Named: The Queensland women leading the charge in grassroots sport
Their names aren’t up in lights, and they don’t receive the same accolades — nor salary — as the elite, but this group of inspirational women are the backbone of grassroots sport across Queensland, from Cairns to the Gold Coast. Meet more than 100 of them here.
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Their names aren’t up in lights, and they don’t receive the same accolades — nor salary — as the elite, but this group of inspirational women are the backbone of grassroots sport across Queensland.
They’re the women who arrive first and leave last for Saturday sport, the ones who will jump behind the clubhouse canteen for hours without a fuss, and the ones continually pushing for equality in a world that doesn’t make it easy for female athletes.
Without them, our greatest sporting icons — of any gender — wouldn’t exist.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, News Corp’s Queensland regional reporters have gone into the hive of local sports across the state to help celebrate just some of the state’s most brilliant women.
Meet more than 100 of Queensland’s best.
Rockhampton
Jenny Hilcher
It’s all about community for Jenny Hilcher, who serves at the merchandise tent at the CQ Capras’ home games.
“I just love being part of the community just feel that the more we get involved in our community the better it is for our community,” she says of her volunteer role of the past decade.
“It’s just lovely meeting people whose son or daughter plays with the Capras or they’ve come to see a relative or they’re new people in town and can promote the area and tell them about it and our teams.”
One of her fondest memories with the club is scoring the playing jersey of Cameron Munster in an auction before he left Rockhampton to join the Melbourne Storm.
“It’s great being part of the Capras family and community is what it’s all about.”
Shannon Littleboy
Shannon Littleboy has carved her own piece of sporting history.
She was the first woman elected president at Rockhampton’s largest junior rugby league club, Rockhampton Brothers, back in 2021.
She still holds the post and is also now the head trainer of the CQ Capras under-19 women.
It’s her family’s association with the game that got her involved – and she could not be more excited about it.
A mother-of-four, she works full-time as the Indigenous development officer at The Cathedral College
She juggles her work and family life to help progress the sporting clubs in which she’s involved and loves nothing more than to see young players kicking goals in the game.
Amanda Ohl
Ohl has been instrumental in the development of female rugby league in Central Queensland, on and off the field.
A talented player, she has channelled her experience and knowledge into coaching, where she enjoyed success with teams such as the Rockhampton Rustlers women, who won consecutive 47th Battalion titles.
She was appointed head coach of the CQ Capras women in 2020 for the inaugural season of the QRL’s statewide competition only for it to be cut short by Covid.
Amanda remained at the helm, taking the team from second last in 2021 to runners-up in 2022, an achievement that earned her the QRL BMD Premiership Coach of the Year.
One of the most outstanding measures of her success is her ability to bring players from across the Central Division, which covers a huge footprint, and mould them into a cohesive playing unit.
She is also an experienced administrator who for a decade has worked as an operations manager with the QRL.
Ella Calleja
The 18-year-old has taken the next step in her burgeoning Aussie rules career, signing with the Southport Sharks who play in the QAFLW.
A natural talent, Ella has all the skills of a fantastic forward. She reads the game well, has speed to burn, can kick off both feet and possesses a great vertical leap.
Part of the Gold Coast Suns Academy, she represented Queensland at the NAB AFLW under-18 national championships and was a member of the North Queensland women’s team last year.
A member of the Yeppoon Swanettes, she was named Player of the Final after the team claimed its maiden premiership in 2022 in the AFL Capricornia senior women’s comp.
She was also named the competition’s Best and Fairest in 2021 and 2022.
Kim Applewaite
She’s the bubbly personality who sells you a hot pie or a cold beer with a warm smile and some lively conversation.
Kim has been the canteen convener for Rockhampton Cricket since 2018, devoting countless hours to the role.
It’s a labour of love for the mother of two, who got involved in cricket as a scorer when her eldest son Travis started playing for Frenchville at age 10.
“I would always score for the Frenchville junior teams and any time Travis played rep for Rockhampton or Central Queensland we would take him where he had to go and would score there as well,” she said.
Kim said people put her name forward for the convener’s job, knowing that her penchant for hard work and her excellent organisational skills would make her an ideal candidate.
Her job involves ordering food and beverages, restocking the fridges, making fresh sandwiches, salad bowls and fruit bowls and also ensuring the facilities are spick and span.
Alenna Whipp
Eighteen-year-old Alenna is proving to be a dual code sensation, scoring state honours in both league and union.
