the official magazine of the sport australia hall of fame VOL 39 Dec 2015 page 07 DAY TAKES OUT ‘THE DON’ page 06 AWARD SARGEANT LEGEND page 04 2015 page 11 NEW GALA DINNER BOARD HIGHLIGHTS APPOINTMENTS YOU CAN NOW facebook.com/thesahof FIND US AT: twitter.com/SportAusHoF instagram.com/sportaushof Jason Day was crowned the winner of the In this issue page 2015 “The Don” Award and it was a delight to have his Mother, Denning Day in attendance to collect the trophy. In a year when Australian Chairman’s Message 02 sport has captivated us like few others before, the 12 nominees for “The Don” truly Major Sponsor’s Message 03 epitomised the essence of the Award that is regarded as the highest honour that can be Gala Dinner 2015 04 bestowed on a contemporary athlete or team. Sir Donald would be proud! This year the Board saw fit to the honour the bravery, mateship and sportsmanship displayed by Mick Fanning and Julian Wilson chairman’s during Fanning’s encounter with a shark in South Africa with the very prestigious “Spirit of Sport” award. The Award has only been 04 message awarded five times since its inception in 2005 and is reserved for those moments that are 2015 Legend - Anne Sargeant 06 2015 has been an exceptional year destined to be firmly etched in Australia’s for The Sport Australia Hall of Fame. illustrious sporting history. It was two very 2015 ‘The Don’ Award winner 07 It is a great honour to chair this proud Mums’ in Liz Osbourne (Mother of Mick) organisation which not only preserves and Nola Wilson (Mother of Julian) who took 2015 Inductees 08 our very important sporting history, to the stage to accept the award. but also provides the opportunity to celebrate our nation’s greatest sporting To have worn the “green and gold” is a achievers; past, present and future. privilege close to the hearts of all Members. Importantly it also paired with a strong desire Our celebration of both historical and to leave a legacy greater than our sporting contemporary athletes, support staff and achievements alone. Our Scholarship & sporting moments is unique and certainly Mentoring Program provides a remarkable underpins the success and positioning of pathway for this legacy, as it personally 08 our annual Induction and Awards Gala connects the nation’s next wave of talent with Dinner, which is proudly presented by Australia’s greatest sporting superstars as Great Sporting Moments 09 Etihad Airways. their personal Mentors, nurturing them on From all reports, this year’s Gala Dinner their journey, both as athletes and young Team Sport 09 was the best yet. A sold-out event, a record people. In a unique element, the majority of Australia Award attendance of 1060 guests, the largest ever our athletes are partnered with Members from gathering of Australian world champions under differing sports, offering an unparalleled insight Spirit of Sport Award 09 the one roof, and the awarding of the nation’s into what it takes to be the “best of the best”. highest sporting honours all melded to We welcomed five outstanding young 2016 Scholarship 10 reinforce this event as Australian sports Australians into the 2016 Program where they & Mentoring Program “Night of Nights”. A highlight for all was the will benefit not only from the personal formal welcome to the Ballroom of over 90 mentoring, but also by way of a $5,000 SAHOF Vale 11 esteemed Members of the Hall. sporting grant along with an international airfare from our Major Sponsor, Etihad We welcomed eight new Inductees, six Athlete New Board Appointment 11 Airways. Leading the Mentor group this year Members; Priya Cooper OAM (Swimming), is none other than Dawn Fraser AO MBE, Ryan Bayley OAM (Cycling), Ricky Ponting arguably the greatest athlete this country News from the NSM 12 AO (Cricket), Leisel Jones OAM (Swimming), has ever produced, who takes on 18 year Casey Stoner AM (Motorcycling), Norm old Goulbourn lawn bowler Ellen Ryan. What Victoria University 13 Provan (Rugby League) and two General an opportunity for these young dream builders. Members, Helen Brownlee OAM (Olympic My sincerest thanks to all of our Mentors, past Snippets 14 Movement/Canoeing) and John O’Neill AO and present for their commitment to this very (Rugby Union/Football). Our Membership now valuable Program. Member Moments 15 stands at 541 and represents 160 years of Australian sporting history. Collectively, this Please diarise this date for the 2016 group is undoubtedly Australia’s premier Induction and Awards Gala Dinner to sporting team. be held on Thursday October 13th, at VOL 39 December 2015 Palladium at Crown in Melbourne. We Member Anne Sargeant OAM became the expect that this event will once again sell-out first female from a team sport to be Elevated early, so if you’d like to confirm your table to Legend Status when she was named as the ahead of bookings opening in July, please “Official 37th Legend of Australian Sport”. 