AA Awards

[Marcus]

Was on Archery Australia's website and noiticed many awards are handed out to different people in the sport. One of which are plaquettes. There are 3 levels. Gold Silver and Bronze. Never one to shy away from handing out my own comments on anything I am jumping on my soap box on this one.

Gold.
Features six people. 0 Victorians.
These are awarded based on achievement in the sport for 10 years or more. Some good names there. Simon Fairweather deserves a spot, as does Terry Reily. But where are the Victorians?

Silver
10 people, 1 Victorian, Sue McLeash who was Secratary or something like that.
Bronze
15 people 0 Victorians.

For contributing to archery in this country I would like to see (in no order of preference)

Leigh Cornish, came 2nd at world field a few years ago and been a contender for far more than 20. Has achieved more internationally than Jackson Fear or Nicole Bartlett
Jim Park. Same, doen more for the sport and achieved more over a longer period of time.
Alan Weston. OK, so he hasn't won a Nationals. Done more for archery than almost anyone in the sport. His contribution to juniors in Victoria has not been matched since.
Barry McArdle. Great shooter with a great attitude. Did alot of things for the sport and for other archers, no matter their level or age.
David Anear
Ex national champ and Olympian. Is still a good shooter and is very active in the archery community.
Clint Freeman
Not a Victorian but is more than deserving to be on the list. Deserves every award AA could ever hand out. 1409 is not a easy score, even with a compound.
Rod Miller
OK I have never liked his team selection criteria, but that's irrelevant, he has given archery more than 10 years of service and deserves one of these awards.

Sorry for anyone I havn't mentioned who deserves it.

To me these awards stink of admin patting each other on the back and ignoring those who actually improve the sport (with the exception of Terry Riley). I can't believe this crap is still happening. The sad part is that no one really cares anymore. "yeah another award handed out to another NSW person. "

Come on AA, do something right, just once, give an award to someone who makes the sport BETTER.

Can't wait to see the nobodys on the "HALL OF FAME"

[Kuru]

Yes I agree Alan Weston deserves an award, I can't speak for what he does now as I don't know but years ago he did do alot. But let's face it juniors are always gonna get a raw deal, after all, most of the people in archery admin ain't exactly young ! They couldn't give a **** about juniors. We know they are the future of the sport but admin obvously have a different agenda ! The one thing that really needs to be done with archery in Australia is to weed out all the old hasbeens
When I was shooting at waverley the average age of club members would of been 50 plus ! Not exactly what juniors want to see when shooting on the line !
I'll vent more later !

[Marcus]

Yeah, what is worse is the attitude of "why help juniors, they just leave anyway"
BUT THEY OFTEN COME BACK!!!
Yeah the sport is really full of the types who want things to be like the 'good old days of archery' when in most cases many juniors have been around longer. I use to get really annoyed at these old guys who patted me on the head when I had been in the sport 3 times longer.
Every sport that has grown in the last 10 years has done it by adapting to the youth market. Archery and Lawn bowls don't want to do that and thus don't grow.
I was disgusted bith the turnout of juniors at the State Target. We use to get close to 20 just shooting U18 boys compound, now you might get 3.

BTW This isn't Gareth from the Vic state team that went to Townsville is it? If so, good to hear you are still around!! (or back, which ever way you look at it) :) :D

[Kuru]

Yes i went to townsville all those years ago and yes i am back :D There really is a serious problem with junior archery in this country, mind you not just in AA I was so sick of the crap that goes on in local clubs i went and shot ABA at lilydale and it really wasn't alot better, what do juniors know their just kids, mind you alot of these kids shoot better then alot of the seniors on the weekend so it's just envy. One reason I joined mac was their junior program, it's great to see 10 targets full of young kids out there on a sunday. Sadly alot won't follow thru with it and I think the question that needs to be asked is why ? Is it because most coaches that run beginners courses are on the other side of 50 and don't understand the long term effects of juniors in this sport. **** kids shouldn't be told no do things this way, because i've been around 20 years and i know whats right ! They should be given every advantage and incentive in this sport. When was the last time there was an AV junior forum held. I never heard of one when I was a junior. I think the powers that be need to sit down and ask what can we do to keep these kids interested
Now that i'm a "senior" I can put up questions to the commitee without being dismissed as oh he's just a junior what does he know about the sport. I will hopefully be taking my coaches course soon and hopefully in the not to distant future I can get into junior development officer at mac, as they say actions speak louder then words

It'll take alot to shut me up on the subject
seeya !

[Marcus]

Yeah I hear ya!
When I came back last year I was disheartened by the state of Jnr archery at DVA. One of he parents had started a fortnightly shoot which was awesome. However the vet archers couldn't care less. Solution was that I had to step up and get involved. Fact is that people like yourself and I Gareth are the only ones who can give the juniors the best help. We have been there and know what is needed. One of our juniors won the U12 at the state target shooting 1280+ both days, before xmas he wasn't even using a release aid. We also have about 4 others who could push to state medals. Only have that because we put some effort in.
MAC's problem is that the rest of AV doesn't see these juniors. I loved competing (bit too much sometimes) and it keeps kids in the sport. Clubs need to get their juniors out shooting in tournaments so they make friends and enjoy it more.
One way to improve it is to make it more fun, and fun is not wearing dorky clothes!!!