The crafty playmaker plays her club league with Rockhampton Brothers and is a pivotal member of the CQ Capras under-19 women’s team.
In 2021, she made the Queensland Country under-17s and last year, represented the Queensland Sapphires at the under-19 nationals in Brisbane.
Alenna has established herself as a rising star in union as well.
She starred in Frenchville’s premiership win in the 2022 Rugby Capricornia women’s 7s competition, named Player of the Final. She was the first female to receive Frenchville’s Player of the Year award.
She was selected for the CQ Bushrangers, and was one of the youngest players to represent the Queensland Country Orchids.
Sienna Harmsworth
The latest member of the Harmsworth family making a mark in hockey, young Sienna had an exceptional 2022.
She captained the Capricornia primary schoolgirls team which finished second at the state championships, and was one of only two 11-year-olds then selected in the Queensland under-12 team which won gold at the nationals.
She was Player in the Final in Rockhampton’s win at the North Queensland under-11 carnival.
Sienna, who plays with Wanderers in the Rockhampton Hockey Association competition, was Player of the Final and Player of the Year in the under-12 division, and an integral member of the club’s under-15 premiership-winning team.
She rounded the year out by being named a shadow for the Queensland under-13 indoor hockey team after starring for the Rockhampton team that finished third at the state championships.
Sally Vagg
A star performer from the Rocky City Swimming Club, Sally is a multi-state and national medallist who swam at the 2021 Olympic trials.
A highlight for the 16-year-old came in 2022 when she represented the Australian Junior Dolphins at the 2022 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Hawaii.
There she gained invaluable experience competing in three races in her pet stroke, the butterfly.
She is a consistent performer and her greatest strengths are her ability to hold technique and finish races strongly.
She is gearing up for another big year, with one of her main goals to make the Australian team for the 2023 World Junior Championships.
Lillian Yarrow
The hard-running front rower has the rugby league scene buzzing and is touted as a genuine NRLW prospect.
Lillian was an integral member of the victorious Queensland Country under-17 team in 2021 and made the Queensland Sapphires under-19 squad last year.
After starring for Emmaus College, she was named the inaugural winner of the Reg Cannon Award for the Female Player of the Carnival at the 2022 Confraternity Carnival.
She was in the Queensland team that played in the first-ever Australian schoolgirls clash, which was the curtain-raiser to the 2022 women’s Stage of Origin at Suncorp Stadium.
She claimed another piece of footy history when selected in the Australian schoolgirls team – the first to travel and to play in an international fixture. The Aussies scored a convincing 48-nil win against Fiji.
Isabelle Shearer
It was clear the Rockhampton netball was destined for big things as soon as she set foot on a court with Frenchville as a seven-year-old alongside her twin sister Katelyn.
She started playing Senior A netball at age 14 and representative honours quickly followed. Isabelle became a mainstay in Queensland underage teams and in 2019, she was selected in Netball Australia’s under-17 squad and Tall Athlete National Squad, travelling to the AIS in Canberra for training camps.
The Cathedral College graduate moved to Brisbane in late 2020, where she has continued to flourish.
In that year, she made the Queensland and national under-17 squads and in 2021 earned the same honours in the under-19 division. In 2022, she played for Queensland at the national under-19 championships and represented the Queensland Sapphires at the Australian championships.
She was also identified by Netball Australia under the AIS framework as Emerging Athlete, and included in the North Queensland Emerging Athlete Program designed to support high-performance development.
She has just been signed as a training partner with the Queensland Firebirds for 2023.
Taryn Roberts
A hunger to learn and a penchant for hard work are two of the key ingredients that have helped propel the Rocky City swimmer to incredible success in the pool and open water.
Taryn, 16, goes into every meet with a demanding schedule – and delivers every time, bringing home countless medals and awards at every level of competition.
At just 14, she swam at the Olympic trials in 2021 and late last year produced very respectable results in her first international competition, representing Queensland at the Japan Invitational and the Japan Open in Tokyo.
She then lined up at the states in Brisbane in December, clocking some of her fastest times in 18 months, a positive sign as she sets her sights on selection for the 2023 World Junior Championships.
Charlie Sterling
The teenage tennis star continues to serve up success and had a year to remember in 2022, which culminated in her being crowned the Central Region Player of the Year.
She won the Queensland Junior Development Series’ 15 years girls title, as well as registering three tier one wins at tournaments in Gladstone, Rockhampton and Mackay.
