Two Passions, Kevin Cameron
Publication date: March 2025
PB, 232pp
ISBN: 978-1-0670519-0-7
“An engaging, funny, and endearing account of a couple who fell in love not once, but twice, amid the demands of international sport and broadcasting.”
SYNOPSIS
Jan Cameron lived for swimming. An Olympic silver medallist at the 1964 Tokyo Games, she later became one of the most respected swim coaches in Australasia, guiding athletes to success at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and beyond. Known as “the Godmother of Australian and New Zealand Swimming,” her influence on the sport was profound and enduring.
Kevin Cameron lived for television. From his early days as a cadet at NZBC to becoming Director of Sport at Sky Television, his career spanned the golden age of New Zealand broadcasting. Combining a love of sport and music, Kevin brought unforgettable events to life for viewers nationwide.
But their greatest story was their own. Teen sweethearts who reunited after nearly two decades apart, Jan and Kevin built a life together, balancing high-profile careers with a deep, unshakable bond. Often dubbed the “power couple” of sport and broadcasting, their shared journey was one of passion, resilience, and love.
Two Passions is a heartfelt memoir that weaves together Jan’s remarkable legacy in swimming, Kevin’s groundbreaking work in television, and their extraordinary love story. Insightful, inspiring, and deeply personal, it’s a celebration of two lives lived to the fullest.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Cameron spent a lifetime working in Television. Beginning his career in 1965 as the medium itself was evolving, he progressed from a television cadet to a Presentation Director, Sports Presenter/Reporter, Producer/Director, and ultimately a television executive. He worked with TVNZ (formerly the NZBC), Sky New Zealand, and since 2013, as a global freelance consultant while continuing some producer roles.
In May 1990, Kevin joined Sky New Zealand as Head of Sport, just three months before it launched. He served as Director of Sport from 1993 until his retirement in 2013, after which he relocated to Australia and took on various consultancy roles. Notably, he collaborated with IMG (International Management Group) and World Rugby for the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. Additionally, he was the Executive Producer for the Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific home fixtures in 2023 and 2024, working closely with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation to elevate their production quality to match that of established broadcasters like Sky NZ, Channel Nine, and Stan Sports Australia.
Kevin was married to Jan Cameron, formerly Jan Murphy and then Jan Talbot. Jan was an Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalist for Australia. Jan carved out a highly successful coaching career, primarily in Australia, and then Canada, and eventually New Zealand, where she transformed a struggling club into the top swimming club in the country for over ten years. She also served as Head NZ coach during that time.
Their lives intertwined since 1961...
The book, "Two Passions," chronicles their unique love story, interwoven with their respective careers in the television industry, and Jan's impressive coaching career, highlighting the growth of both fields over the years.
Jan passed away in April 2018.
Early days in the 1970s, as a reporter/director – filming an event, then overseeing the edit, and the writing of a script for a voice report over the action.
Jan in thoughtful mode. PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPH BY ADRIAN MALLOCH
Kevin was the producer of many Olympic and Commonwealth Games from 1984, including the 2012 London Olympics.
Jan, happy and content – with the realisation of her dream – a 50-metre pool, which opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health, now known as AUT Millennium High Performance Centre. PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTOSPORT LTD
Jan in coaching mode at the Millennium High Performance Centre. PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTOGRAPH BY ADRIAN MALLOCH