Corroboree has been fortunate to have many dedicated administrators over the years, but one person stands out for his ability to turn ideas into action and improve the club’s operations on a daily basis: James Peek.

James joined Corroboree in 2015-16 when his sons, Luke (U7) and Alex (U9), became members. He joined the Corroboree committee as a general member in 2017-18, the same year I did. At one of our first meetings, it was noted that the Corroboree logo looked outdated, and only featured a male athlete hurdler. We discussed adding a female hurdler to better represent the club, and James offered to take care of it. While everyone else was a bit doubtful, within 24 hours, we had a brand-new logo. Little did we know, that was just the beginning of the many improvements James would bring to the club.

When I found out I would be taking on the role of President the following season, I asked James to be my Vice President. We’d had several conversations over the previous season, and I quickly realised we were aligned on how to improve the club. A few weeks after the committee was formed, our existing Registrar realised he could no longer handle the demands of his position, especially with the outdated registration system we were using. He resigned, and I immediately asked James to take on the role of registrar, which he gladly accepted.

Since then, James has implemented a number of behind-the-scenes processes that have significantly improved our operations and contributed to record membership growth year after year. Whenever I ask James if something is possible, he always says yes, and within 24 hours, I have exactly what I need.

Some of James’ key accomplishments include:

• Automating the production of our weekly results sheets, including icons for birthdays and automatic listings of athlete PBs and records

• Setting up our volunteer registration system to ensure we have enough support at each meet

• Automating the record system, so results update both in the Timing Solutions system and on our website

• Creating an online tool for parents to print their children’s personal best (PB) ribbons by entering the child’s registration number

• Automating the production of Centre Best performance certificates for our end-of-year presentations, making it as simple as printing them

• Building a brand repository of Corroboree logos and design assets in various formats to ensure the club’s materials are consistent, accurate and professional

• Getting the club approved by Google as a registered community organisation, granting us free access to a suite of online tools, including email hosting

• Managing email groups for various teams, committees, and officials, streamlining communication

• Automating the High Jump results sheets, making the event run more efficiently

• Simplifying our calendar system so that event programs are easy for parents to access

• Automating our end-of-year point-score system, which is used to calculate Bacchus Best, age champions, and club champions

• Introducing the iPad timing system for 400m and shorter events

• Taking and collating photographs throughout the season and then producing the end of season yearbook

In addition to these achievements, James has rebuilt our website, automating sections like photos, records, and age calculators.

James is a technical genius, and his efforts have saved me a great deal of time by automating many tasks, allowing the committee to focus on running the club as effectively as possible.

James has also officiated at state competitions, overseeing results and timings. His son Luke has taken a liking to pole vault, and James is often found officiating at those events too. He also served as Team Manager for the 2022 ALAC squad as well as All Schools team the following year.

Beyond his work with Corroboree, James has helped other Canberra clubs with their websites and assisted them in navigating the Timing Results system. He was responsible for recording and maintaining the ACT Little Athletics records up until the Capital Athletics merger.

He rarely misses a meet, and if he does, it’s because he’s supporting his son at an interstate competition. Over the past few seasons, James has been a jack-of-all-trades, stepping in wherever needed without complaint.

We are truly honoured to award James Peek Life Membership of Corroboree Athletics.