double kayaks and open double kayaks.
Neil has been many things to the Avon Descent. He has been and still continues to be a canoe controller, an announcer, a master of ceremonies, a spokesperson and is a past member of the Avon Descent Board.
Neil has been a great ambassador for the Avon Descent and has inspired many men and women to participate in the event.
Neil Long, in recognition of your contributions to the Avon Descent, you deservedly qualify to become a Foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
AVON DESCENT – DARRYL LONG
Darryl Long has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent
Darryl has had a thirty (30) year involvement with the sport of canoeing and with the Avon Descent.
In canoeing, his achievements have been :
- Competing in thirty (30) Avon Descents. Winner ten (10) times. Held the singles record for twenty (20) years that was only broken in recent years. Still holds the K2 record.
- Competed in four (4) overseas world championships
- Competed in twenty five (25) interstate white water championships
- Competed in every national championship in white water and in marathons that have been held in Western Australia.
- Competed in the Fish Marathon in South Africa in 2011 where he came second in the veteran class doubles and thirty third (33) overall.
Off the water Darryl’s contribution to the sport of canoeing has also been outstanding.. He has :-
- Had a thirty year (30) involvement with the Ascot Kayak Club, serving in many office bearer positions and undertaking many leadership and developmental roles.
- Served as a Board Member of Canoeing Western Australia for three (3) years.
- Given many information lectures at numerous forums applicable to canoeing and / or the Avon Descent.
Darryl Long, in further recognition of your achievements in the Avon Descent, you deservedly qualify to be selected as a foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
AVON DESCENT LEGEND – JIM SMITH
Jim Smith has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent.
Jim has been associated with the Avon Descent for thirty eight (38) years. His initial involvement, as a member of the Northam Lions Club, was the creation and manning of check points.
In 1975 overnight camping was introduced, first at Northam and then at the Western Quarries site in West Toodyay with Jim undertaking management responsibility.
With Jim’s increasing knowledge of the river environment, he was appointed in the Deputy Race Director in 1998 and then in 2000 Race Director, a position he has carried out with distinction to this day.
Jim Smith was also responsible for the early management and development of rescue and recovery functions, a task currently carried out by the Avon Support Unit.
He has also played a major role in the development of the race rules and by-laws, and of the management of emergency practices and policies. He has developed a close relationship and regular liaison with all of the property owners along the river. He has been the quintessential ambassador for the event and has regular contact with the media.
Jim Smith, you have previously been recognised for your contribution with the award of Life Membership of Northam’s Avon Descent Association as a Freeman. In further recognition of your service to the Avon Descent, you deservedly qualify to be selected as a Foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
AVON DESCENT LEGEND – REX ADAMS
Rex Adams has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent.
Rex Adams was a member of the management committee for the inaugural event held in 1973.
From inaugural Secretary / Treasurer to the current manager of financial resources Rex has the singular distinction of continuous service, and, like the event itself, 2012 represents the fortieth (40) anniversary of Rex’s outstanding commitment.
Rex has participated both as a paddler and as support crew in the event, his motivation being that firsthand experience is a desirable trait for successful event management.
One of Rex’s strengths has been his astute management of the Avon Descent’s financial resources, particularly during the lean financial years, playing a key role to the sustainability of the Avon Descent and its recognition as one of the Western Australia’s iconic events. His background in Local Government has helped break through and expedite decisions at all levels of government.
Rex has displayed an unequaled commitment to the Avon Descent and has been recognised with the award of a “Freeman” Life Membership of Northam’s Avon Descent Association.
Rex Adams, in further recognition of your commitment to the Avon Descent, you deservedly qualify to be recognised as a Foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
AVON DESCENT LEGEND – JOHN KING OAM
John King OAM has been selected to be an Inaugural Legend of the Avon Descent.
For his contribution to Surf Lifesaving, both at state and national levels, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal
John has also made an outstanding contribution to the Avon Descent. His thirty nine (39) year continuous association (he did not know about the inaugural 1973 event) has been as follows :-
- Fifteen (15) years service on the rules committee
- Thirty (30) years service as a scrutineer for the ski and sundry classes
- Twenty five (25) years as a competitor
- Eleven (11) years as ground crew support
John was instrumental in introducing surf skis to the Avon Descent. He made most of his own fibreglass skis and helped many others to make or repair theirs, including repairs to fibreglass power craft. His developmental skills included the flip up rudder he pioneered for the long surf ski class.
John has demonstrated a very strong passion to surf ski, be it on the ocean or the Avon Descent. It could be claimed that the current strong representation in the Avon Descent by ski paddle craft is due to John’s encouragement and ambassadorial efforts.
John King, in recognition of your contributions to the development and sustainability of the Avon Descent, you deservedly qualify to become a Foundation Member of the Avon Descent Legends.
Avon Descent Legends
Nomination Criteria
** Please note those who nominated in 2012 will automatically be considered for 2013. A form only needs to be completed if any details have changed.
Introduction
An independent Selection Panel has been established which may annually select up to two nominees for elevation to legend status. This Panel shall be comprised of the Chairman of the Board, a Freeman from Northam’s Avon Descent Association, a past or present Board or Senior Administration Officer.
The Board has laid down the procedure for nomination and the selection criteria the Panel needs to follow. In addition the Panel shall have the power to interview nominees, and/or nominators as well as the power to seek advice from other parties as and when deemed necessary.
For this inaugural occasion, the Panel will select up to six outstanding individual contributors to be the Foundation Members for the Avon Descent Legends.
Nomination
Nominations for an individual can be made at any time UP UNTIL 30th JUNE and need to be made on the prescribed Nomination Form.
Criteria For Selection
1 Number of years of participation in the Avon Descent as/or:-
[i] a competitor
[ii] a support person for the event (not support for a competitor/s)
[iii] a member of your organisation’s executive/management
[iv] a member of the Avon Descent Board
2 Level of achievement or nature of tasks undertaken as/or :-
[i] a competitor
[ii] a support person for the event (not support for a competitor/s)
[iii] a member of your organisation’s executive/management
[iv] a member of the Avon Board
[v] an interstate and/or international representation
3 Initiatives / Developments, if any, attributed to you and subsequently brought to
and/or used in any part of the event.
4 Any ambassadorial / public presentation / promotion/s made by you on behalf of
the Avon Descent.
Attestation
Integrity, sportsmanship and character will be a consideration for any nominee to Legend Status. A secondary party will need to attest to these qualities on a nominee’s nomination form or in person, if called upon, by the Selection Panel.
Operational
All nominations will remain on a ‘live’ listing for inclusion in future year’s selection deliberations.
Nominators will be able to update a nominee’s details, should this be deemed necessary.
The announcement of any new inductees to Legend Status will be announced at an event function prior to each year’s Avon Descent.
