Download - Pacific School Games

Sports 

Good 

in ion 

Issue 1 • September 2007 

30 November - 6 December 

AUSTRALIA 

www.pacificschoolgames.edu.au

The 2008 Pacific School Games 

(PSG) is being carried out with the 

assistance of funds made available by 

the ACT Government. 

Sponsors of 2008 Pacific School Games 

The 2008 PSG Management gratefully 

acknowledges the support of the following 

sponsors and supporters: 

rk:

CONTENTS 

I S S U E 1 • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 7 

Sports 

Good 

in ion 

Minister’s welcome 2 

The 2008 Pacific School Games is coming to Canberra 3 

History of the Pacific School Games 4 

The 2008 PSG at a glance 4 

International connections 5 

Your host city 6 

Education program 7 

School Sport Australia 7 

Venues 8 

Sporting information for teams 9 

- Diving 10 

- Hockey 12 

- Swimming 13 

- Track & Field 14 

Special events and ceremonies 15 

Information for visitors to Canberra 16 

2008 PSG and Canberra 17 

Meet our Ambassadors 18 

Disability Advisory Committee 21 

2008 PSG governance 21 

Notable Pacific School Games competitors 22 

2008 PSG Management 24 

The 2008 Pacific School Games Management produces the Good Sports in ACTion magazine to provide the information that potential competitors, businesses, 

school communities and visitors need to take part in the PSG experience - both on and off the field. Further issues are planned for April and September 2008. 

Editor: Leigh Watson 

Designed by: Meta Design Studio 

Printed by: Paragon Printers Australasia

“Welcome to Canberra” 

The ACT Government is thrilled 

to invite students from across 

Australia and the Pacific region 

to compete in the Pacific School 

Games in Canberra in 2008. 

As a strong believer in the importance 

of sport and physical education in 

schools, I am proud that Canberra is to 

host the 2008 Pacific School Games and 

personally excited that I am involved 

as Minister for 

Education and 

also as Minister 

for Tourism, Sport 

and Recreation. 

The Stanhope 

Government is 

investing over 

$1.8 million to 

ensure that this 

significant event is a highly successful 

showcase of Canberra – 

of our school education system, 

our sporting achievements and our 

tourist attractions. 

A celebration of youth, sporting 

endeavour and education, this will be 

the eighth time that this flagship event 

of school sport will be held. Brisbane, 

Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin and Perth 

have all hosted previous Pacific School 

Games – Melbourne and Sydney twice. 

Now it’s Canberra’s turn. We invite 

all Canberrans to be involved in what 

will be a spectacular sporting and 

educational opportunity. The 2008 

Pacific School Games is shaping up to 

be one of the most exciting international 

sporting events ever held here. It will 

build on the tradition of past Pacific 

School Games, fostering friendship and 

cultural exchange through a unique 

sporting and educational experience. 

The 2008 Pacific School Games will 

attract around 3,500 primary and 

secondary student competitors, aged 

from 10 to 19, to Canberra from all over 

Australia and internationally. Overall, 

around 7,000 visitors will be in Canberra 

for the event. 

Canberra is the perfect place to host 

this prestigious international sporting 

event. Participants will have access to 

some of Australia’s premier sporting 

venues, especially the Australian 

“I am proud that Canberra is to host 

the 2008 Pacific School Games and 

personally excited that I am involved 

as Minister for Education…” 

Institute of Sport, which has trained 

many of our elite and Olympic athletes. 

The 2008 Pacific School Games is also 

a great opportunity to showcase the 

tourism attractions and natural beauty 

of Canberra to Australians and overseas 

visitors alike. We look forward to 

welcoming visitors from all Australian 

states and territories and around 25 

Pacific and Asian countries. 

Schools across all sectors in the ACT 

are invited to become involved, not only 

as competitors and officials, but across 

many areas of the curriculum both 

through the Opening Ceremony and 

generally as volunteers. Their families 

and Canberrans in general will also be 

encouraged to get involved. 

I am also pleased to announce that 

the 2008 Pacific School Games will be 

an official working model of the Good 

Sports Territory Program. Developed to 

promote fair play and positive sporting 

behaviour on and off the field, the 

program aims to educate Canberrans 

about the importance of positive and 

acceptable behaviours in sport. The 

2008 Pacific School Games will be a 

great way to demonstrate the positive 

values and behaviours that we expect in 

sporting environments and competitions 

in the ACT. 

Preparations are now well underway to 

create the most colourful, memorable 

international sporting event in Canberra. 

This includes 

a spectacular 

Opening 

Ceremony, a 

huge celebration 

at the Canberra 

Stadium to which 

all of Canberra 

will be invited. 

The ACT 

Government is extremely proud to 

support this exciting sporting event. 

I hope to see you there! 

Andrew Barr MLA 

Minister for Education and Training 

Minister for Planning 

Minister for Tourism, Sport 

and Recreation 

Minister for Industrial Relations 

 

The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra 

Good Sports in ACTion


is coming to Canberra 

Canberra, in the Australian Capital 

Territory, will showcase an international 

sporting spectacular when it hosts the 

eighth Pacific School Games in late 

2008. 

The Pacific School Games (PSG), one 

of the biggest school sports events in 

the world, has become known as ‘the 

closest thing to a student Olympics’. 

An initiative of School Sport Australia, 

the PSG began as a forerunner to the 

1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. 

Melbourne hosted the last PSG in 

2005, providing a lead-in to the 2006 

Commonwealth Games held there just a 

few months later. 

Mr Rogers stressed the importance of 

the Pacific School Games in the overall 

School Sport Australia program. 

“International sporting competitions 

such as the 2008 Pacific School Games 

in Canberra provide opportunities for 

students to participate in sport at the 

highest level. The PSG is integral to the 

School Sport Australia program, not only 

for its sporting benefits, but also for the 

immense educational, cultural and social 

benefits it provides for the participants,” 

said Mr Rogers. 

“In a unique move, the ACT School 

Sports Council is partnering with 

community sporting organisations 

for the four designated Pacific School 

Games sports to organise the sporting 

competitions,” said Ms Harasymiv. 

“We are expecting well over 7,000 

people from all over Australia and from 

over 20 countries, mostly from around 

the Pacific Rim, to visit Canberra for 

the eight days of the 2008 Pacific School 

Games.” 

Supported by the ACT Department of 

Education and Training, the 2008 PSG 

will involve around 3,500 primary and 

secondary students, aged 10-19, as 

competitors, from all over Australia 

and around 25 Pacific and Asian 

countries. Students from Canberra will 

also be involved in the PSG in other 

ways across a variety of subjects and 

curriculum areas. 

Mr Ken Rogers, President of School 

Sport Australia, said that Canberra was 

the perfect choice as a host for the 2008 

Pacific School Games. 

Ken Rogers 

“The Pacific School Games is 

integral to the School Sport 

Australia program...” 

“As the home of the Australian Institute 

of Sport, there are many advantages to 

holding a PSG, School Sport Australia’s 

flagship event, in the nation’s capital 

and providing access for school 

students to compete at such top level 

facilities,” he said. 

Annette Harasymiv 

“The 2008 Pacific School 

Games will leave lasting 

legacies for organised sport in 

Canberra…” 

At the Launch of the 2008 PSG in March 

this year, Chair of the ACT Schools 

Sports Council, Ms Annette Harasymiv, 

said that the 2008 Pacific School Games 

would be a boon for Canberra, bringing 

with it a multitude of experiences for 

many school students and for school 

and community sport. 

“Apart from the sporting competition, 

students from primary and secondary 

schools, the vocational education and 

training sector, and universities will 

be involved in the organisation and 

management of the Pacific School 

Games in Canberra. The 2008 PSG 

will leave lasting legacies for organised 

sport in Canberra, including an enhanced 

capacity to conduct major multi-sport 

events,” explained Ms Harasymiv. 