02 Chairman’s Message inspiring cohort of Australian sporting stars We also delivered more choice for Victorian past and present. He was particularly travellers with a second daily non-stop Boeing delighted to meet many of the Legends as 777 service between Melbourne and Abu well as the five young participants of the Dhabi in August, becoming the only airline to Scholarship and Mentoring Program, of fly twice daily non-stop between the Victorian which Etihad Airways is the sponsor. capital and the United Arab Emirates. As a business, we draw inspiration from The We have committed to further investment Sport Australia Hall of Fame partnership – in the Australian market in 2016 with the particularly the celebration of sporting prowess launch of daily A380 services to Melbourne – as it underscores what can be achieved on and the opening of our own luxurious First the world stage through goal-setting, and Business Class Lounge at Melbourne’s coaching, dedication, and hard work. Tullamarine Airport. These same values are the drivers of our We look forward to bringing Australian sponsor’s own ambition – to be the world’s best airline travellers and The Sport Australia Hall of Fame – a goal we have pursued passionately Members more exciting news in the New Year. through a number of major landmark Whatever you have planned this festive message investments in Australia. season, from all of us at Etihad Airways, may 2015 has been another momentous In March, we unveiled a new advertising it be safe and happy and may the year ahead year – for Australian sport and for campaign featuring Australia’s own Hollywood be the best yet. Etihad Airways. A year when Australian superstar, Nicole Kidman. The ads, in sportsmen and women made headlines newspapers, magazines and on TV nationwide, on every continent, and Etihad Airways showcase our ground-breaking new aircraft became the talk of discerning air cabins, and demonstrate how Etihad Airways travellers the world over. continues to rewrite the traditional aviation rule From a partnership perspective, this year’s book, this time completely ‘reimagining’ the undisputed highlight was the annual Induction flying experience. James Hogan and Awards Gala Dinner. The gala event is In June, the airline brought new levels of luxury, always a proud moment us, and so it was President and Chief Executive Officer comfort and style to air travel for Australians with regret that I was unable to attend this Etihad Airways with the launch of our flagship Airbus A380 year, our seventh consecutive year as services to Sydney and the revolutionary new Presenting Partner. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Brisbane. These Our Vice President of Sponsorships Patrick brand new, state-of-the-art aircraft feature Pierce, who attended on my behalf, spoke Etihad Airways’ game-changing, next- glowingly of the night, commenting how generation cabins – including, on the A380, wonderful it was to be in the presence of an The Residence, the world’s only three-room private cabin on a commercial airliner. Chairman’s message continued... contact the office in early February to go onto in 2015. My personal thanks to departing I wish you and your families a safe and happy the priority listing. Board Directors Lindsay Gaze OAM, who festive season, and look forward to seeing has stepped down as a Board Director you in 2016. We are immensely proud of our long term after a remarkable 18 years of service and relationship with Major Sponsor Etihad Elizabeth Proust AO whose contribution Airways and extend our appreciation to over the past 5 years has been outstanding. President and Chief Executive Officer James I also farewell and thank our Administration Hogan and his team in developing such a & Communications Co-ordinator, Lauren Hill mutually beneficial partnership. Our grateful who will leave us at the end of the year to thanks also to our partners; DrinkWise join her family’s business. I am delighted to Australia, the Australian Sports announce three recent Board appointments Commission, Channel Seven Melbourne, John Bertrand AM and welcome, John O’Neill AO (Member), NewsCorp Australia, Victoria University, Catherine Harris AO PSM (Independent) Chairman the Melbourne Cricket Club and the and Sally Capp (Independent) to their new Sport Australia Hall of Fame National Sport Museum, and to role. Together, the wealth of experience all of our valued supporters and suppliers. of our Board ensures we are well placed My thanks to our Advisory Board, Board to continue the valuable role we play as Directors, Selection Committee, Members custodian of our nation’s sporting history. and our hard working staff for their efforts sponsor’s message 03 1 2 3 4 GALA DINNER 2015 The 31st Sport Australia Hall of Fame The Members’ VIP Reception, preceding the Highlights included the Induction of eight new Induction and Awards Gala Dinner, held Dinner saw Selection Committee Chairman, Members and the awarding of the prestigious in Melbourne in October was a resounding Robert de Castella AO MBE introduce our ‘The Don’ Award to champion golfer, Jason Day.