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News
- Why journalism matters
- "There is no better architect than mother nature”
- Standing tall like a Totara
- VR Delivers New Teaching Era at Ara
- Best of both worlds for dual enrolment students
- Life at sea for beauty therapy graduate
- Inspiring young Māori minds at Ara
- Young Entrepreneurs honoured for achievements
- Disability no barrier to teaching English
- Ara submission on the Education Amendment Bill
- AI turns coffee machine futuristic
- Ara hosts Applied Business Education Conference
- Ara's spring graduation 2019
- Ara Institute of Canterbury assists rugby players with continuing education
- Award-winning tutors put students first
- “Ara’s own little bit of All Right?”
- "Everything is waiting just outside your comfort zone"
- Paddy Gower visits Broadcasting School students
- Collaborative creativity inspires future vision
- Virtual training innovation
- Canadian exchange for Maori Language students
- Building for Humanity
- NGOs benefit from real world learning
- Drawing up a winner
- Ara student app usage continues to grow
- Fashion inspired by trauma
- Ara’s Toque d’Or team plated up gold
- Digging into chocolate cake
- Students aim for back-to-back Toque d’Or titles
- Not a bad ‘hair’ day
- Ara welcomes national polytechnic Establishment Board to Christchurch
- Ara's statement on 1 August RoVE announcement
- Freshies Festival kicks off
- Manawa celebrates one-year in Christchurch Health Precinct
- NASDA Presents: 42nd Street
- Humorous video wins Space Invaders competition
- Making the most of a booming tourism industry
- Connecting with the past by planting for the future
- Otago Polytechnic and Ara launch a new national centre to accelerate uptake of open education in New Zealand
- Holograms create new career niche
- Noho Marae Experience in Kaikoura
- Matariki celebrated at Ara for 2019
- Be bold and a little outrageous
- Young Entrepreneurs launch businesses at market
- Scholarship celebrates life of late nurse
- The sweet taste of gold
- Inspirational start to the day
- Earthquakes [in London] shake up NASDA stage
- Ara athletes off to Naples
- Aiming to hit big time with budget film
- New Ara scholarships for Netball Mainland
- Te Reo valuable to businesses
- Access to hundreds of global exams
- Tutor leads 'Peace Train' cycle ride
- Innovation hub launches at Ara
- South Canterbury students trade school for a day
- Student project supports wetland improvement
- Tiny houses find new homes
- Innovative thinking rewarded
- Engineering a better future
- Inspiring others to go exploring – Ara staff member kayaks in Antarctica
- Ara alumni rocking The Court Theatre stage
- Ara’s first tiny houses are going under the hammer
- New video series: Ara Life- Featuring cookery student Reece Scott
- Ara Autumn graduation ceremonies 2019
- Celebrating success: Ara students receive scholarship awards
- Commercial Road Transport students get behind the wheel
- New barbering qualification cuts above expectations
- Volunteering as an entry step into a dream career
- Ara students the first to graduate at Christchurch Town Hall
- Cookery graduate takes on Mosimann’s in London
- Timaru midwifery tutor selected to play hockey for New Zealand
- Constructing a career one step at a time
- Ara opens new Osteopathic teaching clinic in Christchurch CBD
- YES 2019 successfully Kickstart(ed)
- Timaru graduate on a rolling path to success
- Passion and hard work yield success for Music Arts Honours graduate
- Engineering student wins first inaugural Summer Sprint programme
- Whakatau held to welcome 800 Ara students
- Broadcasting School student retains national women's heptathlon title
- Ara expands its English testing services
- Statement from Ara about the Government's ITP proposal
- Graduate excited to receive first formal qualification at Ara’s Timaru Graduation
- First female carpenter from Pacific Trades Partnership begins education in New Zealand
- Ara launches new Commercial Interior Design Diploma
