Sailing scores at Australia Day Honours

The annual Australia Day Honours have recognised members of the sailing community for their contribution and achievements and Australian Sailing congratulates them on their Awards.

Life member and former Australian Sailing President, Andrew Plympton has been acknowledged as a Member (AM) in the General Division for significant service to sports administration through governance roles, particularly to sailing and Australian Rules Football.

A passionate sailor, Andrew has been involved with Yachting Australia, now Australian Sailing, for many years including President from 2004-2011 and Director 2003-2011. His unashamed focus on high performance sailing during that time resulted in the establishment of the Australian Sailing Team and he has had a lengthy involvement with the High Performance Advisory Group resulting in success at consecutive Olympic Games.

Matt Allen (left) and life member Andrew Plympton.
©Andrea Francolini

His personal achievements include a World Championship and numerous national and States titles. Andrew received Australian Sailing’s President’s Award for his contribution to sailing in 2011 and Life Membership in 2016.

Since 2011, Andrew has been a member of the Australian Sports Commission Board and has chaired the ASC Finance, Audit and Risk Committee since 2011. From 2009-2017 Andrew was a member of the Executive Board of the Australian Olympic Committee and served on the AOC Finance Commission, Audit & Risk Committee, Remuneration & Nomination Committee and Director of the Australian Olympic Foundation.

He is a Life Member of St Kilda Football Club and served as President for eight years.

“Personally I’ve known Andrew over many decades,” remarked Australian Sailing President Matt Allen. “He is a faithful servant of sailing, committed sports administrator, well regarded businessman and fierce competitor whether on the water locally or internationally. He’s been a great contributor nationally to Australian Sailing as well as Sorrento Sailing Couta Boat Club and Royal Brighton Yacht Club and we salute him on his recognition today.”

Awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for service to environmental management and planning, and to the community is Angus Gordon from North Narrabeen. Angus is a former Vice-President and Member, Advisory Committee of Yachting New South Wales; served on Australian Sailing’s National Safety Committee from 2012-2016 and member of Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club since 1989 including Commodore (2005-2008) and Board Director (2003-2008).

Recognised as a Member (AM) in the General Division is Professor Norman Saunders for ‘significant services to Medicine in the field of neuroscience through research into spinal cord injuries and mechanisms protecting the developing brain, and to sailing’.

Professor Saunders, a Victorian Club member, is a leader in the design and development of sailing simulator ‘Virtual Sailing’ enabling real-time training and evaluation of performance in sailors, and operation by sailors with limited mobility and school children to gain experience in sailing without the need to go ‘on-water’. His research study, run by the University of Melbourne, focused on how sailing could be used to aid physical and mental rehabilitation following a spinal injury.

Following use of the simulator, participants have graduated to sailing on Victoria Harbour with the Docklands Yacht Club and access to the physical and social benefits of sailing. In 2000, he was the recipient of the Paralympic Medallion for ‘services to Paralympic Science’ following the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games.

Source: Australian Sailing