“There will be increased expertise in 

sports administration and officiating as 

a result of training courses conducted 

for senior school students, members 

of the community and school sport 

organisations in preparation for the PSG. 

Dr Michele Bruniges 

“I strongly encourage schools 

throughout ACT to become 

involved…” 

Chair of the 2008 PSG Advisory Board, 

Dr Michele Bruniges, Chief Executive of 

the ACT Department of Education and 

Training, also stressed that the Pacific 

School Games was a multi-faceted event 

encompassing many areas of the school 

curriculum. 

“There are potential educational 

outcomes for students apart from the 

actual competitors. The 2008 PSG 

encourages all ACT students to get 

involved in preparation for this enormous 

event. There will be opportunities 

for learning in all areas from sports 

administration and officiating, to 

performing arts at the opening and 

closing ceremonies,” she said. 

“Teachers and students will be invited 

to participate in opening and closing 

ceremonies, official functions and the 

excursion program. They will also be 

required to act as event officials, liaison 

officers for visiting teams and to fill 

various volunteer roles. 

“I strongly encourage schools 

throughout ACT to become involved to 

help the ACT put its best foot forward 

in presenting the 2008 PSG next year,” 

she said. 

Good Sports in ACTion 

The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra

History of the Pacific School Games 

The PSG began as a 

test event for the 1982 

Commonwealth Games 

in Brisbane. School 

Sport Australia then took 

responsibility for the 

PSG and it became the 

flagship of the Australian 

school sport program. 

Subsequent PSG were 

test events for the 2000 

Olympics in Sydney and 

the 2006 Melbourne 

Commonwealth Games 

using the relevant major event venues. 

“The Melbourne organisers have 

passed on the PSG baton to Canberra 

in the healthiest shape possible.” 

Each PSG hosts Diving, Swimming and 

Track & Field as core sports and chooses 

a fourth sport to meet local needs and 

conditions. The number of competitors 

Host city Year held Teams 

attending 

Number of 

competitors 

has grown from 2,184 in the first PSG to 

around 3,500. The numbers of teams has 

increased from 12 to 30 coming from all 

Australian states and territories, countries 

around the Pacific Rim and other invited 

nations. Altogether 35 countries have 

participated in at least one PSG. 


Management congratulates the last 

Pacific School Games host state, Victoria, 

and its Department of Education and 

Sports 

Brisbane 1982 12 2,184 Diving, Swimming, Track & Field 

Melbourne 1984 15 2,155 Diving, Swimming, Track & Field 

Sydney 1988 30 2,276 Diving, Swimming, Track & Field 

Darwin 1992 27 1,934 Gymnastics, Swimming, Track & Field 

Perth 1996 28 2,923 Diving, Gymnastics, Swimming, Track & Field 

Sydney 2000 35 3,478 Diving, Gymnastics, Swimming, Track & Field 

Melbourne 2005 28 3,100 Basketball, Diving, Swimming, Track & Field 

The 2008 PSG at a glance 

Training for the outstanding job done in 

Melbourne in 2005. 

“The Melbourne organisers have passed 

on the PSG baton to Canberra in the 

healthiest shape possible, providing 

inspiration to continue the wonderful 

traditions and friendships all previous PSG 

have nurtured,” said 2008 PSG General 

Manager, Ron Burns. 

The 2008 PSG will be the eighth Pacific 

School Games. 

KEY DATES CANBERRA 

• Competition days – Sunday 

30 November to Saturday 6 

December, 2008 

• Opening Ceremony - Sunday 30 

November 

• Closing Ceremony - Saturday 6 

December 

SPORTS PROGRAM 

The 2008 Games will feature four 

sports: 

• Diving 

• Hockey 

• Swimming 

• Track & Field 

WORLD CLASS VENUES 

• the Australian Institute of Sport 

(Swimming and Track & Field) 

• the National Hockey Centre 

• the Canberra Olympic Pool 

(Diving) 

Canberra, the Capital of Australia, 

will host the 2008 Pacific School 

Games. Canberra is a medium 

sized, picturesque cosmopolitan 

city which boasts many national 

and cultural institutions. 

ACCOMMODATION 

Team-based accommodation in 

commercial establishments will be 

the main accommodation option 

for visiting teams. Limited billeting 

will be available for international 

teams. 

NUMBER OF 

• participants expected to compete 

– 3,500 

• officials accompanying the teams 

– 500 

• expected visitors to Canberra 

(including participants, officials, 

managers and family members) 

– 7,500 

• attendees expected at the 

Opening Ceremony – 10,000 to 

15,000 (including participants and 

competitors) 

• volunteers needed to conduct the 

2008 PSG – 1,200 

• local students expected to 

be involved in the Opening 

Ceremony – up to 1,000 

• schools involved – the 153 

schools in the Canberra region 

will be invited to become 

involved in some way (62 

government primary schools, 

17 high Schools, 9 colleges, 15 

special schools and 50 nongovernment 

schools) 

WEBSITE 

For more details on the 2008 

Pacific School Games, and 

regular updates, visit 

www.pacificschoolgames.edu.au 

 



International connections 

Invited teams 

A truly international event, the 2008 

Pacific School Games invites all 

Australian states and territories, plus 

countries from the Asia Pacific Rim 

region to compete. 

All states and territories of Australia 

compete in the Pacific School Games 

as individual teams. Christmas Island, 

Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island, 

officially Australian territories, have 

competed at previous Pacific School 

Games as separate teams. 

International media visit 

In a recent visit to Canberra as 

part of the Department of Foreign 

Affairs’ International Media Visits 

Program, the Head of News for the 

Samoan Broadcasting Commission, 

Merita Huch, researched a television 

segment on the 2008 PSG. Merita 

interviewed 2008 PSG Ambassador 

Peta Gallagher for the Live the Dream 

program broadcast to 20 Pacific 

nations on the South Pacific Games 

being held in Apia. Samoa is planning 

to send a team to the 2008 PSG. 

Wider links 

Although not a Pacific nation, Wales 

will be coming to the 2008 PSG 

and competing as a specially invited 

international team. The 2008 PSG 

sent the Welsh Schools’ Athletics 

Association an invitation in response 

to Wales’ interest to be involved 

as a way to celebrate their 60th 

Anniversary. In return Wales has 

invited the Australian Schools to 

visit Cardiff, Wales in July 2009 to 

celebrate the 50th Anniversary of 

the first schools’ international to take 

place in Britain. 

South Africa, who attended the last 

three PSG, first competed in the 1996 

PSG held in Perth after international 

bans on sport participation with South 

Africa had just been lifted. Expatriates 

living in Perth initiated connections 

region and others that have previously 

participated at a PSG. Teams do not 

have to be national teams or nationally 

selected to take part in the 2008 PSG 

– entries will be accepted from regions, 

provinces or schools in countries 

where no nationally selected teams 

are being entered. 

All competitors must be bona fide 

school students and aged 10 to 19. 

Teams interested in finding out 

more about the 2008 Pacific School 

Games should contact the 2008 PSG 

Management. 

The 2008 PSG Management has 

sent invitations to more than 30 

international teams in the Asia Pacific 

International snippets 

2008 PSG Ambassador, 

Peta Gallagher with Samoan 

Broadcasting Commission 

News chief, Merita Huch 

which began this relationship 

between a non-Pacific country and 

the PSG. 

Pacific island interest 

General Manager of the 2008 PSG, 

Ron Burns, presented a paper to 

the Chefs de Missions of the Pacific 

Games Associations in Apia this year. 

He said that interest from the Pacific 

nations attending was overwhelming 

with “countries such as Samoa, Fiji, 

Solomon Islands and Federated States 

of Micronesia expressing immediate 

willingness to be involved”. 