Charlie won the Emerald Open Ladies singles and represented Central Region at the Queensland Teams Event in Brisbane.
She has a well-rounded game complimented by incredible speed around the court.
She is tenacious and has a great work ethic, traits which will hold her in good stead as she looks to improve her UTR rating by playing more state and national tournaments.
Sophie Driscoll
The talented guard’s talent is catching attention on the local scene and beyond.
Sophie led the Rockhampton Cyclones under-18s to the Central Queensland Junior Basketball Competition title in 2022.
She represented Queensland North at the national championships as a bottom age player, holding her own against more experienced and more senior players.
A member of the Rockhampton Cyclones NBL1 squad, she is set to get more minutes on court this season as she continues her rise through the ranks.
Leanne Caban
The 54-year-old rider from Emerald has one of the most decorated – and enduring – careers on the rodeo circuit.
Her most recent success came at the Australian Professional Rodeo Association National Finals in November last year.
There she won the barrel racing title, something she’s desired since she first started in the sport more than 30 years ago. She also took home the All Around cowgirl buckle.
Leanne grew up around horses, and started doing pony club and campdrafting, as well as track work for her father who had a number of race horses.
She was introduced to rodeo at 18 and never looked back, amassing an impressive array of titles, many of them at the prestigious Mt Isa Rodeo.
Mariah Storch
The proud Central Highlands product has forged an incredible career since starting league at age 17 in Blackwater.
The tireless second rower twice represented Queensland Country and won back-to-back NRLW premierships with the Brisbane Broncos in 2018 and 2019.
When Covid put football on hold, Mariah turned her attention to motherhood, welcoming daughter Henley in February 2021.
She returned to competitive sport just eight weeks later, teaming up with the CQ Capras in the BMD Premiership.
Mariah’s big-game experience, passion and leadership were a boon for the team, who she captained to the grand final in 2022.
She was awarded for a standout season, named the QRL BMD Premiership Player of the Year and also included in the competition’s Team of the Year.
Tracy Upton
From developing junior players to playing at an elite level, touch football is in Tracy Upton’s blood.
In her role as general manager of development at Central Queensland Bulls touch football, she oversees hundreds, if not thousands, of players across the broader region.
CQ Bulls send representative players from both junior and senior teams to national and state events and services nine affiliates in the Central Region stretching from Longreach to the Capricorn Coast.
Tracy, who has represented the region many times herself in touch, focuses on the development of players through local clinics and is a respected representative team coach.
She is also assistant coach of the CQ Capras’ women’s rugby league team, which plays in the statewide BMD Premiership.
Kerry Smyth
Rockhampton’s Kerry Smyth has been involved in trampolining for more than 40 years.
She was a competitor for three years in her late teens before making the transition to coaching.
She has been a competition convener since 1985 and coached at every level, holding the position of state and national head coach.
Kerry was head coach at Victoria Park Gymnastic and Trampoline Club in Rockhampton for 35 years before launching her own venture, Extreme Trampoline CQ, in Yeppoon in 2020.
In the same year, she received the Trampoline Special Recognition Award from Gymnastics Australia in 2020.
She said at the time that while it was nice to be acknowledged, it was her athletes who gave her the greatest pleasure.
Among her greatest success stories were Patrick Cooper, who represented Australia at the first Youth Olympics, and Jarrod Smyth, who won five straight world championships.
Georgia Muir
The highly skilled right winger was the 2022 Football Queensland Premier League Central Coast Women’s Player of the Year.
She scored 31 goals for Clinton, the second highest in the competition.
She returned to Gladstone after finishing university in Brisbane, where she gained invaluable experience playing with clubs such as Mitchelton in the Queensland Premier League.
Georgia has fantastic dribbling skills and, as is reflected in her goals tally, her finishing is excellent off both feet.
As quick as lightning, she reads the play well and gets herself into the right place at the right time. She knows when to inject herself and when to drop back and lend support to her teammates.
Jodie Shanks
The Caribeae Swimming Club coach has been one of the most influential coaches in the Central Queensland region.
She has coached numerous young stars to success, as well as being a strong advocate for the importance of swimming lessons for people of all ages.
Jodie has been in the industry for 40 years and is highly regarded and respected by all involved in the sport.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF INSPIRING ROCKHAMPTON WOMEN
Brisbane and surrounds
Jazarah Kamu (golf)
She hails from the football stronghold of Marsden SHS in Logan, but Kamu is using her hand-eye coordination around the golfing greens.
