World Transplant Games update: Meet the Australian Team’s new Captain

Transplant Australia is thrilled to announce that Tony Bellingham has accepted the role of Team Captain for our Aussie team competing in Málaga. This role will support Team Manager Margaret Hill.

Tony has penned this open letter to all athletes:

Hello all

Firstly, can I thank Transplant Australia for asking me to undertake the Team Captain role. It is truly an honour and one I will not take lightly.

By way of my introduction, my wife Vicki and I have been part of TA for a number of years. Our son Scott (Scotty) had liver transplants in 2000 and 2002, and we have been actively involved since. Scott attended 4 Australian Games and 2 World Games (Gold Coast and Sweden).

Even when Scotty passed away 2 years ago, we wanted to stay part of the TA family. Vicki has been ACT team manager for the last 4 Aussie Games. We have always wanted to attend a World Games and decided 12 months ago to go to Málaga.

My background with team sports and managing teams is mainly with the Canberra Raiders Junior program. I have managed their under-16 and under-18 representative teams for 12 years, with me being the coordinator of all Raiders junior programs for 5. I was required to coordinate all players, staff and parents for the 6 months the program/competition ran each year.

I have recently been appointed by the NRL as the team manager for the Australian Women’s Rugby League team (Jillaroos) for the Test Match vs New Zealand in May, and then on to the Women’s World Cup in October. This also will be a great challenge.

I look forward to meeting all of you and your supporters/partners in the lead up to or at the Games, and I will provide 100% effort to ensure that all of the Australian team enjoy the Málaga games.

Yours in sport

Tony Bellingham