Ambassadors of the Academy
The Academy established an Ambassadors program in 2006. It aims to use the support of prominent sports people to promote the Academy as well as foster and encourage the development of Academy athletes.
Tim Matthews at Sydney in 2000 and Don Elgin.
The Academy was delighted to appoint its first two ambassadors, Tim Matthews and Don Elgin, at a ceremony in July 2006. Both ambassadors undertook to promote and support the Academy programs and activities.
Tim and Don are both Paralympic athletes who have had remarkable careers. Both began careers in athletics at about the same time, and have continued to excel in Paralympic and World Championships with wins, placings, and records.
Significantly, each maintained a focus which has extended his athletic career for more than a decade, which is a remarkable achievement in their sports. Today they continue to be involved in their sport by supporting athletes, disability programs and the Paralympic movement. Following his retirement from Athletics in 2006, Tim now works for the Australian Paralympic Committee managing a successful Talent Identification Program for potential future Paralympians throughout the country. He also coaches a number of Paralympic track and field Athletes on the way to the London Paralympic Games in 2012, including dual 2011 World IPC Athletics Champion, leg amputee Kelly Cartwright.
Don’s focus following his athletics retirement shifted to mentoring and management forming his own talent management business with a strong emphasis on Paralympians. StarAmp Global was established to assist athletes to have a better understanding of how to capitalise on the opportunities they are presented with, be it speaking about overcoming adversity to the highs of being number one in the world. Both of our ambassadors were born and raised in country Victoria and in Tims case, East Gippsland, and are both passionate about the opportunities that exist for athletes from country regions, but are also acutely aware of the issues relating to regional sport and the challenges that our young people face in sport and career. We are delighted that Tim and Don to represent the Gippsland Sports Academy.