Aged 12, she has a personal best of 79 and “would be really happy if I got anything below that.”
Kamu, who qualified for the prestigious Greg Norman Junior Masters last year, said she loved the sport for a variety of reasons.
“I love making new friends, playing at different golf courses and going on tours to watch professionals play,” she said.
In her corner were her family. “My dad helps me with my game, and my mum, brother and sister support me,” Kamu said.
Kendal Quelchl (National All-Boarding Champion and touch football)
Runcorn SHS’s Kendal Quelchl is a grand, young sporting talent who is excelling in both wakeboarding and touch football.
A relatively new sport, she started all-boarding after looking for an alternative water sport to skiing which she “hated’’.
“So my parents purchased the multi board, and I just thought it was so much fun,’’ Russell said.
“I like that you can do so much on it, you can kneel, stand, lay on it. You can do heaps of tricks which is the best part and it really is for anyone no matter your skill or experience. It’s just heaps of fun.
“I do 12 hours a week training on the water, then I go to a personal trainer twice a week.’’
“I mainly train at Maroon Dam, but in the school holidays I go out to Lake Coolmunda and stay and train there.’’
Quelchl would love the sport to be considered for Olympic or Commonwealth Games status in the future, and aspire to be No. 1 in the world. “I still have a long way to go but it’s definitely achievable. But at the moment I am happy being No 1 in Australia for my age.’’
Quelchl is also a high achiever in touch football.
Indeed she has been in the USA this month playing in a touch football under 15’s mixed team which is travelling to England in July for the Atlantic Youth Cup.
So impressed was Rugby 7s Olympic gold medallist and champion Charlotte Caslick with her achievements, the Queensland sporting champion sent Quelchl two Commonwealth Games training singlets in the mail.
“That was amazing. I wear one and have the other hanging up. Hopefully I will have one of my own to hang beside hers one day.’’
Kaitlin Shave (Rugby 7s)
Shave is a Queensland Reds Rugby 7’s player who proved to be a quick learner in the sport after starring as a sprinter.
As a Year 11 student at Clairvaux MacKillop College, Shave ran a 100m PB of 11.92 seconds to dead heat for first place at the Australian Athletics Championships (under 17s).
She had only ever dabbled in rugby 7s at school, and it was not until late 2018 that she played “my first proper 7’s competition Bond University.
“Although I played a little bit of 7’s at school, I never knew the proper rules or how to actually play the game,’’ Shave explained.
“A girl that I used to play touch with got into contact with me and told me that I should come down to Bond University and train with her for the AON Rugby 7’s competition in 2018.
“I went to a couple of sessions before making it into the team for the last round of AON in Adelaide where I was super out of my league.
“However I got picked up from there from the likes of Reg Tayler and Lachlan Parkinson and soon got invited into the Queensland Academy of Sport squad.’’
It was the team environment which really hooked Shave on to the sport.
“I really enjoy the team aspect of Rugby 7’s. I come from a background of gymnastics and sprinting when I was younger which are both very individual sports.
“So getting into playing touch and eventually rugby was a big difference, but I realised I really thrived off a team environment.’’
Grateful for career advice from Alicia Lucas (nee Quirk) who Shave said “paved the way of women playing rugby after winning a gold medal at the Olympics in 2016’’,
Shave said her long term goal was to “eventually get a full-time position in the national program with the Women’s Australian 7’s team.
“My short term ambitions were to try to improve each competition I played and try make my way up the ranks.
“Starting off playing club and now into the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) squad as well as the Australia A squad have all been at one stage short term ambitions for me to achieve.’’
Kiarra Milligan (Diving)
A Carindale native, 19-year-old Milligan was the Australian Junior Diving Team captain who was a top 10 performer at the World International Junior Diving Meet in Montreal, Canada.
Selected onto the “Australian Dream 24/28 team”, she has been identified by Diving Australia as a young woman with the integrity, high skill set and dedication to become a 2024 or 2028 Olympian.
She was eighth in her 3m and ninth in the 1m at the world juniors, and is looking forward to her next International competition, representing Australia at the World University Games in China during August.
Milligan is from a sporting family – with her three sisters having all represented Queensland in a variety of sports.
