Two new members were inducted into the Cessnock City Hall of Fame on Monday.
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Soldier and community volunteer Peter Rosemond CSC, OAM, was inducted for his public service while motorcyclist Phil Lovett was recognised for his sporting achievements.
Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said that the awards were established to recognise those individual and families who have a strong association with the communities of the Cessnock local government area and who have achieved prominence in their chosen field of endeavour.
Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon paid tribute to the two men and said that it is a very important to recognise those individuals who make the community a success.
Born in Victoria, Peter Rosemond moved to Cessnock when he was a child and started his career with the army in 1967.
Among his achievements, Peter was appointed to his final role as Regimental Sergeant Major of the army in 1996 and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2001.
In recent years, Peter’s tireless efforts in the Cessnock community lead to the evolution of the PCYC including the opening of the new state-of-the-art complex in August.
Similarly, Hall of Fame inductee Phil Lovett has proudly represented the Cessnock area through a long and impressive career.
Demonstrating a passion and obvious talent for motorcycle racing from a very early age, Phil first made his mark on the sport in 1977 when he came outright second in the Hunter 500 two day event held near Cessnock.
He went on to win numerous titles including becoming the first Australian to win a gold medal in the International Six Day Trial and the Finke Desert Race, where he won gold in 1981, 1982 and 1985 and still holds the record for the most placings in this event.
In more recent years, Phil has focused on road motorcycle racing and is now arguably the fastest 50-plus road racer in Australia and possibly the world.
Unfortunately Phil was unable to attend Monday’s ceremony as he is currently competing in New Zealand.
The two latest brings the total number of inductees in the City of Cessnock Hall of Fame to 54.
They will be further recognised by the installation of a plaque in the Cessnock LGA, inclusion on the Wall of Fame at the Cessnock Performing Arts Centre and on the Council’s Hall of Fame website.
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PETER ROSEMOND, CSC, OAM
Peter Rosemond was born in Mooroopna, Victoria. He moved to Cessnock when he was a child, and grew up in the Cessnock area. Upon leaving school, Peter spent time as an apprentice bricklayer, before starting his career with the Army in 1967.
Peter served as a corporal tank commander in Vietnam in 1969/1970 and was promoted to sergeant soon after he returned home in 1971. As a sergeant he served in a number of armoured positions and also spent two years on exchange with the British Army in Germany.
Peter was promoted to warrant officer in 1978 and enjoyed postings in a range of locations including at the Officer Cadet School in Portsea, Victoria. In 1983 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One and served as a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) for the next 19 years with the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the School of Armour, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Australian Defence Force Academy. In the Australia Day Honours in 1987, Peter was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service as the Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
Peter completed his Army career at Army Headquarters with his appointment in 1996 to his final role as Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army. He concluded his service following the coordination and presentation of the Army Centenary Parade and Dinner in 2001. Peter was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 2001.
During his career, Peter was also involved in organising the Army Tattoo in 1988 as part of the bicentenary celebrations, and also numerous battlefield historical events.
Since leaving the Army, Peter has settled back in Cessnock, taking up roles working with youth, specifically with a number of charity organisations and schools, conducting specialised programs addressing youth issues. He is currently Director of Rock Up Adventures Pty Ltd, Director of Cessnock District Learning Centre and President of Cessnock PCYC.
It has been under Peter’s stewardship of the Cessnock PCYC that the organisation has evolved into what is now, since the opening of its new state-of-the-art complex by the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove in August, one of the major sports facilities for young people in the region. This project took nearly three years to complete, with Peter’s passion, tenacity and hard work being at the forefront at every stage of the task.
The facility is a wonderful testament to Peter’s ongoing commitment to young people and to the wider Cessnock communities.
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PHILL LOVETT
Phil Lovett was born in Cessnock, and is still a resident of the area.
From an early age, Phil demonstrated a passion and talent for motorcycling which he continues to demonstrate today. Indeed, Phil is not able to be present at this induction as he is currently competing in New Zealand.
Phil made his mark on motorcycling early, when he came outright second in the Hunter 500 two day event held near Cessnock in 1977; it was his first enduro, and he rode on a bike that he had borrowed from a friend.
The following year, he competed in the International Six Day Trial, now known as the International Six Day Enduro, an off-road endurance event which is regarded as the Olympics of motorcycling and is held in a different country every year. In 1978, the competition was held in Sweden, and Phil became the first Australian to win a gold medal in the event. Over the following three years, Phil won a further two gold medals, in Germany and Italy, and also a silver medal in France.
Phil also competed in the Enduro when it was held in Australia, in Cessnock, in 1992. In that event, Phil was awarded the bronze medal, after his bike seized in the final moto, unfortunately costing him the gold.
Having risen to international prominence, Phil turned his attention to desert motorcycle racing. The Finke Desert Race is an annual off-road, multi terrain two-day race through desert country from Alice Springs to the Aputula (Finke) community. The 460 km round trip race has the reputation of being one of the most difficult off-road courses, in one of the most remote places in the world. Phil won this race three times, in 1981, 1982 and 1985. He was placed second in 1986 and 1988, and third in 1983 and 1992. He holds the record for the most placings in this event.
In more recent years, Phil has focused on road motorcycle racing. In 2009 he won the Pro Twins Class in the 6 hour race at Oran Park, and in 2011 was placed first in the Formula Extreme Formula Oz Class Series and also the Pro Twins Class in Formula Extreme Series.
Phil Lovett is arguably the fastest 50 plus road racer in Australia and possibly the world, despite participating in road racing for only five years. In that time he has won three national championships.