They’re coming 

Already 21 international teams, plus 

all Australian states and territories, 

Argentina 

Australian states/territories 

American Samoa 

Brunei 

Canada 

Chile 

China 

Chinese Taipei 

Columbia 

Cook Islands 

Christmas Island 

East Timor 

Ecuador 

Europe 

Fiji 

Guam 

Hong Kong 

India 

Indonesia 

Japan 

Kiribati 

Korea 

Lord Howe Island 

Macau 

Malaysia 

Marshall Islands 

Mexico 

have indicated they will be attending the 2008 PSG. 

These international teams are: the Cook Islands, 

Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, 

Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Caledonia, New 

Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, Palau, Papua 

New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon 

Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Wales. 

Local language connections 

With 22% of people born overseas, Canberra has a 

well-justified reputation as a multicultural city and is 

now home to people from over 200 countries. Hence, 

there are significant numbers of people in Canberra 

who speak the languages of teams competing in the 

Pacific School Games. For example: 

Vietnamese 

Cantonese 

Spanish 

Mandarin 

Arabic 

Tagalog (Filipino) 

French 

Hindi 

Tamil 

Lao 

Thai 

Sinhalese 

Korean 

Bengali 

Japanese 

Indonesian 

Micronesia 

Nauru 

New Caledonia 

New Zealand 

Niue 

Norfolk Island 

Northern Marianas 

Papua New Guinea 

Palau 

Panama 

Peru 

Philippines 

Russia 

Singapore 

Solomon Islands 

South Africa 

Tahiti/French Polynesia 

Thailand 

Tokelau 

Tonga 

Tuvalu 

Union of Myanmar 

United States of America 

Vanuatu 

Vietnam 

Wallis & Futuna Islands 

Western Samoa 

Portuguese 

Urdu 

Khmer 

Punjabi 

Samoan 

Malay 

Tongan 

Burmese 

Chinese 

Telugu 

Tok Pisin 

Danish 

Afrikaans 

Hokkien 

Malayalam 



Canberra 

Your host city 

a true bush capital 

Canberra is the perfect place to hold an international sporting event – for both competitors and spectators alike. 

A picturesque city set amidst a bushland setting (it is not uncommon to see kangaroos in suburban areas) 

Canberra offers all the advantages of a big city in a small, safe, cosmopolitan environment. 

Located on the traditional lands of the 

Ngunnawal people, the area was first 

settled by Europeans in the 1830s and 

chosen as the site for the national capital 

in 1908. American architect Walter 

Burley Griffin won an international 

competition to design the city. The first 

Parliament House opened in 1927 in 

the middle of what was then a treeless 

paddock with the present Parliament 

House replacing it in 1988. 

It is not uncommon 

to see kangaroos in 

suburban areas. 

Canberra is full of fantastic experiences 

for visitors. The wide open spaces 

promote an active, outdoors focused 

lifestyle – walking, hiking and cycling 

are popular pastimes and Canberra’s 

beautiful lakes are ideal for sailing, 

rowing and triathlons. It is also a 

modern cosmopolitan city with a busy 

calendar of events and festivals and an 

array of stylish restaurants, bars and 

shops. 

Lacking the traffic problems that often 

beset larger cities, Canberra is an easy 

place to travel around – PSG venues 

and accommodation are all conveniently 

located within close travelling distance 

to each other. 

International flavour 

Canberra has a cosmopolitan, 

multicultural atmosphere. There are 

around 80 diplomatic missions based 

here and many international students 

choose to study in a variety of quality 

educational institutions. There is also 

a strong multicultural community as 

almost half of the Canberra population 

were either themselves, or have at least 

one parent, born overseas. The 2008 

PSG Management will work closely 

with diplomatic and local communities 

in helping to make international visitors 

welcome to Canberra. 

National attractions 

Not only is Canberra the seat of the 

Australian Federal Government but 

Australia’s culture, history and way of life 

are reflected in the national museums, 

galleries and institutions based here. The 

national institutions in Canberra hold 

and share the treasures of our nation, 

offering an intriguing insight into the 

Australian character and history. These 

institutions include the War Memorial, 

National Museum, National Gallery, 

National Library and both the current 

and old Parliament Houses. Students, 

teachers and officials from around 

Australia and all international visitors will 

find Canberra a fascinating destination. 

FACTS 

Location 

Canberra is located in the Australian 

Capital Territory (ACT) surrounded by 

New South Wales, 282 kilometres from 

Sydney, 660 kilometres from Melbourne 

and 150 kilometres from the East Coast 

of Australia. It is 571 metres above the 

Pacific Ocean. 

Climate 

In summer, the time of the 2008 PSG, 

the days are warm to hot (average 

maximum temperature 27°) with plenty 

of sunshine and little humidity. The 

nights are mild and balmy (average 

minimum temperature 12°). 

Population 

Around 330,000 people live in Canberra 

which has Australia’s most highly 

educated population, who are also 

deeply engaged with the arts; 45% of 

workers are employed in the public 

sector. 

Public Transport 

Canberra has an extensive public bus 

network. 

Language 

English is the official and spoken 

language (though with such a high 

percentage of people born overseas, 

many can also speak a second 

language). 

Security/Safety 

Canberra is a very safe city to visit or 

live in, with the lowest crime rate of any 

major Australian city. 

 



Education program 

A highlight of any Pacific School 

Games is the education component, 

usually in the shape of an excursion, 

for all competitors including those from 

the local team, all Australian states and 

territories and all overseas teams. 

During the 2005 PSG competitors 

visited the award-winning Sovereign Hill 

at Ballarat, a tourism complex which 

recreates an Australian 1850s 

goldfields township. 

The national institutions based in 

Canberra will feature in the education 

program for the 2008 PSG as will the 

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The 

National Library, War Memorial, National 

Museum, Parliament House and the 

High Court – to name just a few – are 

all distinctive features on the Canberra 

landscape. These recognised national 

icons, home to many of Australia’s 

cultural and historical traditions will give 

Australian and international competitors 

alike an insight into our national heritage. 

The AIS, venue of two of the 2008 PSG 

sports (Swimming and Track & Field) is 

home to potential champions from all 

over Australia as well as overseas, who 

come to the AIS to realise their dream. 

With an elite athlete as their guide, 

2008 PSG competitors will be treated to 

a “behind the scenes” tour of the AIS 

world-class training facilities and see elite 

athletes in training. The tour will also take 

in Sportex, an interactive showcase of 

Australian sport where students can test 

their skills on interactive displays. There 

are also plans to provide specialised 

seminars or workshops for older athletes, 

The Pacific School Games is the 

flagship event of School Sport 

Australia. 

Established in 1981, the Mission 

of School Sport Australia is 

to provide quality educational 

opportunities through sport for 

Australian school communities. 

This is achieved through 

state member bodies who 

implement programs that 

provide the maximum number 

of opportunities for students to 

participate in a broad range of 

sporting activities. 

covering subject areas such as sports 

nutrition, training and general areas 

related to optimal performance. 

Defence Force Recruiting 

will be involved with the 

educational program of the 

2008 Pacific School Games. 

School Sport Australia 

The interstate competitions 

offered at primary and secondary 

levels are the focal point of 

School Sport Australia activities. 

These are the culmination of 

state-based programs and offer 

gifted and talented students the 

opportunity to participate in high 

level sporting competitions. These 

events are an integral part of the 

School Sport Australia program, 

not only for their sporting benefits, 

but also for their immense 

educational, cultural and social 

benefits for the participants. 



