Aquatic Recreation Victoria Award Winner

Victoria’s aquatic and recreation industry gathered for ARV’s 10th Anniversary Industry Awards at the Crown Palladium on Friday 28 May 2010.

The Awards evening paid tribute to the tireless efforts of many who work in an industry that brings greater health and well being to Victoria’s communities, while significantly contributing to the State’s economic growth through the multi-million dollar infrastructure that it manages.

Simon Weatherill - Award Recipient

Simon Weatherill has been involved in the aquatics and recreation industry for 31 years and is one of the pioneers behind its professionalisation. Simon’s early contribution began in managing facilities that only a few of us would remember such as Legetts Tennis and Squash Centre in Prahran and Lifestyle Waverley. Although long gone, these facilities were the springboard for Simon’s influence and impact on the industry.

Simon went on to share his early facility management experiences in a role as senior lecturer in sport management at Deakin University where he had a positive impact on a vast number of emerging industry professionals. He continues to support the academic development of the industry as a specialist lecturer in facility and event management at Victoria University and through the establishment of the MSAC Institute of Training (formerly known as the Melbourne School of Sport and Recreation Management).

Arguably, Simon’s most significant contribution to the aquatic and recreation industry began when he joined the advisory board of the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) where he was involved in the development of Melbourne’s world class aquatic and sports facility. Simon went on to become the inaugural CEO of MSAC and then CEO of the State Sports Centre Trust incorporating MSAC, the State Netball Hockey Centre, the State Athletics Facility and the MSAC Institute of Training. Simon was behind the development of all the facilities in the Trust including MSAC Stage 2 for the Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Simon now ensures that all Trust facilities continue to set the benchmark for aquatic and recreation operations.

Further testament to Simon’s outstanding contribution is the extent to which his expertise has been called upon as a consultant by international agencies including the organising committee for the Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Beijing State Assets Management Corporation and the London Olympic Games Organising Authority and as a speaker at several Australian and international conferences. Simon has clearly made an outstanding contribution to the aquatic and recreation industry and is a most worthy recipient of the Beaurepaire Award in 2010.

The State Sport Centres Trust and staff congratulate Simon Weatherill on this great achievement.