Kiarra and her twin Denby have represented Australia juniors in diving, while Jayda, 17, and Zarah, 14, have both represented Queensland in water polo.
Twins Kiarra and Denby were first selected to represent Queensland at the age of 9, and travelled interstate every year since then to compete at nationals.
Five years later they were on the Australian Junior Diving Team, competing at the FINA World Junior Diving Championships which were in Ukraine.
Aged 19, the Moreton Bay College alumni now lives in the USA after being offered an International Sporting University Scholarship at the prestigious University Of Michigan.
Jonti Fisher (soccer)
You hear about water babies, well Kelvin Grove State College’s Jonti Fisher was a football bub.
After all she started playing aged three years and just loves everything about the sport. “I love that when I walk onto the field, no matter what the circumstances are, my mind flushes all the negative thoughts away and I can just focus on what I love the most and perform at a high level,’’ Fisher explained.
And she is very good at it as well.
How’s this for a list of achievements:
+ NPLW Rising Star award in South Australia in 2020.
+ Played for Australian under 18’s (Junior Matilda’s) in AFF tournament in Palembang, Indonesia, in July-August 2022.
+ Scored in my Junior Matilda’s debut against Malaysia.
+ Played for Australian under 20s (Young Matilda’s) in Four Nations tournament in Canberra, Australia, in November 2022.
+ Scored in my second game for Young Matilda’s as captain against Fiji Senior Women’s National team.
+ Chosen to represent Australian School Girls in America 2023.
Fisher has been inspired by Alessia Russo, a star player for both the Manchester United and the England Women’s teams.
“She is a great player on the field and an incredible person off the field. This is someone I strive to become as she represents what I thrive for.’’
Luna Shimogaki (figure skating)
Queensland is blessed to have so many exciting young figure skaters and they don’t come more promising than Shimogak, a 13-year-old from the Iceworld Figure Skating Club.
She was just aged five when she first started in the sport after being inspired, believe it or not, by seeing the sport in a cartoon. “ I was watching a cartoon show and got curious to start learning.
“I enjoy jumping, landing my triple jumps which makes me and my coach happy.’’
Shimogaki has long respected Yuzuru Hanyu, a Japanese figure skater because he works harder than anyone and always achieves his goals’’.
“Even if he fails, he always gets back up onto his feet which encourages me to work harder.’’
Shimogaki said her short term ambition was to land “all my triple jumps by the end of the season’’ and her long term goal was to do a clean program in every competition and win a gold medal.
Georgina West (hockey)
A St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School sporting captain, the West is in both an Australian under 18s Futures and also an Australian women’s junior squad member.
A renowned attacking midfielder from Kedron Wavell, she captained the Queensland Maroon (No. 1) side at the 2022 under 18 nationals where she was a prolific goal scorer, and this year will push for selection at the Women’s Junior Word Cups in December 2023.
West is a Queensland under 21s player and member of the Brisbane Blaze senior squad.
Kaylee Tamala (Volleyball and netball)
The year 11 student at Canterbury College is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to court sports.
In 2022, she was a finalist for the Logan City Sports Awards after being named in the U15 Queensland merit teams for both volleyball and netball.
She was also awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament at the U15 National School Girls’ Volleyball Championships, an accolade that makes her highly sort after for 2023.
Tamala is also a first-class sprinter, representing Canterbury as part of their Taipans Athletics Club in the TAS competition.
Isabelle Carnes (Cycling)
Carnes has wasted no time in making her name known in the cycling senior ranks.
In January this year she won the Women’s under 23 Individual Time Trial national championship and finished seventh among the elite women.
At just 18, Carnes placed eighth in the UCI Road World Championships Junior Women’s Individual Time Trial in Wollongong last September. She is a thrilling talent in her sport and one to keep an eye on.
Hannah Casey (swimming)
From the old school of triple Olympic gold medallist Meg Harris (Mt St Michael), the towering Casey is Queensland’s latest freestyle sprint youth sensation.
A Marist College Ashgrove swim club junior, Casey is tall and powerful, not unlike Cate Campbell, which is ironic given her 100m time in her age group is second only to Campbell (53.30) after winning the 100m in 54.30.
She also broke the Australian record for her age group in the 200m freestyle (1:58.49) and is a Queensland senior squad member and Australian junior squad member.
Shalom Sauaso (rugby and league)
Australian under 18s rugby union schoolgirls rep, the Ipswich SHS student is also a rugby league young gun who was a Queensland schoolgirls under 15s merit team selection and has been touted for selection in the under 18s this year.
