History
History
The IAS was the pioneer for the regional Academy model in Australian sport, the Illawarra Academy of Sport is a not-for-profit sporting organisation that exists to provide localised training and education opportunities for talented young athletes, coaches and administrators across the Illawarra region.
The IAS was the pioneer for the regional Academy model in Australian sport, the Illawarra Academy of Sport is a not-for-profit sporting organisation that exists to provide localised training and education opportunities for talented young athletes, coaches and administrators across the Illawarra region.
Where it all started
In the early 1980’s, in the backrooms of the University of Wollongong a small group of passionate sports people hatched the idea of ‘assisting young talented high performance athletes in the region’ pursue sporting glory while remaining in the Illawarra. If it wasn’t for the persistence of this group with a big vision, the Illawarra Academy of Sport may never have seen the light of day.
It has long been acknowledged that prior to the establishment of the Academy, many promising athletes did not have the opportunity to train under top level coaches all year round, and that in some cases athletes had to travel to Sydney or interstate to reach their sporting potential.
The University of Wollongong’s Human Movement & Sports Science Advisory Committee formed a ‘Steering Committee’ comprised of representatives from government, education, business and community sport from the Illawarra region to investigate the opportunities to support and develop young athletes in the area. As a result The Illawarra Institute of Sport (I.I.S) was launched in 1985, becoming Australia’s first regional Institute of Sport.
On the 3rd of December 1985 the role and activities of the I.I.S was officially launched by Dr. John Bloomfield (Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister on Sport) and Dr. John Cheffers (Executive Director of the Australian Institute of Sport).
The inaugural squad of seventy-five athletes from four sports programs including Gymnastics, Hockey, Basketball and Netball, under the direction of the Coaching Coordinators commenced training & competing in January 1986.
The Foundation Interim Board of Management
(1985-87)
The Interim Board of Management was appointed by the University of Wollongong Liaison Committee. The principal activities of the Board were to:
- Establish high performance sports programs
- Secure funding to complement programs
- Employ coaching and administration staff
- Recruit athletes to undertake programs in gymnastics, hockey, basketball and netball.
The foundation Interim Board included Tom Penrose (Chairman), Ian Brown, Arther Campbell, Steve Craig, Owen Curtis, Henry Daigle, Michael Gross, Bob Harrison, Jeff Humphreys, Norm McKnight, Pat Petty, Ian Richardson, Ted Tobin, Frank White and George Anderson (Administrative Director)
Inaugural Sports Program Coaches
Hockey: Garry Wilsmore (coaching coordinator) & Sue Bessell (coaching assistant)
Netball: Margaret Corbett (coaching coordinator) & Vicki Kerr (coaching assistant)
Basketball: Warrick Cann (coaching coordinator) & Gordon McLeod/Wendy Laidlaw (coaching assistants)
Gymnastics: Hans Grooters (coaching coordinator) & Fay Woods (coaching assistant)
Over the past three decades the Illawarra Academy of Sport has supported more than 6150 young aspiring sports citizens in their pursuit of sporting excellence from over twenty sports programs.
The IAS has produced 15 Olympians, 20 Commonwealth Games Representatives, 11 World Champions and 75 Senior National Team Representatives over the past three decades.
The IAS has produced 15 Olympians, 20 Commonwealth Games Representatives, 11 World Champions and 75 Senior National Team Representatives over the past three decades.