Venues 

The National Hockey Centre at Lyneham, Canberra, is a world class 

competition venue 

The Australian Institute of Sport 

(AIS) will be the focus of two of 

the sports in the 2008 Pacific 

School Games – Swimming and 

Track & Field. The AIS is also an 

important tourist attraction in 

Canberra. The National Hockey 

Centre will be the venue for the 

Hockey competition and the 

Canberra Olympic Pool will be 

the Diving venue. The two AIS 

facilities and the Hockey venue 

are closely located. 

Diving - Canberra Olympic Pool 

The diving pool, situated outdoors in 

the heritage listed Canberra Olympic 

Pool, features a diving tower at one 

end of the 27 x 17 metre pool and two 

one metre springboards at the other. 

The tower comprises two, three metre 

springboards and a five and ten metre 

platform. The pool has a constant 

depth of 5.1 metres (16.5 feet). The 

ACT Government is conducting a 

major upgrade of the facility prior to 

the 2008 PSG. 

Hockey - National Hockey Centre 

The National Hockey Centre is a 

world class facility consisting of three 

enclosed fields – the Carter, Powell 

and Watt Fields. The Carter and the 

Powell Fields have a Poligras 2000 

LSR water-based synthetic surface 

and the Watt Field has a Poligras H20Z 

water-based synthetic surface which 

is the same surface used in the 2000 

Sydney Olympics Hockey competition. 

Swimming - AIS Swimming Pool 

The scene of several world records 

this international standard swimming 

complex provides training facilities 

to AIS swimming and water polo 

programs – Olympic medallists 

Michael Klim, William Kirby and 

Petria Thomas trained here. The 50 

metre Olympic standard pool is 2.2 

metres deep throughout with troughs 

to reduce wave turbulence. There is 

also a 25 metre warm-up pool and a 

gymnasium with specialised training 

equipment for swimmers including a 

spa and sauna. 

Australian Olympic athletes 

have trained at the international 

standard AIS Track & Field facility 

Track & Field - AIS Athletics Track 

The Athletics Track is the training 

ground of AIS Track and Field athletes, 

many of whom have gone on to 

achieve international fame. Currently 

being resurfaced with all-weather 

mondo in preparation for pre-Beijing 

Olympic Games training, the venue 

incorporates electronic timing and 

photo finish equipment as well 

as administration and spectator 

amenities. The facility is used for 

Australian Athletics Grand Prix events, 

local athletics competitions, and 

training of AIS and local athletes. 

Spectator facilities will be available at 

all venues. 

 



Sporting information 

for teams 


will comprise four sports - 

Diving, Hockey, Swimming and 

Track & Field. 

Whilst Track & Field, Swimming and 

Diving have been the core sports at each 

of the past seven PSG, other sports have 

included gymnastics and basketball. This 

is the first time Hockey is included in a 

PSG as one of the four sports. 

HOW TO COMPETE 

Competition will be offered for 

school students aged 10 to 19 and all 

competitors must be bona fide school 

students, with a minimum age of 10 

years and a maximum age of 19 years 

in the year of competition (2008). Each 

competitor will require certification of 

their enrolment in a school signed by 

the school principal. There will be no 

individual entries – participants will 

compete in teams which may enter 

as follows: 

Australian students 

Students from both government and 

non-government schools are eligible 

to participate as long as their school is 

affiliated with its relevant school sporting 

association in the year of the PSG (i.e. 

2008). Each Australian state and territory 

is responsible for managing selection of 

its own team. 

Details on the relevant body in each state 

are listed on the School Sport Australia 

website: 

www.schoolsport.edu.au. 

International students (i.e. 

countries other than Australia) 

Countries from the Pacific Rim and 

other invited nations will determine their 

own selection policy. Teams from these 

international countries do not have to be 

national teams or nationally selected to 

take part in the 2008 PSG – entries will 

be accepted from regions, provinces or 

schools in countries where no nationally 

selected teams are being entered. 

Students with a disability 

Competition will be available for students 

with a disability across all age groups for 

boys and girls in two sports – Swimming 

and Track & Field. 

Any students interested in competing, 

should speak with their sports or 

physical education teachers. Schools 

and sporting organisations should 

contact the 2008 PSG Management 

for more information or to obtain an 

Expression of Interest form. 

Closing dates for team entries 

in each sport will be published 

in a later issue of Good Sports 

in ACTion. 

Sport Working Parties 

Each sport is being coordinated by a 

separate working party made up of 

experts in that sport from both the 

community and school sector and 

headed by a Chair, whose role is to 

ensure the competition runs according 

to each sport’s rules and guidelines. 

The Working Party also defines the 

competition program for each sport. 



Diving 


will continue the tradition of 

offering Diving as one of the 

core PSG sports with students 

being able to compete in both 

individual and synchronised events 

in springboard and platform. 

The Diving competition will be 

conducted at the Canberra Olympic 

Pool which features both platform 

and springboard facilities. 

Training 

Team officials will receive a venue 

familiarisation and training schedule prior 

to arrival in Canberra. Training times 

will be allocated to all competing teams 

when team and competitor numbers 

are known. The Canberra Olympic Pool 

is the only pool in Canberra and the 

surrounding district that offers a diving 

facility. 

Competition program 

The competition program for the 2008 

Pacific School Games will incorporate 

both individual and synchronised 

events. The synchronised program will 

be conducted on the 1 metre and/or 3 

metre springboards. There will be no 

synchronised platform events in the 

2008 PSG Diving program. 

Individual events will be conducted 

on both the 1 metre and the 3 metre 

springboards and platforms. There will 

be age restrictions for the platform 

events. 

2008 PSG Diving Working Party 

Chair - Paul Russell 

Background 

• Principal of St Matthew’s 

Primary School 

• President of the ACT Primary Schools 

Sports Association (PSSA) 

• Member of the ACT School Sports 

Council and of the 2008 PSG Steering 

Committee 

• ACT representative to School Sport 

Australia 

• Strong associations with school sport 

through Rugby League and Athletics 

Paul’s vision for the 2008 Pacific 

School Games is that it be an 

opportunity for young divers aged from 

10 – 19 to compete in an international 

competition where new friendships 

can be developed and old friendships 

renewed. And that it will also provide 

“a stepping stone to other national and 

international competitions”. 

He feels the 2008 PSG Diving 

competition will have a unique aspect 

because “… it will be held in the 

heritage listed facilities at the Canberra 

Olympic Pool, built in 1956”. 

Working Party members 

Dhana Oakman 

Mairi Steele 

Sue Milford 

Kerry Trabinger 

Skye Cripps 

10 The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra 


DIVE REQUIREMENTS 

Springboard 

(1M and 3M individual events) 

Age Event Limited Dives Unlimited Dives 

10 1M and 3M 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD 







17-19 1M and 3M 5 dives from different groups @ 9.5 plus 4 dives from different groups unlimited DD 

Platform 5m and 10m 

(There is no 7.5m platform at the 2008 PSG Diving venue) 


10-12 Platform 5M 2 dives from different groups @ 3.6 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD 

13-14 Platform 5M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 2 dives from different groups unlimited DD 

15-16 Platform 5M/10M 3 dives from different groups @ 5.4 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD 

17-19 Platform 5M//10M 4 dives from different groups @ 7.6 plus 3 dives from different groups unlimited DD 

Synchronised diving 


10-12 1 and/or 3M Synchro 2 dives @ 2.0 DD plus 1 dive unlimited DD 

13-14 1 and/or 3M Synchro 2 dives @ 2.0 DD plus 2 dives unlimited DD 



RULES OF COMPETITION 

The competition will be conducted under FINA rules except where otherwise stated. 

1. AGE GROUPS 

10 years 11 years 12 years 13 years 14 years 15 years 16 years 17 - 19 years 

born 1998 born 1997 born 1996 born 1995 born 1994 born 1993 born 1992 

Each country/state/territory may enter a maximum of three (3) competitors per individual competition. 

