deakinspirit

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We have moved

We have moved to deakin.edu.au/deakinspirit and @deakinspirit.  Keep up on the latest Deakin Spirit news by following our new sites.  Just in time for the XX Commonwealth Games - keep up to date with the latest achievements of our students and alumni.

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Deakin Wins Silver per Capita at the Southern Unigames

Congratulations to the Deakin athletes returning from the Southern Unigames campaign after wining silver on points per capita. The 2014 Southern Unigames were held in Wodonga on the border between Victoria and New South Wales 6 – 10 July across sixteen sports. Deakin Athletes won 288 points well clear of 3rd place VU and just 10 points behind LaTrobe.

Deakin Jazz Dancers were in a class of their own taking out first in both the Jazz single and Jazz Doubles. This was repeated in the Deakin All Girl Stunt group winning 1st and the combined teams winning 16 points towards Deakin’s overall total.

Deakin Men’s Basketball team won Silver after in a tight finals match against SUT 35 – 43 on Court 1 of Wodonga Sports and Leisure Centre. On the Wodonga Bowling Rink, our Open Lawn Bowls team rolled their way to Silver.

Sports at the Southern Uni Games

The Women’s Hockey team were looking powerful heading into the Gold medal final after a 1-0 win over AUTNZ in the qualifiers. However in a high scoring game AUTNZ turned the tables 9-8 against Deakin giving our Hockey team a tough Silver.

A number of Deakin students put in fantastic performances to help Deakin to second place with the Women’s Basketball team; the Women’s Futsal team; and Rachel Painter in the 8km Cross Country gaining fourth and points towards the tally.

With the Southern Games over athletes and teams will be looking forward to the 2014 Australian Unigames to be held in Sydney from Sunday 28 September through to Friday 3 October. Over 6,500 student athletes accompanied by team managers, staff and volunteers from 41 tertiary institutions across Australia will take part in five days of sporting competition in a bid to be crowned Australian University Champions.

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Deakin Students and Alumni Selected for Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

Five Deakin students and five Alumni have won selection and will be heading to Glasgow for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. They will be part of Australia’s largest offshore team to the games. The Australian team will compete across 17 sports, over 11 days from 23rd July through to 3rd August. 

Damien Birkinhead - Athletics

Zoe Buckman - Athletics

Luke Cann - Athletics

Richard Colman - Athletics

Henry Frayne - Athletics

Ellen Gandy - Swimming

Travis Mahoney - Swimming

Jeffrey Riseley - Athletics

Madison Robinson - Netball

Glenn Warfe - Badminton

These athletes have been supported through Deakin's Elite Athlete Program giving them the freedom to excel both on and off the field. We will be following the progress of our athletes with highlights from the games as they happen. Join in, spread the word and get behind these brave athletes at http://www.deakin.edu.au/deakin-spirit/

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Congratulations Melbourne Vixens on Winning the 2014 ANZ Championships

Congratulations to Maddison Robinson, Erin Hoare and the Melbourne Vixens on winning the 2014 ANZ Netball Championship. 2014 was a year of redemption for the Vixens after losing the 2012 grand final in the last seconds and bowing out in the 2013 semi-finals. The catchphrase for the year has been ‘clinical’; passing, shooting, and training drills were repeated until performance percentages were achieved. This clinical composure helped shake off the nerves from previous years and win the grand final with an 11 point victory over the Queensland Firebirds. Now the catchphrase is 'amazing' as the Vixens celebrate their Championship win.

“Absolutely amazing, just so proud of my teammates, just couldn’t be more excited. It’s what we planned for so to be able to execute it is exciting.” Erin Hoare on winning the 2014 ANZ Netball Championships

  Deakin Alumni, Madi Robinson remembers realising the 2012 championship was gone with just seconds to go. Forward to 2014, Madi has continued her form being named in the 2013 dream team and winning six golden centre court bibs this season. Now with a Championship win Madi has cemented her place as one of the top Wing Attacks for Australia.

“Amazing, I actually can’t put it into words. I’m speechless, just a tremendous team effort and I just can’t wait to celebrate it with these girls, it should be fun.” Madi Robinson, 2014 ANZ Netball Championships

Madi Robinson, Bianca Chatfield and Tegan Caldwell performances for the Vixens proved why they were selected for Australia’s Commonwealth Games team. We look forward to seeing more of Madi as she plays Wing Attack for Australia in the Glasgow games in just a few weeks.

