HRA Merit Awards

Rod Pollock, 2008 Distinguished National Recognition Award recipient.

Former Harness Racing Australia (HRA) Chief Executive Rod Pollock, career administrator Rob Bovell, Harold Park chief, John Dumesny and multi-State executive Damian Raedler have been awarded the HRA Distinguished National Service Award for their outstanding service and contributions to the Australian harness racing industry.

Pollock served as Chief Executive of HRA from 1997 until his recent retirement in August 2008.  Over this eleven year period he was responsible for many advances within the industry including the national insurance and combined the role as Secretary of the Inter Dominion Harness Racing Council (IDHRC).   On an international level, he has been awarded Life Membership for his contribution to the International Trotting Association.


One of the industry’s longest serving harness racing administrators, Bovell has also been honoured. In a career spanning 39 years, he performed many administrative roles before rising through the ranks to the Chief Executive role at the Western Australian Trotting Association (WATA) in the early 1990’s where he has been particularly successful in the areas of legislative reform and the establishment of many non-traditional revenue streams.


Dumesny is the Chief Executive of the NSW Harness Racing Club and has been rewarded for over 20 years of dedicated service as a harness racing administrator.  An instrumental figure in Australian Pacing Gold (APG), Dumesny has been Company Secretary and or Director of APG since 1991.




Following a 20-year reign as Albion Park Harness Racing Club Secretary, Raedler has been acknowledged for 30-years of service after also performing senior executive roles in both his home State of New South Wales, and, more recently, a return to Queensland where he continues as Manager – Racing Operations with Harness Racing Queensland.


HRA Meritorous Service Awards were also awarded to Bill Ellis and Bill Whittaker.
 
HRA Chairman Geoff Want said the Executive and Members were delighted to recognise 4 outstanding contributors to the national harness racing industry.

"The HRA is always very conscious of its history and recognising those people who have done so much for our industry," Mr Want said. “The Distinguished National Service Award is the ultimate acknowledgement by everyone in the industry of your efforts and the new recipients are extremely deserving."

Previous National Distinguished Service Award Recipients