2. EVENT REQUIREMENTS 

2.1 Springboard and Platform 

2.1.1 No repeat dives are permitted in any event or age group. 

2.1.2 Students must compete in their age group in individual and platform events. 

2.1.3 Boy’s and girl’s competitions will be conducted in each of the age groups. 

2.2 Synchronised Diving 

2.2.1 Pairs to come from existing team members in individual events. 

2.2.2 There is no limit to the number of pairs per team in any synchronised event. 

2.2.3 Synchronised events are optional for divers. 

2.2.4 Pairs may compete in one event only. 

2.2.5 Pairs may comprise divers of different age groups but must compete in the age grouping of the eldest diver. 

2.2.6 Boy/girl pairs must compete in the corresponding event of the eldest diver. 

If they are both in the same age group then they must compete in the boy’s event. 

2.2.7 Pairs may be from different teams. 

born 1989, 

1990 & 1991 


The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra 11

Hockey 

This is the first time that Hockey 

will be played at a Pacific School 

Games. Players at both the 12 

years and under age group and 

the 16 years and under age group 

will now have the chance to 

be involved in an international 

multi-sport event. The 2008 PSG 

Hockey competition will replace 

the annual School Sport Australia 

(SSA) Girls’ and Boys’ Hockey 

Exchange and the SSA Girls’ and 

Boys’ Hockey Championships. 

The Hockey competition will be 

conducted at the recently upgraded 

National Hockey Centre, a world class 

competition facility. 

2008 PSG Hockey Working Party 

Chair - Cherie Lutton 

Background 

• Principal of Fraser Primary School 

• Hockey & softball manager for PSSA 

National Exchange teams 

• PSSA President for four years 

• Manager of Students with a Disability 

Team, 1992 and 1996 PSG 

• General Manager of the 2000 ACT 

PSG team 

• Long time Hockey player (including 

Vets ACT) 

• Involved in school sport since 1975 

Cherie has always had a vision that “the 

ACT could very successfully host the 

PSG” and she is excited that not only 

is this vision coming to fruition but that 

she is part of it. 

She feels that Hockey will have a 

unique place in the 2008 PSG. “Hockey 

has always had a high profile in the 

ACT region and in school sports – this 

could well be seen as a junior Olympics 

with many teams from the Pacific 

participating. And the facilities at the 

National Hockey Centre are superb.” 

Working Party Members 

Rob Sheekey 

Chris MacKinnon 

John MacKinnon 

Terry Evans 

Suzie Foley 

Alex Vallentine 

Sue Ford 

Megan Taylor 

Training 

At this stage details regarding the 

availability of training facilities are not 

finalised. 


The 2008 Pacific School Games Hockey 

program will provide opportunities for 

competition for both boys and girls in 

the following age groups: 

• girls 12 years and under 

• boys 12 years and under 

• girls 16 years and under 

• boys 16 years and under 

The competition will maximise playing 

opportunities for all students. Teams will 

be involved in a round-robin preliminary 

competition leading to a playoff series. 

The number of entries will determine 

the size of the pool in each of the four 

competitions. Gold, Silver and Bronze 

medals will be awarded for each 

competition. 

The Hockey competition will be 

conducted under the current rules of 

competition as laid down by Hockey 

Australia except where otherwise 

stated. 

Age requirements 

To play in the 12 years and under 

competition a player must be 12 years 

or under as at 31 December 2008 - i.e. 

a player must have been born in 1996 

or after. 

To play in the 16 years and under 

competition a player must be 16 years 

or under as at 31 December 2008 - i.e. 

a player must have been born in 1992 

or after. 



Swimming 



offering Swimming as one of the 

core PSG sports. The Swimming 

program will provide opportunities 

for competitors, including 

swimmers with a disability, to 

compete in both individual and 

relay events. The Swimming 

competition will be conducted at 

the AIS. 

Training 

Details regarding access to the 

competition venue and alternate venues 

for training will be provided to team 

management prior to competition. 


The competition program for the 2008 

Pacific School Games will incorporate 

both individual and relay events for all 

competitors including swimmers with 

a disability which will be conducted as 

multi-disability competitions. 

Rules of competition 

The competition will be conducted 

under the current FINA Swimming rules 

and the current International Paralympic 

Committee (IPC) rules except where 

otherwise stated. 

2008 PSG Swimming 

Working Party 

Chair - Joan Kellett OAM 

Background 

• Refereed swimming for many years at 

local, national and international levels 

• Meet director for many competitions 

including national championships 

• President of ACT Swimming for many 

years 

• Chaired the Minister’s Advisory 

Committee for Sport and Recreation 

Joan’s vision for the 2008 PSG is 

that it will provide an atmosphere 

where “swimmers will be able to enjoy 

competing and achieving their own 

aspirations”. And with competitors from 

overseas and Australia, she hopes that 

many new friendships from a diversity 

of backgrounds will be forged. 

She sees the 2008 PSG Swimming 

competition will be unique as it will 

give swimmers their first opportunity 

to swim at the Australian Institute of 

Sport pool where so many of our best 

swimmers have trained and achieved. 

“No other pool in Australia has this 

history and ambience.” 

Working Party members 

John Skene 

Louise Stokes 

Linda Francis 

Les Barclay 

Margaret Roberts 

Age groups 

10 years – born 1998 












Track & Field 

2008 PSG Track & Field 

Working Party 

Ken feels that the Track & Field 

event in the 2008 PSG will be one 

of massive participation “with lots of 

exhilarating high-level international 

competition which will include many 

athletes who will compete at the 2010 

Commonwealth Games and the 2012 

London Olympics and Paralympics, 

while also generating enduring 

friendships within and across teams”. 



offering Track & Field as one of the 

core PSG sports. The Track & Field 

program will provide opportunities 

for competitors, including athletes 

with a disability, to compete in 

both individual and relay events. 

Competition will take place at 

the Australian Institute of Sport 

Athletics Track & Field Facility. 

Training 

At this stage details regarding the 

availability of training facilities are 

not final. 


The competition program will 

incorporate both individual and relay 

events for all competitors including 

athletes with a disability. All track events 

for students with a disability will be 

conducted as multi-disability seeded 

‘time finals’. 

Chair - Ken English 

Background 

• Retired school principal 

• Former President of ACT School Sport 

• Life Member of ACT School Sports 

Association, ACT Athletics, and NSW 

Athletic League 

• General Manager of the NSW 

Athletic League 

Rules of competition 

The competition will be conducted 

under the current International 

Association of Athletic Federation 

(IAAF) rules and the International 

Paralympic Committee (IPC) rules 

except where otherwise stated. 

All track events will be conducted as 

multi-disability ‘time finals’. 

“An additional generator of excitement 

will be the incorporation of Athletic 

Australia’s National All-Schools 

Championships with the PSG which 

makes this important meet even bigger.” 

Working Party Members 

Karen Burton 

Greg Gilbert 

Scott Goodman 

David Gynther 

Owen Heness 

Margaret Koenen 

Michael Thomson 

Margaret Watt 

Age groups 













Special events and ceremonies 

As well as the spectacular weeklong 

sporting competition, the 

2008 PSG will also host a series 

of events and ceremonies – both 

during the PSG and in the leadup. 

LAUNCHES AND 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

To help make Canberrans aware and 

excited about the 2008 Pacific School 

Games there will be media and public 

activities around special events such 

as: 

• Major sponsors announcement 

• Mascot launch 

• One Year to Go (Nov 07) 

CEREMONIES 

Opening Ceremony 

Sunday 30 November, 10am 

A spectacular event at the Canberra 

Stadium to which all Canberrans will 

be invited. More than 1,000 school 

students from all over Canberra will 

be the stars. 