A strong, powerful runner in dummy half and lock, she has also been gifted with incredible ball skills,’’ said her school coach Veronica White “She is also a dominant defender and will be one to watch.’’
Tallulah Civoniceva and Emilee Solomon (softball)
Civoniceva is a softballing prodigy who keeps on keeping on season after season.
From the Redcliffe Softball Association, the daughter of rugby league legend Petero plays first and third base for the Queensland Heat (Open Women’s) team and has also progressed into the Aussie Diamonds under 18s squad.
She refines her skills playing with the Galveston College in Texas.
Another bright sporting spark is Emilee Solomon, a Brisbane Softball Association junior who pitches for the Queensland Heat.
Like Tallulah, Solomon is a Aussie Diamonds squad member who was named the 2022/23 SQI Super Series Most Valuable Player
Skyla Adams (rugby union and league)
Adams is a thrilling rugby product with great vision and skills.
Her journey in sport started as a prominent netballer and touch football player in Perth, before she moved to the Gold Coast in primary school.
She was initially at Coomera State School and Helensvale SHS, but eventually settled at Keebra Park SHS.
Adams said all her coaches along the way had contributed to her making the Reds Super W squad, but her first touch coach in Queensland, Lawrence Faifua, had played a big role.
“He was my first touch coach and he has always trained me,’’ Adams said.
Sienna Kaczmarczyk (figure skating)
An Australian Figure Skater Junior international representative, the 14-year-old started in the sport 10 years ago at “tiny tots’’ leave after first glimpsing figure skating on television.
“When I was three I saw ice skating on TV on ABC for kids and Dora the Explorer, so I wanted to go and try,’’ the Boondall Ice Skating Club junior said.
“I loved it straight away and I didn’t want to use the skating frame to hold onto.
“I continued to skate and go through the levels. I was about 9 when I started skating more and changed coaches.
“I love ice skating as it’s a constant challenge, as you are always learning new tricks and or trying to perfect them.
“Learning new programs to a different variety of music styles for body movement to dancing on ice.
“It keeps me fit and I love the many friends I have made throughout Australia and overseas.’’
She said win, lose or drawn she loved competing and “it’s always thrilling to get personal best score or to land that new jump you have been working towards perfecting.’’
Amelia Weber (swimming)
She is a junior Dolphin who has won more medals than you can poke a stick at during a glittering All Ages swimming career.
But do you know what arguably the highlight of her career has been so far – it was being co-captain of the St Peters Lutheran College swimming team which won the QGSSSA championship for a record 10th successive year on Wednesday night.
It is a moment she has aspired to achieve since being a Year 6 student, and it was made all the more emotional because she swam with a broken finger.
But wild horses would not have stopped her representing her school that night.
Caitlin Van Der Kruk (golf)
This Kelvin Grove State College golfing ace first started playing aged five and has flourished in the sport since.
Her list of prominent achievements include:
+ 2022 All Australian School Sport Team
+ 2022 All Collegiate Team Member
+ 2022 Kelvin Grove Sportswomen of the Year
+ 2018-2022 Kelvin Grove Female Golfer of the Year
“I enjoy the competitiveness of the game and the opportunity it gives me to meet people around Australia,’’ Van Der Kruk said.
She said she admired Cassie Porter, who recently turned into a WPGA player.
“I used to play against her when I was much younger in junior tournaments and was amazed by her game.
“To now see her reach professional rankings after many hardships is really inspiring,’’ Van Der Kruk said.
Tiresa Elika (rugby league)
Elika outplayed the Newcastle Knights in the recent under 17s Titans future Academy trial game, making huge metres in the middle while dominating with strong defence.
Selected for the under 18s Australian Schoolgirls team which played Fiji last year, Elika’s “discipline will likely help develop her game further in what will be an exciting year of women and girls rugby league this year’’, according to her coach Veronica White.
Susan Croft OAM, Sue Croft Physiotherapy
Susan Croft works behind the scenes to help female athletes live their lives with confidence.
She is a Brisbane-based physiotherapist who specialises in pelvic floor dysfunction, following the motto of ‘earlier rather than later’ to help women of all ages improve their pelvic health.
In 2023, Croft was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her contributions in the field.
Deanne Hamilton, Canterbury Taipans Netball Academy
Deanne Hamilton’s contribution to the netball community extends across the southeast.
