Fairhall (pictured), who is the current head coach of the Hunter Academy of Sport archery talent development program, will now oversee 130 coaches Australia wide.

The 47-year-old said in her new position she wanted to implement programs that would increase involvement in young people and females.

“It’s still quite a male orientated sport,” she said.

“So I want to encourage more juniors and more girls into archery.

She said she also wanted to dispel negative perceptions of archery.

“Some people not affiliated with archery Australia or any clubs go out and shoot kangaroos and that reflects badly on us,” she said.

“But, with some education, people will see that it is a minority of people who are doing the wrong thing.”

She also listed tidying up the coaching programs and

implementing a better communication system as some of her goals in the position.

Fairhall and her husband Peter have run Feral Archery coaching for the past 12 years out of the Maitland Showground.

She said safety and education were paramount at her coaching clinic and were elements she would take into her new job.

“Safety is so important in a sport like this and we’ve never

had an incident at Feral Archery,” she said.

Fairhall was a late starter in archery, but said now it was well and truly a family affair.

“I started 17 years ago when I was 30, so I’m a bit of a late bloomer,” she said.

“All of our kids love the sport and one of our sons, Tynan, was a shadow (reserve) for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.”