OFFICIAL LAUNCH 

Minister for Education and 

Training, Andrew Barr MLA, 

launched the 2008 Pacific 

School Games in March this year 

at the National Hockey Centre, 

Lyneham. The Combined 

Canberra Grammar School Big 

Band entertained 80 guests from 

school and community sporting 

organisations. 

Closing Ceremony 

Saturday 6 December, evening 

A huge celebration for competitors, 

volunteers, officials, spectators 

and all involved in the 2008 Pacific 

School Games. 

Medal Ceremonies 

The medal ceremonies for each 

competition, which will take place 

immediately after each “win” at the 

relevant sports venue, will be formal 

affairs with medals for Gold, Silver, 

Bronze being presented. Presenters 

will include dignitaries, sponsors and 

local businesses. Schools will be 

involved in these ceremonies with 

students acting as medal bearers. 

Hawker College student, 

Nichola Weatherly, performed 

at the 2008 PSG official launch 

in March this year 

WELCOME TO 

AMBASSADORS 

The Minister again presided 

over this media event to 

welcome and thank the eight 

Ambassadors who have come 

on board as role models and to 

help promote the 2008 PSG in 

Canberra. See page 18 for more 

information on Ambassadors. 

Scenes from the 2005 PSG held in Melbourne 



Information for visitors to Canberra 

TOURISM 

Canberra is full of fantastic 

experiences for visitors especially 

in the shape of the many national 

institutions and natural attractions. 

Tourism information will be 

provided on the 2008 Pacific 

School Games website closer to 

the event. 

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE 

All international and Australian state 

and territory teams will need to 

arrive in Canberra by Saturday 29 

November 2008 and depart from 

Canberra on Sunday 7 December 

2008. 

International and some inter and 

intra state competitors will arrive 

and depart from Canberra Airport, 

Canberra Railway Station and the 

Jolimont Bus Terminal. Transport 

will be provided for all competitors 

between the airport, station and 

the accommodation venues 

(approximately a 20-40 minute trip). 

Other Australian competitors will 

arrive by coach or private transport. 

ACCOMMODATION 

The 2008 PSG Management will 

organise all accommodation for 

competitors and officials who require it. 

Charges, at reasonable rates, will need 

to be paid beforehand. 

Plans at this stage are that students 

from Australian states and territories 

and some international students 

will stay in team-based commercial 

accommodation such as motels, 

lodges, university campus 

accommodation etc. Officials will also 

stay in these commercial facilities. At 

this stage, these include: 

• Australian National University 

Halls of Residence 

•Bush Capital Lodge 

• Canberra Carotel 

• Canberra Motor Village 

• Eagle Hawk Holiday Park 

• Gold Creek Tourist Resort 

• AIS Residences 

• University of Canberra 

student residences 

Some overseas students will be 

billeted with families through school 

and community group contacts. 

This will build on the cultural and 

education aspects of competing in an 

international event. 

Final details on accommodation options 

and costs of accommodation will be 

included in future issues of Good Sports 

in ACTion and on the 2008 Pacific 

School Games website. 

Information on hotels and other 

commercial accommodation options for 

visitors other than competitors will be 

provided on the 2008 PSG website. 

TRANSPORT 

Special 2008 PSG buses will take 

students from their accommodation to 

sporting venues and to other arranged 

activities such as education excursions. 

Accommodation and sporting venues 

are conveniently located within close 

travelling distance. The city centre is 

just a short bus ride away as are many 

tourist attractions. 

COSTS 

Competitor levy 

The 2008 PSG competitor levy will 

be $A150 (excluding GST). This will 

include: 

• all sports competition fees, sports 

medicine coverage, 2008 PSG medals 

• 2008 PSG Opening and Closing 

Ceremonies 

• some transport depending on 

accommodation arrangements 

• educational experiences including 

transport, entry fees and lunch (where 

required) for all competitors 

Accommodation 

A package price for competitors and 

officials is being developed. This will 

include: 

• eight nights’ accommodation 

• continental breakfast each morning 

• two course dinner each evening 

• prepared lunches for teams that 

require it 



2008 PSG and Canberra 

SCHOOLS AND OTHER 

EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 

Canberra Students and teachers 

will be at the heart of the 2008 

PSG action! Many hard-working 

teachers, schools, students and 

other volunteers across Canberra 

will help to bring the Canberra 

2008 Pacific School Games to 

life and make it a memorable and 

meaningful event. 

The 2008 Pacific School Games is 

encouraging schools and teachers in 

Canberra to be involved in the 2008 

Pacific School Games. Whether it 

is participating in the Opening and 

Closing ceremonies, coming along as 

a spectator to a sports competition or 

serving in one of the many volunteer 

roles, there are many ways for schools 

to get involved. 

All education sectors in the ACT are 

committed to ensuring the success of 

the 2008 Pacific School Games and 

are represented on the PSG Steering 

Committee and Advisory Board. 

Some ways students and teachers can 

become involved are: 

• Opening and Closing Ceremonies 

- performing groups from schools 

across Canberra will be the stars of 

these events! 

• have a class excursion to a 

competition day as spectators 

• adopt a 2008 PSG Ambassador 

• invite the 2008 PSG Mascot to 

your school 

Volunteer roles for students include: 

• on-field sporting assistant 

• usher at ceremonies or sport 

competitions 

• medal presentation assistants 

• sports technical officials (on 

completion of training courses) 

Look out for the school and family 

newsletter which will be distributed 

through schools with details on 

how students can get involved in these 

activities. 

COMMUNITY 

The 2008 PSG will be looking 

to the broader community to 

fill volunteer roles especially in 

technical sporting positions and 

“meet and greet” roles. This is a 

great chance for all Canberrans 

to soak up the atmosphere of an 

exciting international sporting 

event in our own backyard. 

Roles include: 

• administration work in the lead up to 

the PSG 

• media and public relations activities 

• liaison officer at one of the four 

competition venues 

• liaison officer for visiting interstate and 

overseas teams 

• interpreter for international teams 

The PSG Management is working on 

a strategy to establish the number 

of teachers, student volunteers and 

officials necessary and the roles they 

will perform. Details on these roles will 

be available by July 2008 on the 2008 

PSG website, distributed to schools and 

published in future editions of Good 

Sports in ACTion. 

The OPENING CEREMONY, 

held on Sunday 30 

November 2008, will be 

a spectacular event all 

Canberrans can come and 

enjoy – a great way for the 

whole family to take part in 

the 2008 PSG. 

Students from 

Higgins Primary 

School - Keeley 

Lowder, Jayde 

Priestly, Daniel Nesbitt and 

Joshua Hardy assisted as ushers 

at the official launch of the 2008 

PSG in March this year. 

Higgins Primary School is the 

home of the 2008 PSG and has 

already assisted with events and 

with market research for the 

Mascot. 



Meet our Ambassadors 

We currently have eight Ambassadors on board for the 2008 Pacific School Games and plan to gather more. 

Each Ambassador was chosen for their exemplary sporting endeavours, their positive beginnings at a PSG or 

other school sport championship, and their connection with Canberra. The 2008 PSG is proud these worthy 

sports people have given their imprimatur to the 2008 PSG. Canberrans can see them around town in the lead up 

the 2008 PSG where they will be speaking to school groups, at public events and at media launches. 

Adrian Faccioni 

Adrian Faccioni 

• former Australia Junior Decathlon record holder and now 

successful sport industry business manager 

• Pacific School Games competitor (Track & Field)1982 

“The Pacific School Games was the start of 

my budding athletics career and competing 

against overseas competitors was a 

tremendous boost to my confidence. It was 

also exciting to compete in front of such a 

large audience – 30,000 on one day!” 

