15 years on and Di Hallam also believes it is her dream job after NIAS chairman Matt Patterson introduced the newest executive officer to a small gathering at a NIAS sponsors and supporters’ luncheon at the Calala Inn on Thursday.

Hallam, general manager of the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association for the past three or four years, takes over from Annis-Brown, officially, in a couple of weeks.

He will stay on in a part-time advisory for about a month helping Hallam  settle in and meet all the various NIAS supporters, sponsors and athletes.

She was selected after an extensive search through various applicants from Australia and overseas.

That she has been a Tamworth “local” for some 30 years is a bonus.

She also offers a load of experience from the rodeo world.

After a dozen or so years at the ABCRA in various job descriptions, she is excited about her new direction.

“I couldn’t believe this job came up when it did,”  Hallam said.

“It’s got to be my dream job.”

A talented rodeo contestant, she had started with the ABCRA “for six weeks as a lead-up to their National Finals Rodeo when Telstra came on board as major sponsor”.

“From there I just stayed on doing sponsorship and marketing,” she said.

“Then I did accounts and became the office manager. That changed to acting executive officer and then general manager.”

She’s been the ABCRA GM for some three years and leaves the ABCRA in a much better position than when she arrived.

“We’ve got 180-plus committees now across Australia. 

“The Northern Territory has just come on board with its  first ever  committee. 

“So we’ve got them in four states – NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and the NT with around 4500 members.

“The best part about that is we’ve been steadily increasing the last three or four years.”

She leaves the ABCRA for a far different sporting organisation where youth and the development of young careers, on and off the sporting field, are the focal points.

She’s also stepping into a NIAS where not only Annis-Brown is taking a wealth of knowledge but long-serving chairman Wally Franklin recently retired after nine years at the helm.

“It’s going to be quite a bit of change but it’s going to be all good,”  Hallam said.

“I can’t believe how positive everyone has been and how welcome they’ve made me feel. I can’t wait to start and meet all the people who help make it run.”

Annis-Brown has been making it run since he started in 1998.

A talented sportsman in his right – a first grade cricketer and rugby league player – he comes from Boomi, a small town near Moree.

“It’s been my philosophy and aim that young athletes, no matter where they came from, got an opportunity to develop within their sport,” Annis-Brown said.

“Over the 15 years I hope I’ve made a difference.”

When he took over from Shona Blok (now Eichorn), NIAS was five years old.

“Shona had done a great job kicking it off,” Annis-Brown said.

“They had 96 athletes I think. Now we have more than 200 athletes spread over nine sports, the Lone Star and Race programs.

“It was my dream job when I started but I do have to pay  homage to Wally (Franklin). He’s been a great mentor for me.

“But I also felt the time was right to move on too.”

Annis-Brown is the new general manager of Rural Fit.

“Andrew Mahony started it 18 months ago and built it up to where it now has eight staff including two dieticians, a diabetics educator and physio,” Annis-Brown said.

“It helps more people find fitness (of mind and body) through training and creates a better life for them.”

Fitness is something that has been close to his heart for many years since he lost both parents at early ages.

It has also permeated his stay at NIAS where he has also been a coach, helping young athletes train better and run, technically, better through the exhaustive testing.

“I’ll still be involved with NIAS though,” he said.

“I will be working with the athletes. 

“Just this week I was working with Richard Willis and his Under 16 hockey girls.

“But I always knew my time was up and it seemed like the right time.”

He believes Hallam will help grow NIAS and keep it evolving as a developer of youth through sport.