In 2022, she was awarded Logan City Coach of the Year and Netball Queensland teacher of the Year.
From 2019-2022, Hamilton served as President of the Carina League Club Tigers (HSS), where the Tigers Ruby side won three of the four seasons.
She has coached championship-winning sides from school to state level and was most recently named as the U19s Queensland school girls coach for the 2023 season.
Shae Graham, Wheelchair Rugby
Librarian by day, wheelchair rugby player by night.
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Graham is the first female athlete to represent Australia in wheelchair rugby.
The 36-year-old competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics after making her international debut in the 2019 Four Nations Tournament — becoming the first female to be selected for the Steelers.
Read more on the Mackay-born inspiration here.
Noela Duncan, Metropolitan Districts Netball Association
Hytec Netball Club life member Noela Duncan has worn many hats in her time as a volunteer.
In 2021, she received the Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Sports Award to add to her list of accolades.
Duncan is the current President of Metropolitan Districts Netball Association and has volunteered at the association for over 40 years.
She is also the current Umpire Development Officer for Netball Queensland, meaning she is always court side using her mentoring skills to help the next generation of officials.
Jessica Cook, Sport Australia Volunteer
Cook is one of the inaugural nine members of the Sport Australia Sports Volunteer Coalition that was established in 2022.
She has been a pioneer for making position change in women’s footy at the Sandgate Hawks Footy Club and has an intense passion for the sport and athletes.
At the club, Cook is a founding member of the Female Growth subcommittee that drives the strategic direction of women’s football.
Full-time, she works in the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport where she is surrounding by her passions.
Katie Mangan, Nanango and Distrcit Netball Association
In October 2022, Katie Mangan was awarded the Netball Queensland Spirit of Netball Award for her pivotal role in raising her regional netball association from ground zero.
Nanango and Districts Netball Association had no registered players in 2021, but with the help of Mangan, reached 110 registrations for 2022.
Elected as President in February and tasked with the impossible, Mangan was involved in every aspect of the association’s administration from buying fruit for players to club operations.
Her efforts did not go unnoticed as players, parents and friends recognised Mangan’s endless work as the driving force for Nanango’s rapid growth.
Lara Lee, Football Queensland
In 2022, Lee was awarded Sports Official of the Year at the City of Logan’s annual sports awards night.
She also received the prestigious Women’s Referee of the Year award at the 2022 Football Australia Dolan Warren Awards.
Lee is a force within Football Queensland, and her list of accolades prove it.
Christine Blackwell, Logan Brothers Rugby League
Christine Blackwell has been loyal to Logan Brothers Rugby League club for countless years.
She serves on the committee as secretary and has seen the club grow in both numbers and atmosphere.
Blackwell not only helps with the books, but is constantly involved in team management, player welfare, and is recognised by members for the time and effort she sacrifices each week.
She is one of the reasons why Logan Brothers continues to produce top athletes, including the likes of NRL representatives Cameron Smith, Josh Papali’i, George Fai and Corey Parker.
Donna Tobin, Sunnybank Rugby League Club
Donna was named a life member of Sunnybank Rugby League Club in early 2023 after years of service.
In 2022, she was a driving force of the club’s financial growth which helped them to develop existing facilities.
As secretary, the club was awarded funding to install a new scoreboard and have their gymnasium fitted out.
“I have been involved with surf lifesaving, swimming and been president of an AFL club and a coach in cricket, but in all my time I have never known anyone to work as hard as Donna does,” said club president Steve Day.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF INSPIRING BRISBANE/LOGAN WOMEN
Toowoomba and Darling Downs region
Courtney-Lee Nolan
The inaugural Toowoomba Rugby League Hancock Edwards Medal winner has been one of the competition’s top performers every season for the Gatton Hawks. A shining example of what hard work and a passion for the game can achieve.
Belinda Slatter
For the past 10 years, Toowoomba’s Belinda Slatter has been living out an increasingly better version of her dream every day. Slatter fell in love with athletics in her school, years and never looked back. Competing at the 2022 Virtus Oceania Asia Games, an international multi-sport competition for athletes with an intellectual impairment, she won heptathlon, 100m and mixed relay silver and gold in the women’s 4x100m relay.
Jackie Gallagher
At Toowoomba Grammar she oversees the development of the school’s athletic program and its student athletes. She also coaches a number of elite athletes and was recently named Sports Darling Coach of the Year.