- Ministers open healthcare training facility of the future
- Master of Sustainable Practice a NZ first
- New book shines a light on disability theatre globally
- Ara first in NZ to adopt CognAssist for learning challenges
- Rakaia Centre - more welcoming, more accessible
- The Port Hills - our place
- BOMA fellowship awarded to Ara computing tutor
- Eke panuku – celebrating success of Māori & Pasifika
- Travel-loving graduate pursuing career highs
- Defence Force photographer finishes on a high at Ara
- Visualise this: a new generation of interior designers
- Lunchboxes, vegans and texting about vegetables
- Student made minibikes now road ready
- Beauty students set to cruise the world
- iDraught award winners announced for 2018
- Ara goes placemaking with living willow sculpture
- Fashion collection inspired by zero waste design
- Travel-loving graduate pursuing career highs
- ‘Repugnant’ steals the show for Young Filmmaker of the Year
- Ara first to achieve near perfect nursing employment rate
- Sustainability leadership will define this generation
- On air, first year student’s dream job
- No small feat: High School students build tiny houses at Ara
- Ara CE visits partner institutes in Japan
- Autonomous vehicle wins Industry Choice Award at Ara’s Engineering Showcase
- Kim Lowe is the recipient of the 2019 Olivia Spencer Bower Award
- RIPE - award winners announced
- Fashion students proudly present own collections at PITCH
- Timaru's Polychrome exhibition goes post-graduate
- Who knew? Augmented Reality brings Emerge to digital life
- RIPE's overflowing with art & design
- Fales built with skill, received with joy
- School of Wellbeing event is Orana's gain
- EXIT’s 30+ architectural answers to post earthquake community
- Ara degree pathway for NZMA students
- Timaru artist finalist in Portage awards
- Villa Maria team’s healthy crackers win Canterbury young enterprise
- Three Sisters opens tomorrow at NASDA
- Dragon’s Den final showcases young entrepreneurial talent
- Canterbury’s young entrepreneurs pitch for a chance at nationals
- 600 students find pathways to success
- Student success shines at Dual Enrolment Showcase
- Regional trucking milestone with training programme launch
- Ara-built house-fronts for Plunket Halloween day
- Three-month-long photo wins national award
- Timaru outdoor instructor lands award and plum job
- Students praise outstanding Ara tutors
- Nurturing individual student success - Ara Teaching Awards
- Surreal FESTA installation produced by Ara
- Graduate’s change of heart – engineering a new course
- The first refuge - by Rosemary Howard
- World-first virtual reality training at Ara wins national ICT award
- New funding secured for arthritis treatment programme at Ara
- Free samples and consumerism in midwifery
- Graduate to talk about being out in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- Christchurch’s first Pan-Pacific Early childhood Centre recognises advisor
- Global educationalist: empower children now
- Tour of award winning Kahukura at Ara’s first Green Campus Day
- Age no barrier for student rep at Spring Graduation
- New Ara XI Shield announced in Metro Cricket partnership
- City campus landscaping work begins
- Nursing students moving to Manawa
- Women of vision speak at Ara this Suffrage Week
- Full STEAM ahead for Timaru Ideas Festival
- Ara revives Māori sport in Canterbury - Te Wiki o Te Reo
- Te Reo leads to career in theatre
- Ready for a rebrand: Ara students design Christchurch Stadium logo
- Exhibition explores islands as sites of possibility…
- 1000th Hiroshima Shudo University student comes to Ara
- Enrolled nursing training to roll out regionally in 2019
- Call of Cthulhu takes Best in Show at Edible Books
- ‘Post activity’ outdoor education – a new era dawns
- Hunger for literary humour takes a ‘novel’ approach
- Ara artists at Appalachian Centre exhibition
- Transport & Logistics sector celebrates new training programme
- What will Ella Van Beynen show at New Zealand Fashion Week…?
