Sandra Michelle Speers

Awarded for service to sport and recreation

Born: 2 April 1964

Entered on roll: 2019

“Always willing to assist”

Sandra Speers has been a significant contributor to the Tasmanian sporting scene since 1974 (in both athletics and netball) as an athlete, coach, official, administrator and volunteer.

Sandra’s first state championship successes were first placings in the Under-11, 80 metres and 100 metres in 1975. She was state under-age champion on 13 occasions and state champion nine times (six at 400 metres and three at 800 metres). She also won 15 minor medals in individual events at senior level. In 1979, Sandra set a state Under-15 record of 55.8 seconds for 400 metres.

Sandra enjoyed success at a national level, winning two silver and three bronze medals in Australian Junior Championships and was a bronze medallist in the national 400 metres championship in 1985.

From a young age, Sandra was active in club activities and committee responsibilities that started in 1979. Despite the training load of a top-level athlete, she always found time to help out. She began officiating as early as 1989 at local and state level, mixing competition and judging in a variety of ways. She took up opportunities to participate at a national level from 1997.

Sandra qualified as a Level 2 coach and is nationally regarded and graded as a starter, start area coordinator, track referee, start referee, out of stadium referee and umpire. Key appointments have included: 2000 Olympic Games, 2000 Paralympic Games and 2001 Goodwill Games (Starter’s Assistant), 2001 IAAF Grand Prix Final (Starter) and 2018 Commonwealth Games (Starting Panel) plus annual roles at a range of national championships.

In 2007, Sandra became the first woman to undertake the role of Tasmanian Athletic League (TAL) President, and was a driving force in delivering the formal affiliation of the TAL with Athletics Tasmania and the single registration system for athletes. She was a member of the Athletics Tasmania Board from 2012 to 2017.

Sandra received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Athletics Australia Gold Service Award for 30 years’ service in 2008.