Our Ambassadors

Legends spreading the word to
End the Coward Punch

Be Wise - Pat Cronin Foundation

The Pat Cronin Foundation is honoured to have a number of ambassadors who generously give of their time to help us spread the message to Be Wise and End the Coward Punch.

Matthew Richardson

Matthew “Richo” Richardson was a successful AFL footballer, playing 282 games with the Richmond Football Club. Since retiring, Richo has become a strong media performer, featuring on a number of Channel Seven sporting shows, and as a football commentator on both television and radio.

Sam Switkowski

Sam Switkowski

Sam Switkowski is a current player in the AFL at the Fremantle Football Club. Sam played junior football with Pat and is passionate about supporting the work of the Pat Cronin Foundation. Sam co-ordinated a Walk to Anywhere event in Perth attracting 30 supporters of the Foundation.

Peter Helliar - Pat Cronin Foundation Ambassador

Peter Helliar

Peter Helliar is a well-known comedian, actor, television presenter and writer. Since 2014 Peter has been one of the regular hosts of The Project on Network Ten. Peter first participated in the 2019 Be Wise Walk to the Valley and cited it as one of his top 10 highlights of the 2019 year.

When Matt and Robyn approached him to assist the Foundation as an Ambassador, he didn’t hesitate to help us out.

Mark Murphy

Previously principal at Marcellin College, Bulleen (VIC), Mark has been involved in Catholic Education for 30+ years and attended Whitefriars as a student, graduating in 1982.

Mark is our first Education Ambassador, and he was only too happy to add his voice to let others in the education sector know about our important work.

Mark is married to Caroline, and they have 5 children (including Luke who was in the same year level as Pat at Whitefriars).

Craig Huggins - Pat Cronin Foundation Ambassador

Craig Huggins

Craig ‘Huggy’ Huggins is a radio broadcaster on Melbourne’s Gold 104.3 and is a family friend of the Cronins. Huggy got to know Pat through the Research Junior Football Club where his son Tye also played.

Huggy has been our MC and Ground Announcer at each of our Be Wise Walks and is always happy to promote our Be Wise message.

Sarah Rowe

From County Mayo, Sarah is a former Republic of Ireland football international who is now one of the stars of the AFLW for Collingwood. Sarah also studies neurolinguistics and loves exploring the part that psychology plays in sport.

Sarah said “After listening to Robyn, I came to understand they’ve gained an incredible sense of purpose in changing attitudes to violence, as well as raising awareness of its potential long-term impacts through an understanding of Pat’s story.

For me, if the initiative can save the lives of others, then the effort will have been worthwhile.”

Matthew Keenan

Matthew is Australia’s pre-eminent cycling broadcaster and leads coverage of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia for Australian audiences, as well as hosting The Bike Lane on SBS Television. Matt is also a regular on SEN, ABC and 3AW Radio, and is a frequent contributor to print media. In addition to Ambassador for the Pat Cronin Foundation, Matthew is an Ambassador for The Baker Institute.

Denis Walter

Denis is a popular tv and radio presenter and media personality His career as a  singer spans forty years, 16 albums and one Be Wise Ball performance.

A proud grandfather of two boys, Denis was awarded the OAM in 2015 for service to the performing arts.

Denis is also a Patron for Cystic Fibrosis Australia and an Ambassador for Dementia Australia.

Interested in featuring one of our ambassadors?