Greg Hartung

Hartung was born in Maryborough, Queensland in 1948.{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120131155307974_Greg+Hartung.pdf|access-date=4 April 2011|title=IPC GOVERNING BOARD BIOGRAPHY SHEET|publisher=International Paralympic Committee}} His father was a hairdresser and mother was a nurse.{{Cite book|last=McDonald|first=Ian|title=Lauries inspirations volume 2|publisher=St Laurences College|year=2013|location=Brisbane|isbn=9780646905433|pages=95–99}}

His father died in 1950 from a war related illness and mother died when he was 14. In 1959, Hartung's mother and two siblings had located to Wellers Hill in Brisbane. Hartung attended Mary Immaculate Primary School, Annerley, St James College, Brisbane and St Laurence's College. Hartung was dux of his class in his final year at St Laurence's College and captain of the First XV rugby union team, which were joint premiers. Legacy Australia supported him to complete his schooling.

In 1970, Hartung completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma of Journalism at the University of Queensland. He has a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney and his thesis examined the impact of lobbying on Australian Government's decision-making process.

His wife Maureen Hartung OAM is executive director of the Blue Gum Community School in Canberra.{{cite news|last=Tucker|first=Breanna|title=Top achievers label NAPLAN ranking 'useless'|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/top-achievers-label-naplan-ranking-useless-20120224-1tu6t.html|access-date=4 April 2012|newspaper=Canberra Times|date=25 February 2012}} His son Michael was the general manager of Sport at the Australian Paralympic Committee and was appointed Chef de Mission for the Australian Paralympic Team at the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, Canada.{{cite web|title=Hartung is 2010 Chef de Mission|url=http://vancouver2010.paralympic.org.au/news/hartung-2010-chef-de-mission|work=Australian Paralympic Committee Vancouver 2010|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515210959/http://vancouver2010.paralympic.org.au/news/hartung-2010-chef-de-mission|archive-date=15 May 2012|url-status=dead}} His daughter Catherine, recently completed a PhD in children's rights at the University of Wollongong.{{cite web|title=Catherine Hartung's Page|url=http://edtheory.ning.com/profile/CatherineHartung?xg_source=activity|work=Poststructural Theory Website|access-date=4 April 2012}}

In 2021, he donated his personal collection of papers to the National Library of Australia. His papers covered his life in journalism and sport administration.{{Cite journal |last=Blood |first=Greg |title=The Greg Hartung collection: A significant collection on the development of sport in Australia and the Australian paralympic movement |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.647322386917444 |journal=Bulletin of Australian Society for Sports History |issue=76 |pages=36–45}} In 2023, Hartung authored the book "The Great Arm Wrestle: Australian Sport Policy since 1939".

In 1972, Hartung was employed as a cadet at the Courier Mail. In 1973, he joined the Australian in its newly opened Brisbane Office as a graded journalist. He was employed as a sports journalist in Sydney and London. In 1975, he took up a position as a political correspondent for The Australian in Canberra.{{cite book|last=Bloomfield|first=John|title=Australia's Sporting Success: The Inside Story|year=2003|publisher=UNSW Press|location=Sydney|isbn=978-0-86840-582-7|page=87|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NtWto0T5FMEC&pg=PA87}}

In 1975, he worked as a political journalist in Canberra and during this time, Hartung wrote several newspaper articles highlighting the inadequate support from the federal government for sport and assisted John Brown, Shadow Minister for Sport, to develop the Australian Labor Party's sport policy for the 1983 Federal Election. He wrote a chapter titled Sport and the Canberra Lobby for the book Sport : money, morality and the media.{{Cite book |last1=Cashman|first1=Richard|last2=McKernan|first2=Michael|title=Sport : money, morality and the media|publisher=University of New South Wales Press|year=1981|location=Sydney|isbn=0868401609}} In 2014, he was appointed adjunct professor of sport at the University of Canberra and will be involved in the new Master of High Performance Sport course.{{cite web|title=New Master of High Performance Sport to kick off at UC|url=http://www.canberra.edu.au/media-centre/2014/nov/high-performance-sport|website=University of Canberra Media Centre, 26 November 2014|access-date=19 December 2014}}