Peta Gallagher 

Olympic medallist in Hockey • 

Pacific School Games competitor (Track & Field) 1988 and 1992 • 

“I remember wanting to gain selection so 

badly for the Pacific School Games as that 

was then the biggest event that I had had 

the chance to compete in. As my first taste 

of international competition, it helped me to 

work hard as an athlete and fulfil my longterm 

goal of competing at an Olympic Games.” 

Peta Gallagher 



John Jakeman 

John Jakeman 

• former Brumbies player 

• Pacific School Games competitor (Track & Field) 1996 

“I was only very young – 12 years old – when 

I attended my first Pacific School Games. But 

even then I remember the excitement and 

anticipation in the air. Whether it was an 

athlete’s first time, like myself, or they were 

a seasoned competitor, we all came together 

under the PSG banner and had a great time.” 

Sally McCreedy 

dual Olympic medallist in softball • 

began her representative sporting career through school sport • 

“My advice to young athletes is to 

always believe in yourself and strive 

to be the best you can be. Set high 

standards and don’t put limits on 

yourself, you never know what you can 

achieve until you try. Remember, sport 

is supposed to be fun.” 

Sally McCreedy 

Deahnne McIntyre OAM 

Deahnne McIntyre OAM 

• Paralympic medallist in track 

• Pacific School Games competitor (Track & Field) 1984 

“Competing in the 1984 PSG was my 

first time competing against able-bodied 

athletes and my second big competition 

representing the ACT. It was an honour 

to be in a team with other athletes who 

had the same ambitions I had.” 

Continued over page 



Meet our Ambassadors 

Continued from previous page 

Adam Pine OAM 

Adam Pine OAM 

• Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in swimming 

• Pacific School Games competitor (Swimming) 1988, 1992 

“For a school-aged athlete dedicated to their 

chosen sport, there is nothing bigger than the 

Pacific School Games - it is the ultimate! It is 

one of the closest junior events to the Olympic 

Games! The recognition and support by school 

peers for all competitors is unrivalled – the 

honour of competing at an international event is 

a great feeling.” 

Christopher Nunn OAM 

former Head Coach of the Australian Paralympic Team • 

Commonwealth Games decathlete • 

began his representative sporting career through school sport • 

“There are two things in life which will 

present themselves to young athletes 

– opportunities and choices. You must 

know what you want to achieve and 

then make the right choices to fulfil that 

achievement. Base your choices around 

your goals – there are no sacrifices if the 

choice has been yours.” 

Christopher Nunn OAM 

Petria Thomas OAM 

• Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in swimming 

• began her representative sporting career through school sport 

Petria Thomas OAM 

“As a young country athlete, the schools-based 

swimming championships were a great opportunity 

for me to compete against other athletes from 

around Australia. I was so excited to be selected 

to compete for NSW. It was my first ‘major’ team 

experience and I will always carry fond memories of 

the competition, the people that I met and the fun 

that I had.” 

Visit the 2008 Pacific School Games website for detailed profiles on our great Ambassadors. 



Disability Advisory Committee 

Committee Chair - Arthur Wilks OAM 

Background 

• Manager / Coach of ACT Table Tennis’ 

Athletes with Disabilities (AWD) 

program 

• Board member of Oceania Table 

Tennis Federation with AWD portfolio 

• Awarded OAM in 2005 for work with 

Athletes with Disabilities 

• School teacher for 40 years 

• ACT Bureau of Sport and Recreation 

for six years 

• Coached Athletes with Disabilities 

(AWD) for 16 years 

• Former Manager of Table Tennis 

Australia’s AWD program 

Arthur believes that the 2008 PSG is 

a “wonderful opportunity” for athletes 

with disabilities in Swimming and 

Track & Field and for other people with 

disabilities who will be officials and 

spectators. 

“It’s also a wonderful opportunity for 

those involved in the Opening and 

Closing Ceremonies and for all those 

associated with people with disabilities.” 

Committee Members 

Roger Allan 

Garvin Francis 

Patrick Horn 

Sue Knight 

Donna Nicholls 

Richard Nicholson 

The Disability Advisory Committee is one 

of the sub-committees formed to help 

organise the 2008 Pacific School Games. 

Together, the members of the 

Committee have broad knowledge 

and experience of the needs of people 

with a disability, sport for people with a 

disability, school sport and the Pacific 

School Games. Their role is to provide 

specialist advice to the 2008 PSG 

Management on all aspects of the 2008 

PSG that may impact on people with a 

disability and their carers. This includes: 

• the structure of competition for 

students in the Swimming and Track & 

Field events; 

• access and operational issues for 

people with a disability (competitors, 

officials, volunteers and spectators) 

at the sports venues, ceremonies and 

functions venues; 

• accommodation needs for people with 

a disability (competitors and officials); 

and 

• transport needs for people with 

a disability (competitors, officials, 

volunteers and spectators) including 

parking arrangements at all 2008 PSG 

venues and arranged accommodation. 

2008 PSG governance 

The ACT School Sports Council 

Incorporated (the Council) is 

organising and managing the 2008 

Pacific School Games with financial 

support from the ACT Government 

through the ACT Department of 

Education and Training (DET). 

The Council is a representative body 

with members from School Sport 

ACT, the ACT Primary and Secondary 

Schools Sports Associations, DET, the 

Catholic Education Office and the 

Association of Independent Schools. 

Other bodies represented are the parent 

associations for each of these three 

education sectors; the ACT Branch of 

the Australian Education Union; the 

Independent Education Union; and 

Sport and Recreation Services, the ACT 

Government sport agency. 

The Council established the 2008 

PSG Steering Committee comprising 

members of the Council plus two 

representatives of School Sport 

Australia. Chair of the Steering 

Committee is Council Chair, 

Annette Harasymiv. 

The ACT Government established 

the Advisory Board to provide high 

level advice to the 2008 PSG Steering 

Committee and to the 2008 PSG 

Management. 

Dr Michele Bruniges, CEO of of DET, 

is the Chair of the Advisory Board. 

Other members represent the Catholic 

Education Office, the Association 

of Independent Schools, Sport and 

Recreation Services and ACTSport, the 

ACT sports industry association. 



Notable Pacific School 

FOR THE 

RECORD 

Cathy Freeman set two records 

at the 1984 Pacific School Games 

in Melbourne. In the 11 years 

high jump she set the record at 

1.53 and in the 200m she ran a 

record breaking 26.80. The high 

jump record was not broken until 

1996 and the 200m record was 

only broken in 2005 by .06 of a 

second. 

Melinda Gainsford-Taylor 

shares the 13 years 100m record 

with a time of 12.57 which she set 

in 1984 in Melbourne. She shares 

the record with Fiona Ferguson 

from Queensland who ran in the 

first PSG in Brisbane in 1982. 

Jana Pittman still holds two PSG 

records, one for the 400m hurdles 

and the other for the 400m. As an 

18 year old in 2000 in Sydney she 

ran 58.94 for the 400m hurdles 

and 52.31 for the 400m. 

Daniel Batman set the 16 years 

400m record in Perth in 1996 with 

a time of 48.86. The record still 

stands. 

Commonwealth and Olympic Games athlete, Kyle Vander Kuyp, 

holds the Australian record for 110m and 60m hurdles 

Many Australian athletes, 

including swimming sensation 

Ian Thorpe and track star 

Cathy Freeman, gained their 

first real taste of international 

competition at a Pacific School 

Games. 

