Gary Dawson

Gary began his involvement with Touch as a player from the mid 1980’s with a team of Football umpires using Touch for training. Gary’s enthusiasm towards the sport increased during the mid-late 1990’s and this included becoming involved with the Board of Management, serving the Association as Vice-President, then Technical Director and Marketing Director for a period of six years between 2000 and 2006. In addition ‘Smokey’ refereed hundreds of games since taking up refereeing in 1998, including numerous First Division Grand Finals. After attending a number of National Tournaments, following the 2004 National Touch League Gary was upgraded to Level 4 status, and has twice won the Southern Touch Referee of the Year award. At Club level, Gary has been the President and leader in every way of the Tigers Touch Club since 1997.

 

Andy Smith

Andy began playing in the early 1980's, becoming a key member of the successful Condors outfit, winning twelve Mens First Division and eight Mixed First Division premierships with the club. In addition Andy won the Langford Medal as the Best & Fairest player in Mens First Division in 1993/94 and 1998/99, and the Mixed First Division award in 1990/91 and 1998/99. At representative level Andy was Captain of the Australian Mens 30's team in 2002, an NTL Crusaders Mens 30's representative, played for, Captained and Coached the Tasmanian Mens team and represented the Southern Touch Mens outfit a record number of times. Off the field Andy has been the long-time President of the Condors Touch Club.

Brent Mills

One of the most decorated representative players in Southern Touch's history, Brent has achieved at all levels of the sport. Brent represented Australia in the Mens 30's in 2004, and Mixed 30's in 2002, regularly represented the Crusaders Mens 30's at the NTL, has represented Tasmania a record number of times and Southern Touch since in mid 80's. In addition to being a regular Southern Touch player, as Coach of the Mens Open team won the division for six consecutive years from 2001-2006. At club level Brent has played for Breakers, Ships, Hurricanes and Tigers, winning the Mens First Division Best & Fairest award in 1989/90 and 2002/03.

 

Ron Ellis

The founder of Southern Touch. Ron with the assistance of his fellow founding committee members introduced Touch to Tasmania and created the association. Ron was the inaugural President of the then Tasmanian Touch Association before becoming the Hobart Touch Association, and was an Executive Committee member for three years. Ron remained heavily involved in the management of the competition for a further five years and founded and ran the Hornets Touch Club.

 

Cathy Mills

Playing most of her career with Phantoms and Breakers Cathy enjoyed much team and individual success. After first playing during the 1986/87, Cathy became a regular and key member of the Hobart Intrastate Series and State Cup teams until 2001, won three premierships with Phantoms and one with Condors, and the Association Best and Fairest in 1993/94. Cathy also chaired the Association General Committee for around six years in the mid 90's, organising events such as the annual dinner, 4-a-side competitions and other fundraising activities.

 

Colin Thompson

Colin commenced his playing career in 1980/81 with Ships and was a member of the Ships men's side until 1997/98 during which time was also a regular state and southern representative. After this Colin moved to Tigers and continued to participate in second division. Becoming a member of the Executive Committee in 1997/98 Colin served one year as Secretary before moving into the position of President and Chairman.

 

Phil Williams

A key member of the University and Western Reds sides from the late 1980's, Phil played in three premierships and won the men's Best and Fairest trophy twice in 1990/91 and 1997/98. Phil served on the Executive Committee for three years as Vice-President and was a driving force in improving the Associations off field structure, and regularly represented Hobart during the Intrastate Series as a player, and later coach.

Sean Williams

Sean began playing with Cobras in the men's competition, before being a member of an amazing thirteen Condors men's premiership teams, plus a number of Condors and Phantoms mixed premiership sides. Sean won six men's Best and Fairest awards, five mixed Best and Fairest trophies and was a pivotal member of the Southern Touch men's side.

