VALE KEITH SULLIVAN, 1ST MAY 1952 – 15TH DECEMBER 2018

Rob Donkersloot • December 22, 2018

Prepared by Keith’s friend Susannah Harvey-Jamieson

Keith Sullivan – or as he was known on Cool Running, Skin and Bone, was an incredibly popular and well-loved member of the running community. First known to the “ultra scene” in 2008 when he made his debut at Caboolture Dusk ‘til Dawn, he went on to become the man known as the gentleman who said, “Bloody Marvellous” and could be relied on for his charisma and generosity of spirit to many of us ultra runners.

I remember meeting Keith at the end of 2008, at the very challenging Kurrawa to Duranbah 50k on the Gold Coast. With a finishing time of 4:48:34, he was no slouch! As always, he was accompanied by his “Gorgeous” wife, Carol. From that time, Keith and Carol could be relied on for showing up to most local ultras around SE Qld and further afield. Whether he was having a good day or not, he would always encourage, cheer and support in any way he could. If injured, he could be depended upon to volunteer. A true strength of his caring and community-minded character.

He contributed to AURA in many ways, including as a co-rep for Queensland for a couple of years. In October this year, many of you might have read his article on “Old Bugger Running”, giving advice and sharing in his typical caring fashion.

Amongst many of his feathers in his ultra-running cap, Keith ran Coast to Kosciuszko twice, Marathon Des Sables, Comrades, Glasshouse 100 miles and Stromlo 12 hours. With a competitive spirit and a relentless energy that was incredibly infectious. I know that he helped many others achieve their goals and celebrated them as if they were his own – including that of his daughter-in-law completing her first marathon earlier this year. He was prolific on Cool Running (for those who remember that far back!) with over 1300 posts, his very dry (if I dare say, British) sense of humour applied to many topics. He never took himself too seriously and this is epitomised in his tag line “There is still hope for the old buggers out there” (quoting Geoff Huegill).

His struggle with skin cancer was horrendous and sometimes gruesome. But rather than wallow in self-pity, he saw this as an opportunity to warn and educate others on the dangers of the sun. On more than one occasion, he rocked up to an event within a week of some skin grafts or other treatment. He wouldn’t let anything keep him down and he never complained or used it as an excuse. In fact, he was known to have said that it was a good reason to keep going, as you just don’t know what is going to happen.

Two weeks ago, Keith was again at the Gold Coast 50k. Ten years on from when I first met him, and he ran 4:48:34. Six seconds quicker at the age of 66 than he was at 56. That’s a pretty incredible achievement. You were right, Keith, there is hope for the old buggers out there.

15th December 2018, Keith died very suddenly. He is survived by his gorgeous wife, Carol, his three sons, Gary, Liam and Tony, his daughter-in-law, Sarah, and his grand-daughter, Izzy. He will be sorely missed by us all in the running community and on behalf of AURA, I would like to express our heart-felt sympathy to his friends and family.

For details on the memorial arrangements, please click here.

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AUTRA News Report 11-09-2025

By Kate Dzienis • September 11, 2025

Run The River Half, Qld Murphys Creek Challenge, Qld Lighthorse Ultra, WA Kunanyi Trail Series, Rialannah, Tas Upcoming Events WEEKLY NEWS REPORT FOR 12-09-2025 As always, we're continuously on the hunt for your stories and reports, so get those race reports and photographs in to ultramag@autra.asn.au with the following information: Word document, single spaced Include the name of the event, the date and the location anywhere in the report (just a bullet point at the top is great) Please attach photographs to the email – do not put images in the body of your Word doc. You’ll just get me emailing you back asking for the photos sent in the correct way! As many photos as possible. With our new website, it’s now easier than ever to include a nice gallery in each race report No PDFs please And remember, it doesn’t have to be about an AUTRA-listed event specifically! You just have to be an AUTRA member for the 2025 year. Also too, if you’ve run in a non-AUTRA listed event anywhere on home soil or internationally, we’d love to include your race results and experience in our Member Updates, so please do reach out to us via email to kate.dzienis@autra.asn.au If any corrections need to be made in any of the results listed below, please alert me via email.

Team Manager 2025 IAU Asian and Oceania 100K Championships

By Gary Mullins • September 8, 2025

Location : Bangkok, Thailand Dates : November 21 - 24 2025 Role Type : Volunteer Position Time Commitment : Pre event planning + Travel Application Deadline : 17th September 2025 Thank you for your interest in supporting the Australian team for the 2025 IAU Asian 100k Championships. This role goes far beyond logistics. It’s about leadership, inclusion, and creating a positive, empowering environment for athletes competing on the world stage. AUTRA is committed to opening doors for those outside traditional pathways. We strongly encourage applications from coaches, former athletes, club leaders, volunteers, and passionate community members. You don’t need to have served on a board or managed a team before as we’re looking for people who genuinely care, are highly organised, and can proudly represent our athletes and country. Role Overview As Team Manager, you’ll work closely with AUTRA President Gary Mullins and Vice President Geoff Russell to prepare and support the national team before and during the championship. Pre-Departure Australia Act as the main contact for selected athletes and crew Assist with final entry forms and travel planning Prepare a Championships Agenda in alliance with the Team Managers Agreement Document Coordinate flights, uniforms, and team communications Help identify and organise crew support Attend online team planning meetings On the Ground in Thailand Be present and ready as athletes arrive Ensure all athlete needs are met so they can focus fully on their race Attend all technical meetings and represent the team professionally Coordinate team attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies Ensure the team and crew are prepared, organised, and calm Address any issues that arise with efficiency and discretion Provide hands on leadership and moral support throughout the race Support Provided Accommodation in Bangkok for 3 - 4 nights will be provided by AUTRA An official team uniform will be supplied A volunteer allowance of $1500 will be provided to acknowledge your time and service during the championship period. What You’ll Need Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Strong organisational ability under pressure A calm, inclusive, and athlete first mindset Commitment to AUTRA’s Code of Conduct Member of AUTRA Applying To apply for the role of Team Manager please CLICK HERE and fill out the Application Form. Applications Close at 5pm 17th September 2025. Selection Process Following the application deadline, the AUTRA Committee will review all submissions and select the most suitable candidate. All applicants will be contacted by Gary Mullins within 7 days of applications closing. Gary Mullins AUTRA President