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Melbourne Vixens take on the Queensland Firebirds for the ANZ Netball Championship

Deakin Alumni, Maddison Robinson (Browne) and Postgraduate student, Erin Hoare take to the court for the Melbourne Vixens  in the ANZ Netball Championships grand final on Sunday at 2:15pm against the Queensland Firebirds. The Vixens secured a home final and a psychological advantage by beating the Queensland Firebirds by five points in their last game of the season.

Veteran Madi Browne has honed her game with both international and national competition, including the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the 2011 World Championships. Madi’s skills have been recognised with awards such as the ANZ Championship All Star Wing Attack in 2013 and six Midcourt Golden Bibs in the 2014 season. Madi plays Wing Attack and Centre on court.

Cherish and love what you do, live in the moment and make the most of your opportunities Madi Robinson, Melbourne Vixens 2014

 Erin Hoare will be part of the Melbourne Vixen’s team on Sunday and, like her favourite netballer Sharelle McMahon, plays Goal Shooter and Goal Attack. The Deakin Elite Athlete Program allows Erin to balance post graduate study and an exciting career in sport. Erin won the Vixen’s Coaches Award in 2013 and is a supporter of both the Geelong Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club.

Tickets to the game at Hisense Arena can be purchased through the Vixens site http://www.melbournevixens.com.au/ or the ANZ championship site http://www.anz-championship.com/    

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Deakin Sports Management Gains Australian Best, Top 3 World Ranking

Deakin University students are the highest paid sport business masters graduates on the planet according to Sports Business International(SBI). Deakin’s Sports Management Masters degree has continued its ascent to claim the top three world ranking, the only Australian University in the top 25.

According to the SBI rankings, Deakin’s graduates earned on average US$84,000 a year three years after finishing their students, compared to US$79,000 for students from University of Oregon Warsaw Sports Marketing Centre and US$76,100 for students at Ohio University Master of Sport Administration.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said the University jumped four spots from last year’s seventh placing, coming it at number three after Switzerland-based International Centre for Sports Studies’ (CIES) FIFA Master program and Ohio University's Master of Sports Administration. Deakin ranked number two for the Professors’ Choice award.

“This is an outstanding outcome and affirms the employability of Deakin graduates. It places Deakin’s Master of Business (Sport Management) firmly among the world’s most recognised sporting institutions,” Professor den Hollander

The sporting industry across the globe is extremely competitive, from the sports field to the classroom and to the workplace, and this award recognises that Deakin prepares the best and the brightest to be leaders in their field.

We will keep working closely with Melbourne and Australia’s sporting industry, placing our students with key industry and community leaders so that they can learn and develop the vital skills needed to be successful in their chosen field, beyond the university lecture theatre.

Go to Deakin.edu.au for the full story or view the range of sports courses available at Deakin.

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BMX World Champsionships

After getting on a BMX aged 3, Michael Williams has never looked back. Now 20, Michael has ridden in 12 state and 7 national titles. Michael was a finalist in the 2014 Australian BMX Nationals and has qualified to compete at the World Championships for the fifth time.

This year the World Championships are being held at Rotterdam in the Netherlands on the 26th of July. With a new coach and intensive training regime Michael is a strong contender for the World Title.

The popularity of BMX riding has continued to increase leading to its inclusion in the London 2012 Olympic. The Sport involves high speed action with 6 – 12 athletes racing across obstacles and over jumps. It is a physically demanding sport requiring fitness to cycle and agility to navigate obstacles. Riders require extensive body armour at they seem to spend as much time in the air as they do on the track.

  Off the bike Michael shares his love of the sport by training over 30 kids at his local BMX club and has helped Councils to design and develop active BMX and skate parks. Michael is currently studying a Bachelor of Civil Engineering at Deakin University. Civil Engineering can provide the knowledge to enhance Michael’s development of parks to effectively integrate them with the surrounding community infrastructure.

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Deakin Twenty20 Cricket Partnership

Deakin University is now the official education partner of the Rajasthan Royals’ Twenty20 cricket team.

The Rajasthan Royals reached the finals in the 2013 Karbonn Smart Champions League and forged a reputation for strength and consistency in the cricketing world under the expert leadership of Shane Warne and Rahul Dravid.

