Celebrating Nillumbik Women 2009 - Nillumbik Shire Council

Janice Crosswhite
Nominated by Nan Oates
Janice moved to Panton Hill in 1973 and
lived there for 10 years before moving with
her husband and four young children to
Canberra and then Sydney, before returning
to their Panton Hill hobby farm in 2004.
Janice was President of the Panton Hill
Playgroup, then secretary of the pre-school,
secretary of the School Council, member of
the Hall Committee and initiated the Panton
Hill Family Festival (as it was then called) in
the 1970s.
While working and living in the ACT
and NSW, Janice continued her school
involvement as well as working to increase
the status of women’s sport.
Janice was the inaugural President
of Womensport and Recreation NSW
(now a Life Member) and received an
Australian Medal for Sport (basketball) in
2000. She was Secretary of the Northern
Beaches Indoor Sports Centre Company
Ltd. Returning to Panton Hill, Janice first
served on Nillumbik’s Advisory Sport and
Recreation Committee, leading into one of
her current roles on the Steering Committee
for the Diamond Creek Indoor Sports
Centre.
In 2005, Janice was the leading instigator
and inaugural President of the Australian
Womensport and Recreation Association.
From 2005-2009 AWRA has received a
number of federal government grants to
conduct a national survey on women’s
sport, run national leadership training
programs for women and to develop a
website.
Janice edits AWRA’s enews (bimonthly)
and has been vocal about improved media
coverage for women’s sport.
Janice is the Australian representative on
IAPESGW (the International association
for Physical Education and Sport for Girls
and Women). Locally, Janice convenes
a Rodger Road Fireguard group and is a
member of the Panton Hill Friends of the
Bushland Reserves, the Diamond Creek
YMCA and Arthurs Creek Landcare. She
has received two Biodiversity Grants from
Council, to eradicate weeds, replant a
wildlife corridor and fence dams.
Janice was awarded an OAM in 2001 for
her services to women’s sport and the wider
community.