- New qualification for professional supervisors
- Ministry of Awesome and Ara create new innovation hub
- Ara Institute of Canterbury Tops in Culinary Stakes
- The heat is on as Nestle Toque D’or approaches
- Audiences beware: Wild cabbage and Blood Wedding are coming
- Students bust social taboo, one cup at a time
- Art to transport public to another reality
- Pasifika groups with ties to Ara acknowledged by Governor General
- Ara designers have a ball at Hokonui Awards
- Careers Expo for Kaikōura community
- TVNZ honours Best Documentary in NZBS
- Timaru Menzshed thrilled with equipment donated by Ara
- Manawa building blessed in Christchurch’s Health Precinct
- Ara hub Te Kei wins Canterbury award
- 1.8k Ara students to move to the Health Precinct
- MBIE contracts Ara to assess Pacific Island labourers for work in New Zealand
- Meaningful work (experience) for ICT students
- Following a pattern: Students collections rack-ready for FORM
- “Networking is key” for tertiary students
- Face & Space offers new opportunities in Oamaru
- Kahukura awards keep coming: Property Industry Green Building award
- Electric Vehicle hub buzz at Ara city campus
- Face to face delivery moves up a level with LightBoard
- Reflecting, reconnecting and stargazing: Matariki makes its mark at Ara
- Ara’s Kahukura only NZ building honoured in Australasia learning environment awards
- Ara nursing graduates are ready to work
- Building richer diversity - Pegasus Health awards
- Ganesh fished from the Avon: Eco showcase 2018
- Tech sector adapts to attract fresh blood
- Ara musicians shine at Jazz & Blues Festival
- Making art inspires, nurtures and guides Timaru youth
- Cycle safety app selected for Smart Cities expo
- Secondary school students build tiny houses at Woolston
- NZBS graduates among top winners at the NZ Radio Awards
- Gordon Fairweather award continues to support future engineers
- Art students determined to enjoy 48hours challenge
- Childhood love of space endures for Beca scholarship recipient
- Students’ big dreams pay off, landing spots as ShoPOP finalists
- Midwives should not ignore own wellbeing, student says
- Ara staff in top placing NZChefs National Team
- L’Chaim! NASDA performs Fiddler on the Roof
- Get Cooking - Pasifika in Timaru
- Students gain industry insight in Ara Introductory Food Processing Programme
- Ara trio to compete in Nestle Toque d’Or announced
- Computing Department wins Ara Lympics 2018
- Ora King Salmon, NZ Rock Lobster and native seaweeds: tutors take on Singapore
- Ara student wins prestigious engineering award
- Five things (you might not know) about kapa haka
- Kapa haka rises up in Christchurch
- Volunteers ‘as important as our CEO’ says business student
- Art & Design graduates’ RAD collective
- NZ’s longest tramp peaks near Timaru
- Ara STEM champion takes students to space camp
- Optimism is the key, student rep tells graduation audiences
- Scholarships engage CRFU players in studying
- Second time’s a charm- Scholarship supports adult learner
- A very kiwi rockstar – Michael Morris on touring
- Volunteering work setting Ara student up for success
- Ara invests into Electrical Training at Timaru
- More women encouraged to enter the Trades
- Canadian first nation group at Te Puna Wanaka
- Memorial Garden officially opened
- Ara on board the Snow Dragon – STEM in action
- Brush with fate led to osteopathic career
- BIM changes the construction industry
- New Ara International Tourism degree responds to industry
- Ara Timaru graduation acknowledges challenges and success
- Whakatau sets the scene for 2018
- Norwegian students to study at New Zealand’s world-class Health Precinct
- Ara Timaru welcomes first Japanese study exchange
- Innovations in tertiary - Ara showcases developments at Open Campus
- Smart newbies avoid first day nerves
- Twilight event shows off new Ara trades campus
- Radio student’s Plan B propels her towards goal
- Apprentices paired with world-renowned artists at Street Prints Ōtautahi
- Ara announces Construction Management qualifications
- Keeping it real for NZ tourism success
- Nursing students blitz Māori and Pasifika awards
- Elegant new sculpture is an asset to Ara and Christchurch
- Ara Institute of Canterbury Supports Young Enterprise in New Regional Partnership
- Double award winner combines Māori and Business success
- Visualise-winning student brings Māori perspective to interior design
- South Canterbury staff spread Christmas cheer
- Trades awards celebrates excellence
- Afghani social worker advocates for women and refugees
- Heartspace is open
- Ara prepares to welcome women INVS Tarini crew
- Ara engineering student excels in ‘Engineer your Career’ competition
- Three qualifications for twenty-two year old nurses
- Drawing to a close with architectural award
- Big bang inspired collection wins Pitch 2017
- Students’ plastic creations spread environmental awareness
- RIPE bursting with student creativity
- Ara Beauty Therapy students secure cruise line jobs
- Students at Travel Education Expo are going places
- Local chef wins national recognition
- Information Systems resilience a major factor in post EQ business success
- Ara Administrator top official at 2018 Commonwealth Games
- Ara student success at ECC Craft/Design Awards
- Ara Trades tutor and student help Bolivian Orphanage
- Tertiary study leads to dream job
- Youth trades programme leads to self employment
- Higher achieving radio student rewarded
- Scholarship applicants speak of resilience
- Talking about Polychrome multi-arts exhibition in Timaru
- Reporting from remote Kaikoura ranges, 5 awards later
- Swapping a pencil for a pickaxe
- IELTS testing increases four fold
- Ambassadors visit Antarctic activities at Ara
- Ara app to influence diabetes patients
- Lights, camera, action! – NZBS backs youth film competition
- Educating nurses for the health sector since 1973
- Ara hosts national hui
- Ara tutor writes the textbook on global disability theatre
- Tenacity against odds wins nursing cup
- Getting low on carbon - graduate to reduce energy use
- Working to nature's timeline
- NZBS team takes most ever wins at Christchurch 48HOURS
- Farm manager - work experience or study?
