Congratulations to long serving IAS Director Bill Dowson who has been awarded an OAM for his service to sport and the Illawarra Community. Bill has volunteered his time across a large number of Illawarra Associations for the past 30 years and Illawarra Academy of Sport, Basketball Illawarra, Wollongong Hawks, Illawarra Sports Stadium, NSW Country Basketball, Edmund Rice College Wollongong, The Salvation Army Illawarra – Public Relations, Barnardos Australia and Apex Australia are all better off because of Bill’s service.
“I am seriously humbled. I help out where I can. And I am a firm believer that kids in sport are not kids in trouble,” he said.
When was notified about receiving the award Mr Dowson said he couldn’t help but think about how fortunate he was to live, work and do what he does in such a wonderful community.
“I get to live in probably one of the greatest places on this planet. I get to make a living here. I got to meet an amazing women (Lee) and raise a wonderful family here. And because I feel lucky I get to give a little bit back and meet some amazing people in a volunteer capacity. And after all that the government gives me an award for it.”
Mr Dowson said has spent 15 years with the Illawarra Academy of Sport including 12 as a director and treasurer. He has had many years involvement in basketball including as a director of Illawarra Basketball Association between 2001 and 2015. He is also a life member. Ms Dowson was a director of NBL team the Wollongong Hawks from 2009 to 2014 and a director of Illawarra Sports Stadium Trust between 2009 and 2013. He was manager of NSW Country Basketball Under 18’s Men’s Team from 2006 to 2012 and head basketball coach at Edmund Rice College for nine years. “I started playing when I was 15”.
With the Salvation Army has been chairman of the Residential Appeal for the Red Shield Appeal since 2007 and zone chairman Woonona from 1998 to 2006. He is also the founder of the Jayne Wilson Memorial Fund which supports the First Floor program. “I have spent 30 years doing some work with the Salvation Army. I work alongside Karen Walker down there. And I chair the Jayne Wilson Fund.”
Mr Dowson has been a respite foster carer with Barnardos Find-a-FamilyIllawarra since 2011 and was a member and director of the Apex Club of Wollongong
First published in the Illawarra Mercury on 12th June 2017
