History making woman to speak at seminar

Australian canoeing legend, Helen Brownlee arrives on Sunday to speak at the Women In Sport Seminar, which commences on Monday 30 August.
While she is here she will be working closely with the Cook Island Vaka/Canoe Association on the DNSS program, (Development of National Sports Structure program) which was recently approved by Olympic Solidarity. They are conducting a scoping exercise and have an expert from Oceania Canoe Federation to conduct this part of the course.
Helen Brownlee, an inspiration to all women in sport, was elected as the twelfth Life Member of Australian Canoeing at the 1999 Annual General Meeting. A life membership from Australian Canoeing is a fitting honour for this woman who has dedicated her life to sport and in particular the sport of canoeing.
Involved in canoeing for over thirty years, Helen has devoted her time and resources to serving the sport she was born to. As a young child Helen was introduced to canoeing by her father - Os Brownlee, one of the founding members of the Australian Canoe Federation 50 years ago - though her real involvement began in her teenage years.
As a teenager Helen competed in Flatwater Racing, Wildwater Racing and Slalom Racing. After collecting a swag of medals at both State and National level, Helen’s interests soon focused on Slalom Racing and she gradually moved from participating to Officiating and Administration. Since those early days Helen has progressed through the administrative levels at club and state level to national and international levels.
Helen has adjudicated at World Championships and Olympic Games. At the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, Helen was an Official Judge for the Canoe Slalom events. In 1988 Helen was a Finish Line Judge for Flatwater canoeing at the Seoul Olympic Games. In between Helen also fulfilled roles as Assistant Team Manager for World Championships, Jury Member at international slalom races as well as being Chief Judge at Australian and State level.
Helen was a groundbreaker for women in the administration of sport, when in 1976 she was elected to the International Canoe Federation’s Slalom and Wildwater Committee. Helen was accepted into areas that for years had refused to accept women. Helen was elected Member for Oceania in 1988 and took her place on the International Canoe Federation’s Board of Management. She holds these positions today, and is currently President of Oceania Canoe Federation.
In Australia, Helen was also recognised for her outstanding contributions to sport. From 1976-1978 Helen was a Vice President of the Australian Canoe Federation. Then in 1985 Helen was elected to the position of President of the Australian Canoe Federation. Helen held this position for 14 years.
Helen was made a delegate to the NSW Olympic Council in 1974. She remained in that position until elected an Executive Member of the NSW Olympic Council in 1988. The following year Helen was elected as Vice President of the NSW Olympic Council and completed her rise to be elected President of the NSW Olympic Council in 1990 - a position she stills holds at present.
Following her election as President of the NSW Olympic Council, Helen became a delegate to the Australian Olympic Committee in 1981. In 1989, Helen was appointed as a member of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Planning and Review Commission. In 1991 Helen was elected to the Executive Board of the Australian Olympic Committee a position she still holds. Helen was awarded a Life Membership to the NSW Canoe Association in 1979. In 1985 she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

By Charles Pitt

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