- Election in an Elevator
- Excellent outcomes for Canterbury Tertiary College (CTC) delivery at Ara
- Tractor joins the Big Machine workshop at Ara Timaru
- Graduates’ sweet moments of success after sacrifice
- Taking care of business – Ara celebrates teaching excellence
- It’s not fear/fair! Trying to spell, Kiwi-style, when you’re dyslexic
- Te Reo – sweating the small stuff
- Well women birth better in primary level care, study says
- Ara joins world class EV scheme
- Wood boiler - saving time and emissions at Timaru campus
- Ara welcomes Tony Gray to CE role
- EV green technology arrives at Automotive programme
- Cabaret? Right this way!
- Chengdu visitors bring engineering scholar
- EQ engineering takes top pitch
- Poster student for Medical Imaging
- New food processing programme backed by industry
- Electric result
- SIGNAL ICT Graduate School officially opened
- At home in Hiroshima – and speaking like a local
- From factory floor to running Scotland’s best cafe
- Dual nursing qualification attracts men to nursing
- Prime Minister opens Kahukura
- Radio’s love affair with rugby
- Wyma nurtures local talent to solve skills shortage
- Bing Dawe and his sculptural birds fly at Ara
- TVNZ award winner will keep tabs on our politicians
- Kahukura just in time for Engineering Expo
- Medals at Toque D’or for Timaru team
- Hokonui Awards winner awes fashion industry judges
- Kahukura – here come the students!
- Chasing Pluto’s shadow: Timaru students meet NASA pilot at Ara
- Ara offers school students fashion fast track
- Pasifika family cook-off at Ara
- Top global speaker on Internet of Things in health, business and design
- At the edge of space, life is never boring
- Fresh young designer on top Form
- Students to access top Weta facility
- Planting trees in the mist, for Workskills course
- Real life inspiration for photography winner
- Scholarship recipient proud to win in memory of much-loved nurse
- Youth Guarantee success celebrated at Ara
- Working with women award well deserved
- PM scholarships send 10 on Japanese cultural immersion
- ShadowTech – getting girls into tech mode
- Meeting the business innovators at Inspire Canterbury
- Ara raises $2,400 for families of sick children
- Students getting ready for culinary battle
- Primary Industries review concludes
- Ara Christchurch bike share goes live
- Ara to create South Canterbury health training hub
- Julius Caesar’s bid to become Queen
- Pasifika Strategy launched
- From catwalk to Cathedral Square
- New Ara Chief Executive announced
- SkyScape business skills fostered at Ara
- Ara reports growth and confidence
- Ara students take away prizes at Salon Culinaire
- “A challenge we can all meet” - eco solutions
- The Common Touch of NZBS students
- Careers Expo for South Canterbury
- Heat is on cooking students at Salon Culinaire
- Moving stories told at Pegasus health scholarships event
- Christchurch Careers Expo – ask the right questions
- Ara primary industries restructure
- New nurses from Ara snap up the jobs
- Resilience and rebuilding – Māori nursing hui at Ara
- Ara Council Chair changes
- Ara introduces new scholarships for 2018
- Ngāi Tahu recommends new member to the Ara council
- Students sing the praises of new O House accommodation
- The Indian advantage - visit evokes ambition and passion
- Ara delivers digital technology for two schools
- One bug at a time – Anteater Ara graduates inspire at Autumn Graduation
- Shiny new coffee machines herald upgrades at Oamaru Campus
- Whakatau to welcome new Māori students to Ara
- Aotearoa Bike Challenge success
- Ara Cookery students go international for latest assessment
- ICT Networking BBQ benefit Ara students
- Ara students pitch in to repair Alzheimers facility
- Colourful hands-on experience at Holi
- Farm life has plenty to offer young people
- Ara first in world to use virtual reality for X-ray training
- Idea + skills + gallery >> artwork @ Ara
- Timaru bakery opens days after last class
- Coast to coast winner had ‘zero expectations’
- Ara leads polytechnic sector - top ranking in NZQA report
- Ara grows relationships with Japan
- Ara Chief Executive retirement announced
- Ara leaders get down to business in Timaru
- Ara and Māori Hands On Education
- New city student accommodation opens at Ara
- All Ears workshop music sheet free
- Second chance alternative education, first rate results
- Ara Trades recognised for charity contribution
- South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and Ara announce new online training model
- Māori and Pasifika achievement celebrated
- He toki and Pasifika Trades celebration of success
- Ara team finishes house, loads up for delivery
- Engineering a future, earning awards
- From New York to the South Pole: producing TEDxScottBase
- Mobility Action Programme making a difference to patients
- Historic Timaru building has 18 new designs
- Can we make Mars our Plan(et) B?
