AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL SKATERS' ASSOCIATION | STRIVING FOR COACHING EXCELLENCE
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Obituary
William Black
It is with great sadness we report the death of Bill Black who was a founding member of APSA and its inaugural President. Bill held this position until 1986 when he stood down but continued to be involved as Vice President.
Primarily a Dance coach, Bill taught many of our top dancers (recreational, competitive skaters and judges) to the highest levels of test and championships. His involvement in ice skating extended from the days of the Glaciarium Ice Rink in Railway Square up to the 1980's at Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink.
As a member of the course design committee (with Gillian Levett, Judy Bosler and Gloria Pracey) which was responsible for the Level 1 Coach Accreditation Course, Bill made a valuable contribution to coach education.
Bill died March 4th, 1998.
He will be very much missed.
This certificate was awarded to Bill by the Australian Cancer Foundation in recognition of his support for cancer research.
Cubby Lyons
We are saddened to hear the news of the recent death (24th March, 2000) of Cubby Lyons. She was 90. Cubby would have represented Australia in the 1940 Olympics if the War had not intervened. She was a renowned and highly respected coach who trained many champions. Cubby coached the likes of Gloria Pracey, Gretchen Doolan, Trevor Bussey, Jackie Kendall-Baker, Mervin Bower, Pat Gregory, Wendy Langton and Don McKnight amongst many others.
We ar sorry to hear - Hilton Ormerod has been battling cancer for many years and passed away in hospital on the 19th of June, 2002 at 78. He was a popular judge giving many years of service and doing innumerable tests. His great love was ice dancing
Noel Johnson, a coach from the old Glaciarium days has died in hospital.
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We say farewell to one of our favourite "old timers", Geoff McDonald who passed away recently in Cooma. Former comedy star of Bournemouth and Wembley ice shows in England he teamed successfully with Jeff Thorne to form a great comedy duo, working here in Australia with the Pat Gregory Ice Show, which toured the club circuit in the 60's & 70's. He was a talented musician and loved performing, on skates, playing his keyboard. He entertained on cruise ships and the local club scene. He skated at the 'old" Glaciarium which was at Central Railway, Sydney. His happy, bright face will be sadly missed.
Madonna Randall, one our elite few Level 3 Coaches, lost her beloved father, Ken Ritchie, on the 18th of May, 2004. Ken is remembered, in the ice-skating fraternity, as manager of Blacktown Ice Rink in it's 'hey-days'. He was a great and loving man and will live on in the memory and hearts of all who knew him.
Ken Ritchie
Many of you will remember Barbara Graham. Barbara was well respected as a former Administration Officer for ISA. It is with sadness that she passed away, on the 9th of May 2004, after a lengthy battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held in Edmonton and Toronto, Canada at a later date.
Barbara Graham