Sports field named in honour of educator

The sports field on Charles Darwin University’s Alice Springs campus will be named in honour of a highly regarded educator and sportsman tomorrow.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Maddocks said much thought had been given to how best recognise the contribution of the late Paul “Fizzer” Fitzsimons, whose 45 years in Central Australia included nine years at CDU.
 
“Paul will always be remembered as one of the Red Centre’s true characters whose influence as an educator was matched by the sense of fun he brought to life in general,” Professor Maddocks said.

“He was recruited to CDU in 2005, initially serving as Director of Regional and Remote Education until his appointment as Director Central Australia in 2009, a position he held until his retirement in 2014.”

Professor Maddocks said hundreds of people living in Central Australia had fond memories of Paul as their teacher in the primary, special education, secondary and vocational education and training sectors.

“He was also a co-founder of the Central Australian Education and Training Network, a forum comprised of representatives of VET providers, government agencies, Aboriginal development and education and support agencies.”

Professor Maddocks said Paul had also served on an economic development committee, a child care planning group and had been a member of the NT Government’s Licensing Commission.

“His involvement in the world of sport also was formidable, playing Aussie Rules and cricket in his younger days and serving as a club president, sports writer and commentator later on,” he said.

“He was a wonderful ambassador for Central Australia whose legacy we will remember in many ways, and his name not forgotten, with the campus sports field to be named in his honour.”

The event will be held at Alice Springs campus on Thursday, 14 June at 11am.