Ronald Harvey (administrator) facts for kids

Ronald George "Ron" Harvey (born 9 June 1934) is a well-known Australian who has had an important career in both government service and sports. He is famous for his work in Australian basketball and for leading the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

Early Life and Education

Ron Harvey was born in Subiaco, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. He went to Perth Boys High School but left when he was fourteen to start his working life.

A Career in Sports

Harvey moved to Canberra in 1960. There, he got involved in basketball as a player, coach, and manager. He made a big impact on the sport in the region.

Building Australian Basketball

In 1967, Harvey helped the Australian Capital Territory create its own basketball association, separate from New South Wales. This was a big step for local basketball.

Later, in 1979, he was a key figure in starting the Canberra Cannons basketball team. He served as the team's chairman and general manager from 1981 to 1986. His leadership skills were also recognized when he became the chairman of the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1983 to 1987.

Leading the Australian Institute of Sport

In 1987, Harvey took on the role of director of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). The AIS is a special place where Australia's top athletes train. His time there was challenging because the AIS was merging with the Australian Sports Commission. This meant the government was changing how it managed sports.

After leaving the AIS in 1989, he continued to work in basketball. He became the CEO of the Gold Coast Cougars NBL team until 1991.

Working with the Olympics

Harvey's work in sports extended to the Olympic Games. In 1993, he joined the board of the Australian Olympic Committee. He served as its vice president from 2001 to 2013. He even organized the Australian part of the torch relay for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

In 2009, he received the Pierre de Coubertin medal from the International Olympic Committee. This is a special award given to people who show great Olympic spirit. Harvey was the first Australian to receive it.

A Career in Public Service

Harvey began his career in the Australian Public Service as a clerk for the Department of the Army. Over the years, he held many important government jobs.

Some of his key roles included:

• Senior Private Secretary to the Minister for Capital Territories (1976–1978)
• Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, from 1982 to 1983.
• Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (1997–1998).
• Australian consul general in Chicago, USA (2001–2004).

Harvey said that working for Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser was the highlight of his public service career. He described Fraser as a "great prime minister and very challenging to work for."

Awards and Recognition

Ron Harvey has received many awards for his work in sports and public service.

• 1981 – Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, for organizing a royal visit by Queen Elizabeth II.
• 1999 – Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for his services to basketball.
• 2000 – Australian Sports Medal.
• 2009 – Pierre de Coubertin Medal, for his contribution to the Olympic spirit.
• 2013 – Life Membership of the Australian Olympic Committee.
• 2016 – Inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
• 2024 - ACT Sport Hall of Fame Associate Member.
• He is also a Life Member of Basketball Australia.