Dunedin (Thursday, 3 December, 2009) – University of Technology Sydney  student Tess Niemand will be next year’s ACC New Zealand Masters Games volunteer co-ordinator.

Tess, who is studying for a Masters Degree in Management, majoring in Event Management, approached ACC NZ Masters Games Manager Aaron Joy when he was at the Worlds Masters Games in Sydney in October.

“I immediately thought we could use her skills,” Mr Joy said.

Her university is paying for 140 hours of the internship and Masters Games are picking up her accommodation costs and paying for the remainder of her hours.  She arrives in Dunedin early in January and will stay until the pack down after the Games is complete.

A netball fanatic, Tess was a netball umpire at the Worlds and is looking forward to furthering her experience at public events with the Masters Games bringing together three of her passions – events, sport and travel.

Also joining the Games team in January is University of Otago Sports Management student Simone Jacobs who will be organising the Twilight 400 social event.  Like Tess, the role will go towards helping Simone complete the requirements of her degree.

Tess’s appointment was announced at the first volunteer’s meeting for the Games which was on Thursday night, 3 December at the Sir Clifford Skeggs Gallery.

Early Bird registrations closed on Monday, 30 November with 3700 paid registrations processed – 168 more than at the same time in 2008 (the last time the Games were held in Dunedin).