Hartung was appointed a member of the Interim Committee of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) established by Minister for Sport, John Brown in early 1983. In 1984, he was appointed general manager of the Australian Sports Commission, a position which he held until 1988. During his period as general manager, the ASC developed programs in sport participation including Aussie Sport and high performance support for athletes. From 1991 to 1996, he was an Australian Sports Commission Commissioner.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/240783/ASC_AR_1995-1996.pdf|title=Australian Sports Commission Annual Report 1995-1996|last=|first=|date=1996|website=Clearinghouse for Sport|access-date=8 April 2020}} In August 2006, he was appointed to the Board of the Australian Sports Commission{{cite web|title=Appointments to boards of Australian Sports Foundation and Australian Sports Commission|url=http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/kemp/media/media_releases/appointments_to_boards_of_australian_sports_foundation_and_australian_sports_commission3|work=Senator Rod Kemp, Minister for Arts and Sport, Media Release, 18 August 2006|access-date=4 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322090030/http://www.minister.dcita.gov.au/kemp/media/media_releases/appointments_to_boards_of_australian_sports_foundation_and_australian_sports_commission3|archive-date=22 March 2012|url-status=dead}} and in November 2008 was appointed chairman,{{cite web|url=https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/337069/Annual_Report_08-09.pdf|title=Australian Sports Commission Annual Report|last=|first=|year=2009|website=|publisher=|page=71|access-date=4 April 2012}} a position which he held until his resignation on 4 April 2010. He resigned due to increased International Paralympic Committee commitments. Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis paid tribute by stating "Mr Hartung is a leader in national and international sports administration and we're fortunate to have benefitted from his talents over many years. Mr Hartung's dedication to sport, and particular achievement in promoting elite sport for those with a disability, has contributed to a well-run and inclusive sporting environment in Australia".{{cite web|title=Thanks to a Leader of Australian sport |url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-ke-ke020.htm |work=Honourable Kate Ellis, Minister for Sport, Media Hub, 1 April 2010 |publisher=Dept. of Health and Aging |access-date=4 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317031251/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr10-ke-ke020.htm |archive-date=17 March 2012 }} Whilst on the Board, he was Chairman of the Australian Sports Foundation.

From 1989 to 1995, Hartung was President of the Confederation of Australian Sport, a peak sport body with the objective of providing a united voice in negotiations with government and stakeholders. As President, he argued that all minor sports deserved support due to the Australian Sports Commission's mandate of sport being for all Australians.{{cite book|last=Ferguson|first=Jim|title=More than sunshine and vegemite : success the Australian way|year=2006|publisher=Halstead Press|location=Sydney|isbn=1920831347|page=46}} He was made a life member of the Confederation.

File:AustralianParalympianOfTheYear 098.JPG

Hartung provided strategic advice to Australian Paralympic Federation in its bid to host the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. Hartung was President of the Australian Paralympic Committee from 1997 to 2013 Hartung served as the President of the South Pacific Paralympic Committee.{{cite web|title=Greg Hartung to help lead the International Paralympics|url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-ke-ke031.htm|work=The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Sport , Media Hub , 23 November 2009|access-date=4 April 2012}} He also established the Oceania Paralympic Committee, and served as the Deputy President of the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Organizing Committee. Peter Dutton, Minister for Sport made the following comments about Hartung after his resignation as APC President.
Greg has made a significant contribution to the national and international Paralympic movement and has helped to increase support and respect for athletes with a disability. He has overseen the Australian team's preparations for eight successful Paralympic Games. In fact, the Australian team has not finished outside the top five in the medal tally at the Summer Paralympic Games during Greg's tenure, with Australian athletes earning 85 medals at the London 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. Greg helped to introduce world-class national programs in classification and talent identification, and improved the pathways for athletes with higher levels of disability to transition from community sport to the national team.{{cite web|title=Tribute to Paralympic President|url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2013-dutton024.htm?OpenDocument&yr=2013&mth=12|work=Peter Duttoon Minister for Sport Media Release, 12 December 2013|access-date=19 December 2013}}

