Welcome to the late edition of Sixty Seconds in Touch for this week...

* It's certainly been a big week in the sporting world, my apologies to all regular readers for the lateness of this week's edition, I've been visiting family in Adelaide for the past week, but am back with some big news...

* Happy Birthday to retiring CEO Bill Ker for TODAY! (July 7) and also to ATA Office Manager Lyn for this Sunday (July 10). We hope you guys have great days and get some really cool pressies.

* State of Origin is over for 2005, the Aussie cricketers held on for a tie in the one-day final against England (a tie??? I was left feeling so let down, what good is a great match without a winner?) and Roger Federer has proved once again no one even comes close to him (Federer was just so good that the final was just a mere formality.) But in Touch however, there is constant action...
* The Queensland Junior State Cup may have been hit by some wild weather early on (reminiscent of the 2005 NSW Junior State Cup) but the action heated up over the weekend. Here are the grand final results:

Boys Under 11 Final: Rockhampton (4) def Dodgers (2)
Girls Under 11 Final: BMTA (5) def Monterey Keys (0)
Boys Under 13 Final: BMTA (6) def Redlands (3)
Girls Under 13 Final: BMTA Red (4) def Bundaberg (0)
Boys Under 15 Final: BMTA (5) def Redlands (4)
Girls Under 15 Final: BMTA (3) def Redlands Red (1)
Boys Under 17 Final: BMTA (3) def Bundaberg (2)
Girls Under 17 Final: Gold Coast (4) def BMTA Red (2)

The Brisbane Metro teams certainly proved they are the strongest region in Queensland grabbing all but two grand finals. The Gold Coast held on for an exciting win in the Under 17 Girls and Rockhampton proved they are a force of the future grabbing the Under 11 boys title.

The Plate finals allowed some of the smaller associations to fight out quarters, semis and grand finals as well, here are the Plate Final results:

Boys Under 11 Plate final: Hervey Bay (4) def Bundaberg A (3)
Girls Under 11 Plate final: BMTA Blue (2) def Gold Coast (1)
Boys Under 13 Plate final: Chinchilla (4) def Caboolture A (1)
Girls Under 13 Plate final: Chinchilla (4) def Rockhampton (2)
Boys Under 15 Plate final: Rockhampton (6) def Noosa (2)
Girls Under 15 Plate final: Ballina (1) def Gold Coast B (0)
Boys Under 17 Plate final: Rockhampton (4) def Caboolture (2)
Girls Under 17 Plate final: Caboolture (6) def Bundaberg (2)

Special mention has to go to Chinchilla, who grabbed two Plate titles in the Under 13 Boys and Girls divisions. Rockhampton also grabbed the Under 15 and Under 17 Boys Plate titles, to go with their Under 11 grand final win.

Overall, it was a great tournament, with organisers praising the players and team managers and staff for helping the event run so smoothly after the initial washout and wild weather.

* Touch football is one of South Australia's favourite sports with 14 affiliated competitions running across the state which include large numbers of women and juniors. The state body is also responsible for the administration and management of its State and National representative programs.

Due to changes in the management structure of the sport Touch SA has the opportunity to introduce the new position of Project Officer - Communication & Game Development.

This newly formed position will be responsible for the daily running of the states largest competition City Touch situated in the Adelaide Parklands as well as working on other programs and projects being delivered by the state body.

The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications and experience.
* Demonstrated success in project management.
* Demonstrated success in the delivery of sporting programs.
* Excellent written and oral communication skills supported by interpersonal skills of a high order.
* Demonstrated high level negotiation and facilitation skills.
* Demonstrated experience and skills in volunteer management.
* Demonstrated ability to consistently display customer services principles, practices and attributes.
* Demonstrated initiative and self management.
* Tertiary qualifications in sport management or related field desirable.

An information pack is available on the Touch SA website at: www.touch-sa.asn.au

A remuneration package commensurate with qualifications and experience will be negotiated with the successful candidate. For further information contact Gavin Macdonald on 08 8373 3222.

By close of business on Friday 15 July 2005, applicants should email a brief overview of their qualifications and experience as they relate to the selection criteria above, together with a resume containing contact details of referees to:

Membership Services Manager
South Australian Touch Association
membershuipservices@touch-sa.asn.au

* Albert Park Touch is seeking a reliable person to act as ground administrator until the end of this winter season, with an option for next summer. For more details, please contact the office on 9654 2866 or email info@victouch.com.au

* The Australian Mens, Womens and Mixed Open sides will be announced today on the ATA homepage. It was one of the toughest selections in history, with the level of skill, fitness and passion certainly laying the foundations for a strong performance. The sides will compete with our senior sides at the 2005 All Nations tournament in New Zealand this October, just 3 and a half months away! They will then continue their preparations for the 2006 Trans Tasman against New Zealand and the 2007 World Cup in South Africa.

* The National Under 18 Championships are just two months away and preparations are in full swing. I'll be working hard over the next few weeks to start gaining media coverage for the event, let me know if you would like a hand grabbing some coverage for your players or teams, simply email media@austouch.com.au

* The Volunteer of the Month section in the ATA online newsletter `Touch-e-Talk' is proving an absolute hit. Entries are steadily flowing in and in the latest edition of the newsletter (July edition) we selected two volunteers to write about this month. Please keep the entries coming in to ata_newsletter@hotmail.com or media@austouch.com.au with a few details on what that person does, at your local or regional association. This is a great chance to honour those who work tirelessly at all levels of our sport.

* If you would like to join the mailing list for the Touch-e-Talk newsletter simply email media@austouch.com.au, the newsletter can be viewed online on the ATA homepage, with past editions archived under the `Newsletters' link on the left hand side of the homepage.

* ACT Managing Director Graeme Murphy has resigned from his position at ACT Touch and is taking up a role at CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology) and will be lecturing in their Sport Management course. He will finish at ACT Touch on July 15. We wish him all the best in his new direction and thank him for the tireless work he has put in for the ACT and for Australian Touch in general.

* Remember, if you want any help with gaining some media coverage for your association or region, contact me because I'm ready and willing to help give it a go!

By Rachel Moyle