My name is Courtney Walsh. I have been a journalist for 20 years, most recently working for The Australian as the chief football and tennis writer, while also contributing to several radio stations.

I am writing this reference for Harper Pestinger in the hope it furthers his ability to pursue his studies in journalism with a view to a career in the industry.

I met Harper through the podcast titled “Where Do We Begin?”, which covered various aspects of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. My contributions related primarily to tennis given the experience that I have covering the sport.

There are several elements of Harper’s endeavour which impressed me. His initial approach detailed what plan that he and fellow podcast Lachie Gibbs had for “Where Do We Begin?”.

It was clear from both the lead-in to the Olympics and the contact that occurred during the Games that Harper was organised, capable of being flexible in regards to changing circumstances, and determined to make the podcast as informative as possible.

Harper demonstrated a depth of knowledge that indicated he had researched the subjects the podcast was covering during the Olympics. He also grasped some of the key stories that unfolded in Tokyo and was able to pursue those topics through questioning that added insight to the coverage.

Given his enthusiasm, I am sure that Harper will flourish further as he continues to pursue his education and adds more experience and skill to his talent.

I would recommend Harper as a worthy recipient of a scholarship or internship opportunity. Please feel free to contact me if further information is required.

Yours sincerely,

Courtney Walsh