On 23 November 2009, Hartung was elected the vice-president of the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board at a meeting of the IPC General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. He was the first Australian to become a vice-president of the IPC. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee Co-ordination Commission for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and a member of the International Olympic Committee Radio and Television Commission. Hartung did not seek re-election in the 2013 IPC Governing Board election.

In October 2020, Hartung was elected to the Swimming Australia Board. He resigned in April 2021.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=22 October 2020|title=Swimming Australia bestows Life Memberships and welcomes new Board members|url=https://www.swimming.org.au/news-articles/swimming-australia-bestows-life-memberships-and-welcomes-new-board-members|access-date=23 October 2020|website=Swimming Australia}}

Hartung owned the company Access Communications.{{cite news|last=Boogs|first=Monika|title=Publisher buys ACT company|work=Canberra Times|date=24 October 2000}} This company specialised in publishing, political monitoring and databases. Hartung sold Access Communications to CCH in 2000. He currently the Company Director and Principal of GNH Management. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Hartung has been recognised for his work, receiving several awards including:

• 2024 - Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame{{Cite web |last=Zoe |date=2024-11-30 |title=Australia’s Finest Celebrated At Paralympian Of The Year Awards {{!}} Paralympics Australia |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2024/11/australias-finest-celebrated-at-paralympian-of-the-year-awards/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.paralympic.org.au |language=en-AU}}
• 2019 - Paralympic Order{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/hartung-awarded-top-paralympic-honour/|title=Hartung awarded top Paralympic honour|last=|first=|date=|website=Paralympics Australia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015075913/https://www.paralympic.org.au/hartung-awarded-top-paralympic-honour/|archive-date=2019-10-15|access-date=15 October 2019}}
• 2013 – Officer of the Order of Australia (AO){{cite web|url=http://www.gg.gov.au/australia-day-2013-honours-lists|title=Australia Day 2013 Honours Lists|last=|first=|date=|access-date=4 January 2017|work=gg.gov.au}}
• 2008 – Inaugural Life Member of the Oceania Paralympic Committee{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/news/life-membership-apc-president|title=Life membership for APC President|work=Australian Paralympic Committee News|date=14 September 2008|access-date=16 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062436/http://www.paralympic.org.au/news/life-membership-apc-president|archive-date=16 October 2013|url-status=dead}}
• 2002 – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
• 2001 – Centenary Medal{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1132474|title=HARTUNG, Gregory Neil, OAM|publisher=It's an Honour|access-date=4 April 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1115950|title=HARTUNG, Gregory Neil: Centenary Medal|publisher=It's an Honour|access-date=4 April 2012}}
• 1996 – Life Member and Fellow of the Confederation of Australian Sport{{cite web|url=http://www.sportforall.com.au/?page_id=89|title=CAS Honour Roll|work=Confederation of Australian Sport website|access-date=16 October 2013}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150628202128/http://www.paralympic.org.au/content/apc-board-staff Australian Paralympic Board]
• [http://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120131155307974_Greg+Hartung.pdf International Paralympic Committee Profile]
• [https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4350811 Gregory Hartung interviewed by Robin Poke for the Sport oral history project, National Library of Australia, 2008]
• [http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/151420171 Greg Hartung interviewed by Ian Jobling , Australian Centre for Paralympic Studies Oral History Project, National Library of Australia, 2011]
• [https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2952055566/findingaid Papers of Greg Hartung, National Library of Australia, 2021]

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Category:Australian Sport Commission

Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:Australian sports executives and administrators

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people

Category:Paralympics Australia officials

Category:People educated at St Laurence's College