Sports champ leaves lasting legacy

A man passing a rugby ball, black and white photograph

Darrel Chapman occupies a very special place in the history of the University. He established the Bachelor of Human Movement Science at Southern Cross (the precursor to our current Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science) and was a leading academic in the field. He was not only a well-respected member of the academic community but a successful athlete in his own right, who captained the South Sydney Rabbitohs and went on to represent his country in the 1959/60 Kangaroo rugby league tour.

Mr Chapman was the founding chairman of the North Coast Academy of Sport and the New South Wales Academy of Sport. His legacy endures in the high achieving sports programs throughout the region.

Darrel Chapman lost his own battle with cancer and passed away in 1992.

Held annually since 1998, the Darrel Chapman Fun Run was initiated in his honour and continues to be held to this day.

The event is a fundraiser for the Lismore-based charity Our Kids, which raises money to purchase lifesaving equipment for local hospitals.

See the Darrell Chapman Fun Run on Facebook.

Learn more about Exercise Science at Southern Cross University.