- Paint and Decorating students step up for Hoon Hay community
- Industry chair announced for new South Island ICT Grad School
- He toki lath panel gifted to Waltham pool
- Unique bamboo design wins highest achievement at Exit awards
- Ara exhibition illustrates future of retirement living
- Fashion students PITCH their wares
- RIPE design opens in Rakaia Centre
- Himalayan school design wins architectural award
- VIP visit to India promotes NZ education
- Fishing for solutions to plastic in our oceans; all aboard the ORV Alguita
- Ara to reduce carbon footprint and save money in new agreement
- Celebrating Ara Youth’s success
- NASDA makes the World Goes ‘Round
- Agribusiness course suits seasonal work demands
- Don’t Dream it’s Over – No Limits! speaks up
- Intriguing art at Polychrome: Ara art students’ exhibition
- Aussie clover thrives in Ara farm trial
- Godley Head campground’s new Ara youth-built picnic tables
- Ara Music Arts tutors shine at Chinese jazz festival
- Young nurse got her start with Youth Guarantee
- Mai Slam gives Aranui youth their voice
- Timaru Campus library gets makeover
- Ants on the menu the new norm?
- Project shows the way to happier, healthier lifestyle
- New Zealand midwifery education delivering a world class service
- Ara takes adult learning to Ashburton and Oamaru
- Qualification brings new opportunities for experienced engineer
- Mars stars in school holiday programmes
- Waka takes to Lyttelton Harbour powered by He Toki
- New public art for Ara: Collidescape
- Ara set to bring more international students to Timaru
- Four Timaru students hired by Disney
- First students of Ara/UC health qualification to graduate
- Rugby Canada benefits from Ara student
- Inspiring Māori trades tutor commended - twice
- Online guide sets scene for studying and living in NZ
- Handsome outdoor furniture donated to Pasifika community
- Engineering team making ‘best paddle in the world’
- Julia Deans residency has Music Arts buzzing
- Pop Up Restaurant a real success
- Business admin for Pasifika and Māori launches in Oamaru
- New Masters of Nursing a sign of the times
- Youth Guarantee students awarded scholarships
- Carpe Librum: Seize the book at Ara
- “I think I need more rice”; Chinese students’ immersion
- eStar on a mission to attract and keep IT talent
- First year of life is crucial, Ara tutor says
- Felt: Technology meets tradition in today’s art spaces
- Ara staff on exchange to India
- Immigration takes centre stage in Ragtime
- New Hairdressing room opens at Ara Timaru campus
- Engineering student wins prestigious prize
- Botanic D’Light gets lost in Vegas
- From cars to mountain bikes and back again
- Youth Guarantee award winner’s big moment
- Ara offers Hospitality Masterclass Series
- Ara plans for ICT growth for regional Canterbury
- Ara Sustainability Charter formalises vision for the future
- South Canterbury adopts business degree
- NASA deputy to visit Ara for Mars programmes
- Music 101 – A Dream Gig for Alex Behan
- Graduate wins Photographer of the Year
- He Toki - giving back to the community
- Holcim cement equipment donated to Ara
- Fall of a dictator makes a good yarn
- Women rush to mentor tech girls
- Ara builds carbon–storing timber building
- McCaffrey takes A Different Light back to world stage
- Ara student cooking in Ho Chi Minh
- Automotive upgrade is in line with South Canterbury demand
- NASDA graduate co-starring in Savage, West End play
- NZ Green Building Council offers staff and students sustainable benefits
- Song, dance and feast all part of language week
- Hat-trick for Ara Arts student
- Social Work students grapple with child poverty
- Southern Lights - Ara students triumph
- CPIT and Aoraki Polytechnic publish final Annual Reports
- The 500th party - Ara supports party safety scheme
- Tools at the ready, it's Worldskills time
- Ara students impress at Pegasus Health Awards
- Welhaus welcomes Ara Superhome volunteer initiative
- Student visits reflect growing relations between India and Canterbury
- Ara students launch Plastic Awareness Campaign
- Exhibition to light up Timaru
- Sustainability becomes more accessible at Ara
- India New Zealand Business Council to launch Christchurch Chapter at Ara
- NASA backs Ara for Mission to Mars
- Youth add fresh voices to Ellesmere debate
- Four, three, two, one, celebrating Ara’s 25 years of music
- He Toki students leave their mark on the rebuild
- What's in a name?
