Michael Whybrew
Michael Whybrew, also known as Mike Whybrew, is an Australian paintball player, business owner, tournament organiser and industry representative. He is a co-founder of Action Paintball Games, associated with equipment retailer Paintballshop.com, and an organiser of the Australian Super 7s tournament series.[1][2]
Whybrew is also a founding figure and long-serving president of the Australian Paintball Industry Association (APIA), through which he has advocated for changes to Australian paintball legislation, particularly in New South Wales.[3][4]
Paintball career
[edit]Whybrew began playing paintball in 1987, according to a 2023 interview with Paintball Nerd.[1]
In the same interview, he stated that he began playing professional paintball in 1991 with Sydney SWAT, a team he established.
Sydney SWAT subsequently became an established Australian tournament paintball team, competing in domestic professional competitions.[1][2]
Paintball industry
[edit]Action Paintball Games
[edit]According to the company's published history, Whybrew and John Caruana established Action Paintball Games in 1994.[2]
The business operated a commercial paintball facility at Rouse Hill, New South Wales, before establishing its later venue at Yarramundi, near Sydney.
The business became associated with recreational paintball, tournament competition and large-scale scenario events.
Whybrew also became involved in Paintballshop.com, the equipment retail and distribution business associated with Action Paintball Games.[2]
Equipment and brands
[edit]Whybrew has been associated with several paintball equipment brands through his business activities.
A 2008 World Intellectual Property Organization trademark publication identifies Whybrew as the applicant for the Killer Paintball trademark.[5]
Paintballshop.com has distributed equipment from international manufacturers and supported Australian tournaments and professional teams through commercial sponsorship.[2]
Tournament organisation
[edit]Whybrew has been involved in organising the Australian Super 7s, a tournament paintball series held at Action Paintball Games.
The series includes professional, semi-professional and amateur competition, attracting teams from Australia and overseas.
His involvement in event organisation is independently documented in a 2015 report by Sydney Explicit player Aaron McAulay, published by DYE Precision.
McAulay thanked Whybrew, John Caruana and Peter Russell for their work hosting and organising the Super 7s.[6]
The series continued at the Yarramundi venue, with events organised across multiple competitive divisions.[7]
Australian Paintball Industry Association
[edit]Whybrew was involved in establishing the Australian Paintball Industry Association (APIA), an organisation representing the interests of commercial paintball operators and related businesses.
An early membership letter written by Whybrew identifies him as president and Peter Russell as vice-president. The letter also describes Whybrew's earlier involvement in regulatory discussions concerning paintball in New South Wales and Western Australia.[3]
New South Wales regulatory reform
[edit]Whybrew became a prominent industry representative during efforts to reform New South Wales paintball legislation.
In August 2018, Australasian Leisure Management identified him as APIA president in its reporting on proposed changes to the state's paintball regulations.[4]
The reforms included lowering the minimum participation age from 16 to 12 and transferring the regulation of paintball markers from firearms legislation to a separate framework administered by NSW Fair Trading.
Whybrew publicly welcomed the proposed reforms, particularly the reduction in the playing age and the removal of paintball markers from the state's firearms classification.[4]
The Paintball Act 2018 subsequently commenced on 1 July 2019.
Whybrew continued to participate in regulatory consultation. On 2 February 2023, he signed an APIA submission to the New South Wales Government concerning the draft Paintball Amendment Bill 2022.[8]
The association's published committee directory identifies Whybrew as acting president and media relations representative, although the page does not specify when the listing was last updated.[9]
Media appearances
[edit]On 5 April 2023, Paintball Nerd published an interview with Whybrew as part of its Industry Impact series, hosted by Zyzek Barro.
The interview discussed his playing career, Sydney SWAT, Action Paintball Games, the Australian Super 7s and his work representing the paintball industry.[1]
See also
[edit]- Sydney SWAT
- Action Paintball Games
- Australian Super 7s
- Australian Paintball Industry Association
- Paintballshop.com
- Paintball in Australia
References
[edit]- Paintball Nerd, "Industry Impact Interview with Mike Whybrew", 5 April 2023. Interview hosted by Zyzek Barro.
- Paintballshop.com, "About Us", company history, founders, retail operations and tournament sponsorship.
- Australian Paintball Industry Association, "APIA Letter to Members", undated historical membership letter written by Michael Whybrew.
- Australasian Leisure Management, "NSW to ease regulations on paintball activities", 8 August 2018.
- World Intellectual Property Organization, Gazette of International Marks, No. 49/2008, "Killer Paintball" trademark registration.
- DYE Paintball, "Sydney Explicit Reborn / Australian Super 7's Paintball Series Round 1", 2015.
- Super 7s Paintball, official tournament website, competition divisions and Yarramundi venue.
- Australian Paintball Industry Association, submission concerning the Draft Paintball Amendment Bill 2022, signed by Michael Whybrew, 2 February 2023.
- Australian Paintball Industry Association, "APIA Committee Hierarchy", published organisational directory.