'Father' of winter sports celebrated

Geoff Henke cutting the cake at his 90th birthday

Courtesy www.owia.org

Australia’s winter sporting family gathered on Sunday, October 15 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia’s Chairman Geoff Henke AM at the O’Brien Group Arena in Melbourne.
 
Among the guests who celebrated with the Henke family were Olympic medallists Alisa Camplin, Lydia Lassila and Zali Steggall who all paid tribute to Geoff’s vision and support.

Also speaking at the glittering evening was Australia’s first World Champion in Aerial Skiing, Kirstie Marshall, transport magnate and close friend, Lyndsay Fox and former Federal Sports Minister Rod Kemp. 

It has often been written that Geoff Henke is the father of the modern day Australian Winter Olympians.

Anybody can champion their cause and try to make a difference, but the remarkable achievement Geoff Henke has forged through his vision, leadership and boundless energy in conceiving firstly the Australian Winter Institute and then shepherding that fledgling organisation into the Olympic Winter Institute Australia since 1998 is remarkable.

 “What is best for the athlete” is the foundation of Geoff Henke’s vision and the reason that the OWIA is successful.
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Geoff Henke has helped to shape better Australian winter athletes and change the perception of how winter sport is perceived on home soil.