Well-known Australians who have 

competed at past Pacific School 

Games before progressing onto the 

world stage, are: 

Athlete, Year, Sport, Event(s) 

Kathy Watt (Vic), 1982, Athletics, 17+ 

yrs 800m 

Cathy Freeman (Qld), 1984 Athletics, 

12 yrs 100m, 200m; 1988, Athletics, 

16 yrs 100m, 200m, 400m 

Kyle Vander-Kuyp (Vic), 1984, Athletics, 

14 yrs 100m 90m Hurdles; 1988 

Athletics, 17+ yrs 110m Hurdles 

Dean Puller (Vic), 1984 Diving, 16 yrs 

Springboard 

Jodie Rogers (Vic), 1984, Diving, 16 yrs 

Platform & Springboard 

Damien Marsh (Qld), 1988, Athletics, 

17+ yrs 100m, 200m 

Melinda Gainsford (NSW), 1988, 

Athletics, 17+ yrs 100m, 200m 

Nicole Boegman still holds three 

records that she set as a 15 year 

old at the 1982 PSG in Brisbane. 

Nicole set a time of 11.91 for the 

100m, a time of 23.20 for the 

200m and a distance of 6.14m for 

the long jump. 

Nicole Boegman (NSW), 1982, Athletics 

15 yrs 100 & 200m, Long Jump 

Adrian Faccioni (ACT),1982, Athletics, 

17 yrs 110m Hurdles 

Duncan Armstrong (Qld), 1982 

Swimming, 14 yrs 50m Free, 

Backstroke, Butterfly 

Deahnne McIntyre (ACT), 1984 & 

1988 Athletics, 13 & 17 yrs 100, 200, 

1,500m, Discus, Javelin 

Johanna Stone (Qld), 1988, Athletics, 

16 yrs Javelin 

Andrew Currey (NSW), 1988, Athletics, 

17+ yrs Javelin 

Linley Frame (Vic), 1988, Swimming, 

17+ yrs 200 IM, 50/100m Breaststroke 

Stephen Dewick (NSW), 1988, 

Swimming, 12 yrs 100m Breaststroke & 

Backstroke 

Rebecca Brown (Qld), 1988, 

Swimming, 11 yrs 50m Breaststroke 

22 The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra GOOD SPORTS IN ACTion

Games competitors 

Susie O’Neill (Qld), 1988, Swimming, 

16 yrs 50m & 100m Butterfly 

Samantha Riley (Qld), 1988, 

Swimming, 17+ yrs 50m & 100m 

Breaststroke 

Nicole Livingstone (Vic), 1988, 

Swimming, 17+ yrs 100m 

Backstroke 

Scott Miller (NSW), 1988, 

Swimming, 14 yrs 100m Backstroke 

Ellie Overton (NSW), 1988, 

Swimming, 14 yrs 100m Backstroke, 

200 IM 

Johanna Griggs (NSW), 1988, 

Swimming, 16 yrs 100m Backstroke 

Chris Fydler (NSW), 1988, 

Swimming, 16 yrs 50m Breaststroke 

April Adams (Qld), 1988, Diving, 16 

yrs Platform & Springboard 

Michael Murphy (Qld), 1988, Diving, 

16 yrs Platform & Springboard 

Adam Pine (NSW), 1988 & 1992, 

Swimming, 12 & 16 yrs 50m & 100m 

Butterfly, 50m & 100m Freestyle, 

Peta Gallagher (ACT,) 1988 & 1992, 

Athletics, 11 & 15 yrs 800, 400, 4m x 

400 Relay 

Ian Thorpe (NSW), 1992, Swimming, 

10 yrs 50m Butterfly, Freestyle 

Richard Upton (NSW), 1992, 

Swimming, 17+ yrs 50, 100 & 200m 

Freestyle 

Natasha Bowron (NSW), 1992, 

Swimming, 10 yrs 50/100m 

Freestyle, 50m Butterfly 

John Jakeman (ACT), 1996, Athletics, 

12 yrs 100, 200, 4 x 100m Relay 

Melissa Rollinson (Qld), 2000, 

Athletics, 16-17 yrs Steeplechase 

Jana Pittman (NSW), 2000, Athletics, 

18-19 yrs 400, 400m Hurdles 

Ronnie Buckley (Vic), 2000, Athletics, 

14-15 yrs Hammer, Discus 

Steven Hooker (Vic), 2000, Athletics, 

18-19 yrs Pole Vault 

Brenton Rickard (Qld), 2000, 

Swimming, 16-17 yrs 50, 100 & 

200m Breaststroke 

Fran Adcock (SA), 2000, Swimming, 

16-17 yrs 50m & 100m Backstroke 

Felicity Galvez (NSW), 2000, 

Swimming, 14-15 yrs 100m Butterfly 

Jessica Abbott (NSW), 2000, 

Swimming, 13-15 yrs 200m IM, 

50m Backstroke, 50m Butterfly, 50 & 

100m Freestyle 

Where are 

they now? 

Simon Foxhill competed for the 

ACT at both the 1988 and 1992 

Pacific School Games in Athletics. 

At the 1988 Sydney PSG Simon 

competed in the 10 years 800m 

finishing fourth in the final. Simon 

remembers hurdling over two 

runners who fell in front of him 

on the final bend. In Darwin in 

1992 he made the finals of both 

the 1,500m and the 3,000m. 

Simon, who completed a teaching 

Degree in Physical Education 

at the University of Canberra, is 

currently a Physical Education 

teacher at Belconnen High School 

in Canberra. 

1988 - 

a watershed year 

The 1988 Pacific School Games in 

Sydney saw the emergence of some of 

Australia’s best known sporting stars: 

Swimming 

Linley Frame 

Samantha Riley 

Nicole Livingstone 

Leigh Habler 

Susie O’Neill 

Megan Fanning 

Johanna Griggs 

Elli Overton 

Adam Pine 

Chris Fydler 

Angela Kennedy 

Track & Field 

Cathy Freeman 

Melinda Gainsford 

Paul Greene 

Susie Walsham 

Rohan Robinson 

Kyle Vander Kuyp 

Anne Minns 

Daniel Marsh 

Annabel Ellwood 

Deahnne McIntyre 

Jane Saville 

Lisa-Marie Vizianari 

Matt Shirvington 

Stuart Rendell 

Julian Paynter 

Joanna Stone 

GOOD SPORTS IN ACTion The official magazine for the 2008 Pacific School Games | Canberra 23

2008 PSG Management 

The 2008 PSG currently has six full-time staff 

Ron Burns 

General Manager 

Jane McCarty 

Administration Manager 

Jo Campbell 

Sport Manager 

Leigh Watson 

Neal Redmayne 

Communications Manager 

Operations Manager 

Kirsten Drower 

Services Manager 

Contact 

2008 Pacific School Games Management office 

Enquiries 

Jane McCarty 

Administration Manager 

T +61 2 6205 8388 

E info@pacificschoolgames.edu.au 

F +61 2 6205 6253 

Address 

School Sport Centre 

Higgins Primary School 

Fullagar Crescent 

HIGGINS ACT 2614 

Postal Address 

PO Box 4743 

Higgins ACT 2615 



Photo Credits 

Page 5 

Photo of Merita Huch and Peta Gallagher by Simon 

Dikkenberg, ABC Australia Network 

Pages 6 and 7 

Tourism photos courtesy of Australian Capital Tourism 

Australian Institute of Sport photos courtesy of the 

National Sport Information Centre of the Australian Sports 

Commission 

Page 8 

Hockey photo courtesy of the National Hockey Centre 

Australian Institute of Sport photo courtesy of the 

National Sport Information Centre of the Australian Sports 

Commission 

Page 16 

All photos courtesy of Australian Capital Tourism 

Page 22 

Photo of Kyle Vander Kuyp by Getty Images (courtesy of 

John Barker) 

All photos from 2005 Pacific School Games by Kids Klix 

Other photography by Jane McCarty, 2008 PSG 

Management

AUSTRALIA 

www.pacificschoolgames.edu.au

Download - Pacific School Games

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