The Rajasthan Royals’ Twenty20

As part of Deakin University’s commitment to sports education and research, Deakin will promote Sports Education in India in collaboration with the Rajasthan Royals, who nurture and promote up and coming Indian cricketers. Mutual projects will include Indian Premier League (IPL) internships and scholarship opportunities.

Deakin University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Jane den Hollander said, “We are delighted to partner with one of the world’s best Twenty20 teams. Applying management and marketing theories and business principles within a leisure framework is the defining feature of our Sport Management degrees.” Deakin is an innovator in the field of sports and sports management, with the Master of Business (Sports Management) currently ranked amongst the best in the world by Sport Business International.

Rajasthan Royals’ Chief Executive Officer, Raghu Lyer said, “We trust that the partnership will enable us to promote Sports Education in India while serving as a worthy case for research and learning. We thank Deakin University for associating with us and look forward to helping create ever-growing value in the years to come.”

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Grieg’s Sochi Spirit

Daniel Greig has experienced a fall in the 500m Men’s Speed Skating event in Sochi, but one fall will not slow him down. Daniel has shown his true spirit by deciding to finish the race, celebrating friend and 500m gold medallist Michel Mulder from the Netherlands and focusing on the 1000m Men’s Speed Skating event taking place on day five of the games, Wednesday, February 12th.   

“I was always going to finish the race. If you decide to pull out it is disrespectful to your other competitors. If no one finishes the race when something doesn’t go right, there wouldn’t be anyone left.”

Daniel Grieg - Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics

The games are broadcast on channel 10 from 8.30pm AEDT with the 1000m men’s speed skating at approximately 1am.

The TEN official app for iOS and Android can be downloaded to follow the games at http://tenplay.com.au/sport/sochi-2014/how-to-watch.

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Daniel Grieg – Sochi 2014 Olympic Speed Skater

Chasing his dreams Deakin student Daniel Greig converted from inline to ice speed skating for a chance at Olympic glory. After an impressive 2013 season Daniel qualified in his favourite 500m and 1000m sprints and is ready to follow his dream at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Daniel’s describes Long Track Speed Skating as the track athletics of the Winter Olympics with blades on the bottom of their shoes reaching 60km/h on ice. It is a high speed sport with sprinters able to race the first 100m of 500m faster than Usain Bolt’s world record (9.58s); and highly competitive with the top 16 skaters finishing the 500m race within a coin drop from waist height.

Watch a preview of Daniel in action against the current World Sprint Champion Michel Mulder of Netherlands in the first race of the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByMD9JkzgLA

Image Courtesy: http://danielgreig.com

Daniel’s first race will be February 10th as he takes to the ice for the 500m sprints.

Studying Mechanical Engineering at Deakin University provides Daniel additional insights to get the best performance from his speed skating blades to edge out the competition. Follow Daniels progress at Sochi 2014 on the Deakin Spirit site.

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Sochi 2014 – Winter Olympics

The opening ceremony on February 7th in the Russian wonderland of Sochi marks the 22nd Winter Olympics and the largest to date with over 2,500 athletes competing across 98 events. Australia will be setting its own record for largest winter team in Sochi 2014 with 60 athletes competing. Closer to home Deakin student Daniel Grieg will be racing in the 500m and 1000m speed skating events.

Sochi runs from the opening ceremony on the 7th of February through to the 23rd with events including Ice Hockey, Speed Skating, Figure Skating, Curling, Skiing, Snowboarding, and Luge. Sochi will be utilising Super Hi-Vision recording at sixteen times the resolution of HDTV, ensuring every moment will be captured in all its glory.

Sochi Olympic Park, image courtesy www.56thparallel.com

Follow the Daniel’s journey to Sochi and watch him take on the winter world on the Deakin Spirit site.

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What's on Sunday 17th? Join Run Geelong

With perfect running conditions forecast, the Geelong waterfront is the place to be this Sunday. 100% of all registrations will go to the Geelong Hospital Special Care Nursery Redevelopment. Over 10,400 participants have raised $465,000 so far. Join in and run, walk, or roll for charity to make it to the $500,000 target.

Registrations are still available with last minute registration available at the start line. You will receive a Run Geelong event tee and get to enjoy a beautiful day while supporting a fantastic cause. 

