Garry Porter

Coach of the Year 2025

Garry Porter has been a member of the Dunedin Archery Club for over 47 years, with his contribution over the past year being particularly significant.

As coordinator of beginner coaching at Dunedin Archery Club, Garry introduced 57 new archers to the sport in 2025 alone, creating inclusive and well-supported pathways that have led many into ongoing club membership, and numerous archers over the years.He guides the development of coaching resources for these beginner classes alongside members of the coaching team, and clearly communicates to our coach co-ordinator any specific needs of particular learners to ensure appropriate coaching support is provided. As a result, our beginner courses are extremely successful and have a high rate of continuation into club membership.

Garry is widely respected for his patience, kindness, and leadership. This has been especially evident in his work with para-archer Paul Wallace. Beginning with limited direct experience in para-archery, Garry committed hundreds of hours to learning, adapting equipment, researching international practice, and providing individualised coaching. Under his guidance, Paul became a classified para-archer at the Neroli Fairhall tournament in 2025 and competed in six tournaments during the year.

Garry’s leadership is defined by humility, inclusivity, and a genuine commitment to removing barriers to participation. His impact has been felt not only by individual athletes but across the wider archery and coaching community.

If you have been through a beginners course with the DAC, then you have met our Garry.  Garry first started with the club back in 1979, where another of our local legends, Pam Gordon, was his first coach.  Over the years, Garry has also been heavily involved with his dear friend, Graeme Marrett, along with other wheelchair archers.

Garry and Paul

Paul suffered a stroke following an accident several years ago which left him aphasic (significant communication impairment) and hemiplegic on his right side. He has a heavy motorised wheelchair, a tablet to aid communication, and a dedicated wife (Janne) who supports Paul in every way possible. Prior to Paul’s interest in archery, he struggled with motivation and low mood. With Garry’s support, Paul has a new lease on life.

Garry’s commitment to Paul’s development is nothing short of extraordinary. He has dedicated hundreds of hours to developing coaching techniques with Paul, providing personal coaching sessions several times a week, experimented with different adaptive archery gear such as mouth tabs, and supported Paul to achieve several milestones through attendance at archery tournaments. Paul has competed at major tournaments across the South Island, from Invercargill to Christchurch.

Garry clearly keeps up to date with current coaching practice, sharing tips with other coaches and resources he has discovered in his research. Garry had a new challenge in learning how to effectively coach para-archery, and researched techniques extensively. In order to learn more about the issues facing Paul, he contacted local organisations with specialist knowledge. He also connected with knowledgeable coaches overseas, in particular Australia. He can be regularly seen working on different approaches with Paul to find the right fit for Paul’s style and physical limitations. Garry is an active experimenter who observes the impact of new approaches and adapts his techniques accordingly.