Central Coast Council Invites ‘Mr. Triathlon’ Craig Redman to Deliver the Australia Day Address This…

Central Coast Council is thrilled to announce that local sporting legend and ex triathlete Craig Redman will deliver the Australia Day Address at its upcoming Australia Day event. This follows a decision by Council to reintroduce a sporting achievement category, now called Champion of Sport, after more than a decade-long hiatus.

“The time has come for Central Coast Council to reintroduce this fantastic award category and allow the community to acknowledge the local sporting champions that walk among us.” Said Cr Cheryl Fuller, Mayor.

The award historically hasn’t received a great deal of nominations. However, Mayor Fuller said that regional sport is such an important part of the community, and that Council wants to create more avenues to promote local sporting accomplishments.

Craig Redman was the first ever recipient of the Central Coast Council (formally Ulverstone Council) Young Citizen of the Year award in 1986. He then went on to receive the Sporting Achievement Award in 2000.

These awards acknowledged Craig’s local and international sporting accomplishments, including his involvement in the Ulverstone Surf Club and Ulverstone ‘Redhopper’ Basketball Club. Craig then became a 4 x World Triathlon Champion and competed in the Hawaii Ironman World Triathlon Championships. This race attracted 50,000 competitors from around the world and Craig finished 10th in his age group, and 75th overall.

After wrapping up his career as a triathlete, Craig went on to become a High-Performance Coach for Triathlon Australia and currently sits on the Australian Sports Commission board. Craig acknowledged the importance of giving back to the local sporting community, as well as being a mentor for aspiring young athletes.

“I coached Amelia Cox [who competed in Triathlon World Championships] right through her triathlon journey since she was 15 or 16.”  Said Craig Redman. 

“It doesn’t have to take a big tribe. It can take just one person to build a [sports] community.” He said.

Mayor Cheryl Fuller is excited to welcome new and existing community members to this year’s Australia Day 2024 ‘Breakfast by the beach’ event and showcase the recipients of the Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Event or Group of the Year awards.

“The Australia Day Awards presentations are an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the many outstanding community members we have in Tasmania’s Central Coast, many of whom have been contributing to our community from a very young age.”  Said Mayor Cheryl Fuller.

END

Central Coast’s Australia Day 2024 ‘Breakfast by the beach’ event

WHEN: Friday 26th January 2024, 8:45am – 10:30am

WHERE: A new event location for this year, Ulverstone Soundshell.

The community is invited to come along and enjoy a complimentary breakfast including:

There will also be a coffee van on site. The celebration will include a Citizenship Ceremony and the annual Australia Day Award presentations, including Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Group/ Event of the Year.

For more information:

Name: Cr Cheryl Fuller, Mayor of Central Coast Council

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0458 888 040