One of the city’s most respected sporting administrators and civic leaders will be commemorated in December when Wollongong City Council renames the city beach viewing deck the ‘Ted Tobin OAM Observation Deck.’

Following a request from the Wollongong City Surf Life Saving Club and other local agencies, Council Administrators tonight agreed to rename the iconic viewing deck after Ted Tobin, who passed away in February this year at the age of 72. 

Ted Tobin grew up in Wollongong, raising a family and spent his working career in a variety of Human Resource Management roles in the steel industry.

Ted was an independent Councillor with Wollongong City Council between 1971 and 1984, and in this time was instrumental in establishing the Crown Street Mall as a retail and employment hub.

In his role as Councillor, Mr Tobin was also the driving force behind the Beaton Park Leisure Centre, which to this day is one of the region’s premier sporting facilities for swimming and athletics.

Ted appears on many honour boards throughout the city, and in 1995 achieved recognition in the form of Medal of the Order of Australia.

Administrator Dr Col Gellatly AO, said it was in the sporting community that Ted Tobin left his greatest legacy, as a talented sportsman, dedicated sporting administrator and passionate mentor and supporter to up and coming athletes.

“Over the years Ted Tobin represented the Illawarra in Rugby Union, Surf Life Saving, Squash, Cricket and Table Tennis. He was also a member of the Bondi Iceberges, Keira Cricket Club, Wollongong Whales Swimming Club, Wollongong Golf Club and Vikings Rugby Club,” Dr Gellatly said.

“Ted was also an active board member and life member of many local organisations, including Beaton Park Leisure Centre, the Illawarra Academy of Sport and the Wollongong City Surf Life Saving Club.”

“Ted was passionate about supporting young people in the Illawarra and he will no doubt be remembered by many generations for his instrumental role in establishing the Illawarra Institute of Sport,” Administrator Gellatly said.

 “When the City Surf Life Saving Club approached Council to formally acknowledge Ted’s lifetime achievements, the proposal was supported by letters of recommendation from a range of sporting, business and community leaders in Wollongong.”

“Ted touched the lives of many people in Wollongong and made an enormous contribution to the city. By renaming one of our most popular beachside landmarks after Mr Tobin, we hope to do his memory justice,” Dr Gellatly added. 

Council will now work with the Tobin family and the City Surf Life Saving Club to plan an official renaming ceremony at the Ted Tobin OAM Observation Deck on Endeavour Drive, Wollongong.