IAS Life Members
The Illawarra Academy of Sports has two life members. These life members have been chosen and identified as significant contributors to the success and development of the IAS.
Ted Tobin and Brian Weir are the two life members that inspire the athletes and staff members of the IAS to help them achieve sporting excellence.
Ted Tobin, OAM
As one of the founding members, Ted Tobin has been a significant contributor to the Illawarra Academy of Sport over a period of more than 20 years. His efforts provided significant and lasting benefits to talented young athletes of the Illawarra, Highlands and South Coast and fostered key organisational values and the positive community status continued by the IAS to this day.
He became the first IAS Administrative Director. Members of the inaugural board acknowledge Ted’s drive, enthusiasm and “can do” attitude, as a major factor in the early successes of the IAS. Ted was later appointed Chairman of the IAS in 1988. In this role, Ted volunteered countless hours, drove many miles, attended numerous meetings and guided the Academy to the prominent position that it now enjoys.
His tenure as the first IAS Administrative Director in 1986, ten year membership to the Board (1986-1996), which included a six year term as Chairman from 1988, witnessed the development of the IAS from fledgling organisation with no athletes to one which had offered more than 4,000 scholarships to talented young locals.
In 2002, the IAS established the Tobin Family Award in recognition of the Tobin family’s support of the Academy - in particular, the invaluable contribution of Ted Tobin. In 2005, on the occasion of the Academy’s 20th year, Ted was bestowed the inaugural Life Membership to the IAS.
In the period from his retirement from the Board in 1996 until his death in 2010, Ted was both a mentor and a major litmus test for the positive development of the direction of the IAS and was awarded Life Membership in 2005.
Brian Weir, PSM
The IAS has greatly benefited from Brian's skills and perspectives as a former elite athlete and a senior and highly respected community leader & administrator of the region. Brian has competed at highest level in his sport of rugby – playing and touring as an Australian Wallaby. He has served on Shellharbour City Council for nearly 37 years and has guided that organisation, as its Town Clerk/General Manager, for more than 25 years.
His tenure on the IAS Board continues to this day having commenced in August 1985. He has, for all of that time held executive positions on the IAS Board which includes ten years as Vice President (1988-1998), thirteen as Chairman (now President) (1998 – present)
As Chairman, Brian ensured each Member's contribution was valued and the IAS Board operated in an open and inclusive manner. His skills in facilitating discussion, assessment & enquiry has not only ensured that each member's contribution has been considered but that best use was made of the knowledge & experience from each representative stakeholder.
His rugby experience developed a keen understanding of the benefits of broadening an athlete's perspective of factors outside the field of play, through squad tours and how those elements can affect performance. Brian's approach ensures young athletes not only receive high quality sports development but also graduate from the IAS as outstanding sporting citizens.
Brian's commitment over more than two decades to the IAS has been truly outstanding and his continuing efforts stand him above the general body of IAS members. He was award the honour of Life Membership at the Wollongong Mayoral Reception in November 2008.