- Nursing employment rate tops 90% for Ara graduates
- Students raise nearly $1000 for earthquake victims
- Ara students impress Christchurch chefs
- Young songwriters showcase talent
- New online learning platform to launch in NZ
- Ara Asperger student follows Churchill's example
- Youth call for sustainability action
- Chinese student numbers on the rise at Ara
- Australia looks to Ara lecturers for midwifery support
- Another great man falls; NASDA picks up the pieces
- Ara staff support cyclone hit Fiji
- Ara tutor recognised for contribution to plumbing industry
- Ara to help Pacific Islanders reap rebuild rewards
- Apprentice works hard to win, and play comes later
- Ara’s red zone house to model sustainable urban living
- Ara and ARANZ Geo discuss logo and potential collaboration
- Ara scholarship students share history and hope
- Cultural alliances formed at Ko Tāku Kupu Ko Tāu/My Word is Yours exhibition
- Canterbury’s new vocational training organisation announced
- An engineer is a modern problem solver
- Far away dreams become reality
- Contrasting collections at Pitch fashion show
- Canterbury team wins Young Enterprise Scheme 2019
- Social Work students shine at Ara’s Maori and Pasifika awards
- International School of English celebrates 30 years
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14 Nov 2017
In April next year, Kathryn Fraser will reach a milestone in her track and field career, as she officiates at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Kathryn first applied to attend the Games as a track umpire and she was thrilled when the International Association of Athletics Federation offered her the role of race walk judge, a coveted invitation only position.
Kathryn Fraser will swap her day job at Ara for an official role at the 2018 Commonwealth Games next April.
With eight years on her resume as an international umpire, Kathryn is one of New Zealand’s top track officials. Her passions lie out on the track and field where she volunteers in a role that is worlds apart from her day job, as Administrator in the Academic Services Division for Ara.
“I’ve been officiating in Australia for a number of years, so I’m well known to the ‘powers that be’ within the selection committees. These Commonwealth Games are definitely going to be my biggest, most prestigious event to date.”
Kathryn is a level two international judge, and she even applies her administration skills as Chairperson on the National Officials Association for Athletics. Her grading has enabled her to officiate at numerous events within Oceania, including the 2011 World Para Athletics Championships in Christchurch and the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.
Reflecting on her experiences Kathryn says, “I’m very privileged to be able to officiate at these kinds of events. I have seen some extremely inspirational athletes, and some great feats. I have to say watching the para athletes, and seeing people somersaulting over the high jump with one leg was incredible.”
“I’m one of only five New Zealand officiates who have been selected for athletics, out of a total of 180, so I’m very lucky. Obviously you have to put in the hard yards so that they know you are worthy of the role. In a way it’s a reward for all the effort I’ve put in,” Kathryn says.
Officiating athletics is a mentally, and at times physically demanding job. “As a race walk official we’ve got to keep ourselves fit so we can last out in the sun for up to 5-6 hours at a time. We also have to be constantly aware of what’s going on. That’s where the mental tiredness can come in.”
Despite these challenges, Kathryn loves the thrill of watching the athletes compete, and has her sights set on watching a few key competitors for the upcoming Games.
“I am really looking forward to seeing shot-putters Tom (Walsh), and Jacko Gill, and of course Val who will be back into the sport. There are also a couple of New Zealand racewalkers competing, who I will get to see in action. I’ll be totally unbiased of course.”
“So yeah that’s my reward, seeing the athletes move up the ranks. My job as an official is to ensure they’re given as fair a playing field as they can get.”
Since she has now reached officiating at Commonwealth Games level, Kathryn has her sights set even higher for the future.
“Next year is the assessment of the international level three walk judges, so I’m hoping it will be my turn to take that next step up and attend a lot more events like the Olympics, and World Champs.”
Kathryn encourages Ara students who are interested in sport performance, sport management and exercise science to get involved in officiating.
“It’s certainly something to aspire to if you’re a sport minded person. You get to go and live the Games or the World Champs, and although you might not be out on the field you’re there in the background as part of the events.”