Changing of the guard and some new faces at NSW/ACT XC

Original article by Karen Forman published in the Monaro Post:

The guard is changing at NSW/ACT Cross Country, with the 2021 AGM agreeing to accept long-time Jindabyne-based chair Peter Ward’s ``retirement’’ and committee stalwart Peter Cunningham stepping into the role.

Peter Ward, who in 2016 was awarded an OAM for service to sport, has been NSW XC/NSWACT XC Chair (with some short breaks) since 1995.

He told the meeting, held on Zoom, that he had enjoyed his most recent 3.5 years in the role, but felt it was time to move aside and encourage some new faces and involvement. 

That said, he will remain on the committee to assist Peter Cunningham and others taking on the roles he has vacated. 

The new committee (names below) will actively explore a process which will assist with the expansion of the committee and seek input from the wider cross country community during the next six-18 months.

Peter Ward has been involved in skiing from the time he moved from Tasmania to Cabramurra in 1976. 

He lived there for 10 years, involved in building the Ski Club, events, the cross country shelter and the XC trails. 

He became involved in the running of NSW State and National events with Graham Power in 1992, has been a FIS Technical Delegate since 1996 and remained in the Snowy Monaro living at Cabramurra, Cooma, Berridale and  Jindabyne since then. 

“I’ve  been volunteering since 1977,’’ he said.

“My first job as a volunteer was at the Australian Cross Country Championships held at Cabramurra. Our job was to hand out drinks to the skiers, and they all had beards and moustaches back then!”

Peter Cunningham, now Tathra-based,  joined in 1992, after moving to Cooma. 

He started skating on the cross country trails in Perisher and soon picked up volunteering in snow sports.

“We started doing the junior competitions and that was it,” he told a Snow Australia interview involving both Peters (read it here).

“With Peter (Ward), we have probably organised 100 Australian Championships together, and maybe another 100 State Championships. I don’t think anyone in Australia could equal that!”

The 2022 NSW ACT XC Executive Positions and Areas of Management (AOM) Coordinators are:

• Chair: Peter Cunningham (new appointment)
• Finance: Leslie Ludwig (continuing)
• Secretary: Vacant
• Athlete Management Coordinators:  Leslie Ludwig (continuing) and Geraldine Blanch (continuing) with assistance from the area reps from Jindabyne, Sydney and the ACT.
• Nordic Shelter Management Coordinator:  Margaret Mahoney (continuing)
• Perisher Cross Country Marketing/Promotion Coordinator: Wayne Pethybridge (continuing)
• Infrastructure Coordinator: Peter Cunningham (continuing) with assistance from Peter Ward.
• Events Coordinator/race secretary: Kaz Forman (new appointment)
• Online entry system manager: Les Smith (new appointment)

* It was noted that newcomer Greg Sharp will join the Nordic Shelter Committee and Kirsten Sharp will assist with events.

Subcommittee coordinators will now get groups together to help with their portfolios. They will be looking for new interested subcommittee members.

A working bee will be held Feb 5/6 with a focus on building bridges, then trail maintenance, with the rerouting of the major hill on the 5km trail being discussed with NPWS. PW reported that three options would be presented to National Parks for consideration.

Rock removal, snow fences and a steel bridge in front of the Nordic Shelter are also priorities for working bees leading to winter.

The 2022 events calendar should be drafted before Christmas.