Tim Undy

Tim's service to Southern Touch as a coach and player in the intrastate and State Cup men's side, and in later years the mixed and over 30's side was outstanding for over fifteen years. Tim was rarely part of a losing outfit at the tournament whether as a coach or player largely due to his enthusiasm and willingness to professionally prepare for the events which rubbed-off onto other players and officials. Tim also ran the Breakers Touch Club and later successfully became involved with University and Tigers and was a regular state representative.

Stewart Wells

Stewart served Southern Touch as a member of the Executive Committee from 1993/94 to 1998/99, a period where the Association grew significantly in terms of participants. In addition Stewart's personal achievements include being a winner of the men's Best and Fairest award, three premierships with University plus one with Western Reds, and being a member of numerous successful Hobart men's intrastate outfits.

Jenny Geappen

Arguably the best women's player ever in Tasmania, Jenny won an amazing eight women's Best and Fairest awards and played in thirteen premiership sides over a twenty-year period in the Southern Touch competition. As such an accomplished player Jenny was also a key member of most women's intrastate sides and regularly led the Hobart outfit to victory. In recognition of Jenny's outstanding achievements from the 2001/02 season the women's Best and Fairest award was named the Jenny Geappen medal.

Ken Weir

Being involved with Southern Touch from its inception, Ken served as Vice-President for two years and for over twenty years as a referee. Ken was always willing to assist with the management of Association events such as grand finals, sponsor functions etc as a popular member of the Touch community.

 

Colin Debnam

For over twenty years Colin has made a significant contribution in the refereeing area both as a referee, referees director and referees coach. Initially Colin became involved in the Association as a referee and was for a number of years one of the top referees, before later taking on the position of referees director for five seasons and then assisting future referees directors as a referees coach.

Paul Geappen

First playing with Roosters in the inaugural season of Touch, Paul moved to Ships where he was a key member of five men's first division premiership teams and the Hobart intrastate side during the early years of the intrastate competition.

Keith Ohlson

Keith made a major contribution to the Association during the mid 1980's while holding the position of Vice-President. Keith's involvement began with University where he played in two first division men's premierships and ran the club for over ten years

Stephen Haines

Stephen served as Secretary in 1997/98, however his greatest service to the administration of the Association came while serving as delegate to the Wentworth Youth and Sports Centre management committee both prior to and following the construction of the centre. Stephen played with Ships from 1980/81 to 1997/98 being a member of six premiership teams and winning the Best and Fairest twice, later crossing to Condors to captain coach their second division team.

Dale Langford

Dale was elected to the position of Vice President in 1989/90 and from this season through to 1999/00 served five years as President and six as Vice President. Dale began playing with Roos before forming Cobras, and later Condors where he played in ten premierships plus one previously with Cobras. Dale also served the Association as a high standard referee for in excess of twenty years.

Peter Cusick

Inducted as a life member in 1993, Peter is one of the longest serving committee members having served as Treasurer from 1986/87 to 1992/93. During this time Peter brought a professional approach to the committee and ensured the Association was financially managed in the most efficient manner, leaving Southern Touch in a sound financial position by the end of his period of service.

Peter Randall

Another of the founding committee, Peter completed much of the Association's administrative duties from 1979 to 1987. Acting as publicity officer Peter obtained significant media coverage of the competition in the early 1980's, which contributed to the rapid growth in the competition. Peter also served as Secretary in 1985/86, and Vice President in 1986/87.

Bill Kearney

One of the founding members of Association Bill's major interest was in refereeing. Bill spent countless hours managing and developing the Association's referees and undertook a huge refereeing workload himself. In addition Bill was the secretary in the first year of competition, plus spent two years as President.

Cliff Sneyd

Becoming involved with the Association in the very early stages Cliff made a massive contribution to the management of the Association during the early 1980's when the competition expanded at an unbelievable rate. First becoming an office bearer in 1981/82, Cliff spent two years as Treasurer before moving into the President's role for three years until 1985/86. Cliff was also a keen referee who during the same era was regarded as the best referee within the Association.