NEWSROOM
Deidre Anderson recognised for service to sport
19 May 2009
Deidre Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of U@MQ, Macquarie University’s student services organisation, was recognised for her contribution to sport at the 2008 Australian University Sport Awards held last night in Sydney.
Australian University Sport (AUS) is the peak governing body of university sport in Australia with 42 members representing more than one million students.Deidre Anderson received her award for service to sport – one of six categories which included male and female athlete of the year, team and coach of the year and most outstanding sport achievement.
The Service to Sport Award recognises an individual who has contributed the most to an individual sport, or the industry as a whole, over a lengthy period of time.
While she is probably best known for her work with some of the world’s most successful athletes and has numerous publications in the areas of coaching and career transitions in sports, one of Anderson’s biggest initiatives has been the Macquarie University engagement program which aimed to make Macquarie the healthiest Australian University by 2010.
One key measure of the program was to engage 20,000 participants in sport and recreation which was achieved in 2008. Anderson led the creation of an innovative sports engagement model which created opportunities for both organised and spontaneous unstructured play across campus.
Anderson has been an active member of the Australian University Sport VSU lobbying working group and has coached two Macquarie University softball teams to gold medals in consecutive Australian University Games.
Other highlights of her professional career have included playing an integral role in the establishment of the United Kingdom Sports Institute. She also held positions within the Scottish, Victorian and Australian Institutes of Sport.
There were two other Macquarie University finalists nominated for Australian University Sport Awards – both 2008 Beijing Olympians. Runner Joel Milburn was nominated in the Most Outstanding Sporting Achievement category while swimmer Grant Brits was nominated for Male Athlete of the Year.
Any enquiries from the media should be directed to:
Lyn Danninger
phone:(02) 9850 7257
email address: lyn.danninger@pru.mq.edu.au
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