The short answer was 'yes'. It was Mark Tronson who founded and pioneered that ministry. He initiated the Sports and Leisure Ministry (SLM) in 1982, and in 2000 (ten years ago) was released by Heads of Churches to serve as chairman of Well-Being Australia which concentrates on athlete respite.
Five years after moving on (2005), the Sports and Leisure Ministry – SLM (registered as Specialised Life-Orientated Ministries Inc), had its name changed to 'Sports Chaplaincy Australia'.
This reflection bought on by Tim Wilson's question, made M V Tronson feel old, but 'good old'.
He tells a story of a lad visiting his grand-parents home, who rushed inside to tell his father that grand-dad's car has the most astonishing technological and wonderful windows, in that they wind up and down with a handle! That is 'good old'.
The old, indeed, can be quite remarkable.
M V Tronson was again reminded of this when cleaning out his shed some years ago, and saw his old wind-up gramophone along with '78' records. They were two famous songs from the 1930s, 'Our Don Bradman' and 'Our Eleven' which provided much inspiration in those difficult times during the depression.
He donated it all to the Bradman Museum in Bowral during the 2006 Festival of Cricket (he was the Chaplain). Those donated items have now been restored and are on display for everyone to marvel and enjoy. That is 'good old'.
The Well-Being Australia ministry logo includes a 'Dove with the twig of life' taken from the crest of the ancient Tronson du Coudray family's 'Coat of Arms', dating back to 1580. Moreover several of his ancestors have been associated with Christian ministry, generation after generation. That too is 'good old'.
"These symbols are a reminder of my profound Christian heritage", M V Tronson explained. This logo's story can be read on the website http://bushorchestra.com/family_logo/LogoStory.html
One is also reminded of the treasuring and reverence of the 'old' in Catherine Hankey's famous Christian hymn, when one sings: "Tell me the old old story, of unseen things above."
This "Old old story is good old," Mark Tronson stated. Being passionate about the thoughts of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love, is 'good old'.
Yes, life moves on, many have forgotten (or don't even know) of Mark Tronson's eighteen years of struggle and heart ache pioneering the Sports and Leisure Ministry, and he smiles at the politics, how those 18 years are now given but a passing mention in that ministry's web site.
Yet, Mark Tronson said they were very good years, and that too is 'good old'.
He was a locomotive engineman for 10 years before entering seminary in 1977 and has since then he has written 16 books on railways and after 40 years be became the Footplate Padre. That too is 'good old'.