Register or donate at www.rungeelong.com.au

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Run Geelong - Training Plans and Virtual Runners

Training Plan

Run Geelong is rapidly approaching with just a few days left to get ready.  Training plans to complete your build up for the 17th of November are available at www.rungeelong.com.au/event-info/course-info

  Virtual Running

Can’t make it to Geelong for the run or walk? You can still join in by sponsoring a runner. By becoming a virtual runner you will receive an official Run Geelong t-shirt, your runner will gain a set of sponsored laces and 100% of your registration will go to supporting the cause. 

A favourite Ambassador of ours is Deakin Alumni and Olympian, Richard Colman. With 7 Paralympics medals including 2 Gold Richard is at the forefront of Wheelchair Racing. Sponsor Richard on the Run Geelong site http://www.rungeelong.com.au/virtual-runner/details?id=24408 Find out more about Richard at colman.com.au

Join in the Deakin Spirit and support Run Geelong.

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Green and Gold Recipients for the Australian University Games

Congratulations to the Deakin Students selected as Green and Gold recipients at the 2013 Australian Unigames. The Green and Gold teams acknowledge the best performance at National Australian events, essentially the Australian Dream Team for each sport. 7 Deakin students received Green and Gold recommendations at the Australian Unigames.

Mixed Handball Karissa Kost Jack Duke

  Womens Netball Kellie Anderson Jess Close

  Mixed Netball Eliza Beazley

  Mens Water Polo Blake Edwards

  Mens Beach Volleyball Sam Wines

  A special mention goes to Sam Wines continuing Deakin’s Beach Volley ball form winning Bronze, our second medal in a row for the sport.

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2013 Run Geelong Registrations are now Open

Tuesday November 19th, put on your runners enjoy the sun and raise money for the Geelong Hospital Special Care Nursery with Run Geelong. Last year 11,750 heroes joined Run Geelong, managing to raise $503,000 to complete the redevelopment of the Children’s Ward and provide state of the art health facilities for the Greater Geelong region. This year we will be raising money for the Geelong Hospital Special Care Nursery.

Registrations are now open on the Run Geelong site http://www.rungeelong.com.au/ there are 6km and 12km runs or 6km walks to choose from. 2013 marks the first time the course will be Wheelchair friendly.

Run Geelong Events 

So no matter whether you are running, walking, pushing, wheeling, or pulling; you can join in the Deakin Spirit with Run Geelong. We will be covering tips on training and joining in for this fantastic cause on the Deakin Spirit  site.

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Deakin at the Australian Masters Games

Deakin staff, students, and alumni have been competing in the majority of the Australian Masters Games events, embracing the Deakin Spirit. Dominating the pool at Grovedale's Leisure Link, Deakin participants have won a haul of medals. Student Julie Fechner gained medals in the 100m Butterfly, 200m IM and 50m Backstroke. Young Gun student Andrew McColl smashed it in the pool, taking home Gold in the 50m Backstroke, Freestyle and the 100m Backstroke. Robyn MacKenzie from Deakin YMCA added to the medal tally in the 100m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle.

Deakin School of Information Technology lecturer Michelle Cyganowski, won silver in the Womens 5000m run on Tuesday. Michelle (left on the podium) achieved a personal best of 21:57 in her silver medal performance.

Team Deakin photograph at the closing ceremony All Deakin staff and students that are participating in the Australian Masters Games are invited to join the Deakin Spirit for the group photograph. Meet at the Games Village on Saturday 12 October at 6.30pm prior to the Official Closing Ceremony and Pseudo Echo hitting the stage. Please wear your Deakin shirt for the group photo. The team photo will feature in Network Magazine. Meet at stage left on the closest side to the football ground.

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10th Consecutive Masters Games for Deakin Honours student Julie Fechner

Deakin Honours student Julie Fechner will compete in her 10th consecutive Australian Masters Games since 1993 and will be looking to add to her extensive medal collection.

 Throughout her competitive career, Julie has participated in a number of Australian Masters events including; Swimming, Pool Lifesaving, Cycling, Triathlon and Indoor Rowing; and has won medals in each event. Outside of the Masters Games Julie has also won her category in Melbourne’s 1990 Yarra Swim and has not missed a Lorne’s Pier to Pub swim since 1992. Julie belongs to the Doncaster Dolphins Masters Swimming Club and trains four times a week with a great group of friends.

  In her academic life, Julie has completed a Masters of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Nursing. Julie is now over halfway through completing her Honours in Environmental Science in the Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment.