Season 1979/80 saw Tom Kelly as a new recruit to the Doncaster coaching scene, working with some of our middle and long distance athletes. He was an ‘escapee’ from the Box Hill

club where he had been an athlete and coach for many years.

For over 25 years Tom has given service to DAC for at least two hours, six days a week all year round. The amount of time and effort required, the knowledge and the planning that has

gone into programs for athletes from fields as varied as sprinting to hurdles to marathon.

As well as being coach he has served on the Committee for countless years, been team manager for both cross country, Interclub and State League and of course doctor, physiotherapist,

adviser, counsellor, taxi driver, consoler and general all-rounder.

Tom was a representative over the marathon distance for both Ireland and Australia – being very successful and winning an international marathon in Korea in 1961 (competing for Box Hill

Athletic Club unfortunately!) He was the first athlete at Box Hill to win an international event. The race was run in a heat wave with 80% humidity. Tom’s coach at the time Viv Chalwin writes:

“About the 27km mark Tom developed cramp in his left leg and had to fight against this (very courageously I think) to the finish – sheer guts kept him going.” (Box Hill newsletter, 1961)

It is this kind of determination that Tom has tried to instil in his athletes over the years.