The Australia Day Ambassador for the Inverell Shire has been announced, with Alan Whelpton OAM taking the reins for 2010.

Paralympian Scott Brockenshire will be the Ambassador for the Guyra Shire, and will be attending the Australia Day celebrations in Tingha.

Alan Whelpton has played a large role in surf lifesaving in Australia and internationally for most of his life.

He was a member of MacMasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club where he was the Patrol Captain from 1954 - 1960.

Alan was one of the founding secretaries of World Life Saving in 1971, before being elected President of Surf Life Saving Australia on Sir Adrian Curlewis' retirement in 1975, a position he remained in for 26 years until 2001.

In 2007, Alan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the community, particularly through the promotion of surf lifesaving at state, national and international levels, and as an administrator in a range of roles related to sport.

Alan will attend a number of community functions in the Inverell area on Australia Day, including celebrations at Ashford, Delungra and the grand celebration held at Pioneer Village in Inverell.

Scott Brockenshire is 30 years old and lives and works in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.

He began swimming as a way of keeping fit when he was about 10 years old and competed in various competitions throughout his school life.

He began seriously training as a Paralympic athlete in 1995 after watching the Victoria Commonwealth Games and has achieved a number of outstanding results at an international level.

© 2009 Inverell Times

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