Sienna Deurloo
Deurloo is one of Toowoomba’s brightest swimming talents. The teenager added another Australian Open Water Swimming Championships gold medal to her trophy cabinet in 2022 winning the Girls 17 years 5km event. She also qualified for the Commonwealth Games trials in three events and despite going up against a more experience field she finished third in the Open 1500m final at the Australian Open Short Course Championships.
Taylah Chapman
The 2022 Sports Darling Downs Junior Para Athlete of the Year is one to watch. She brought home a swag of medals from the 2022 National Championship. Chapman finished with under-15 discus silver, under-17 javelin silver and under-15 long jump bronze. She also recorded a personal best throw to finish fourth in the under-15 shot put and finished fourth in the under-15 100m final.
Lucy Dyson
Dyson is an multi discipline star. At the 2022 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships she won 4x100m under-15 girls gold, 100m silver, 200m bronze and finished fifth in the 400m. She was also named in the Australian under-15 futsal team and will tour Brazil this year.
Chloe Denning
In the space of just a few years Denning has shown great ability in triathlon. The Toowoomba teen added to growing trophy cabinet in 2022 with 16 years silver at the Queensland and Australian schools championships. Denning is also a Triathlon Queensland Development Team Member.
Lizzy King
Holding the reins of one of the Garden City’s biggest clubs is no easy feat, but King has helped the Toowoomba Turf Club go from strength to strength.
King helped the TTC navigate the ‘rough waters’ of Covid-19 enforced restrictions and more recently played a key role in establishing the new King of the Mountain race – Queensland’s richest country race meet.
Maddy Sears
She doesn’t fit the ‘traditional’ horse racing trainer mould, but Sears’ record speaks for itself. Alongside her father Tony, she has produced a number of top class winners in Toowoomba and right across south east Queensland.
Emilee Cherry
The Darling Downs premier women’s Rugby Sevens competition is named after one of Australia’s greatest players for good reason. Cherry first played rugby at Fairholme and continues to inspire young players from the region.
Tori Gallegos
Gallegos ranks among Australia’s weightlifting elite. Competing the 59kg division she finished third at the 2022 Singapore International Weightlifting Tournament, Oceania Weightlifting Association Cup Invitational gold, silver in the 59kg division of the Australian Senior Championships and third overall.
Briana Dascombe
Dascombe has rocketed up the rugby ranks in recent years. After first playing the game at school she went on shine for UniSQ in the Downs Rugby Emilee Cherry Cup. More recently she was named in the Queensland Reds Super Rugby W squad. Dascombe has proven playing country rugby is no barrier to career progression.
Lily Black
She is still one of the youngest players in the team but Black has captained the Queensland Country women’s rugby team for the past three years. She is one of Downs Rugby’s top talents and a great inspiration to young players rising through the ranks.
Kaylin Van Greunen
The sharp shooting teenager is looking to follow in the footsteps of Laura Geitz and Mia Stower. In bid to take her game to the next level and hopefully secure a Suncorp Super Netball contract, Van Greunen will line for the Bond University Bull Sharks in this year’s Netball Queensland Ruby Series.
Jackie Stephson
The QRL League & Club co-ordinator has a massive patch to cover looking after Toowoomba, Warwick and surrounds. Working alongside the TRL she has done a fantastic job administering and growing the game.
Sally Johnston
Johnston has big shoes to fill following the departure of previous general manager Matt Hammond. She has hit the ground running though with a number of initiatives in place already to help grow rugby.
Janelle Sothmann
Sothmann has been a mainstay of Toowoomba soccer for several years – overseeing its growth and expansion from the junior level through the SWQ Thunder.
Jana Anderson
The AFLDD boss was key to another cracking season of Aussie rules on the Downs punctuated by the special appearances of AFL legends Dane Swan and Jason Akermanis in special games.
Jessie McCartney
The new regional hockey and coaching manager is responsible for maintaining THA’s position as a hotbed of regional, state and national level hockey talent.
Meg Englart
The Panthers have gone from strength to strength in recent years and with Englart at the helm that growth is sure to continue. Englart also plays a key role in the development of netball right across the Darling Downs region at the school and club levels.
Lizzie Adams
After video of a Pittsworth man telling an Indigenous player to “shut up you b — c —” aired in 2022, Adams led a campaign to ensure the offender was punished by Toowoomba and Queensland Rugby League. As president, Adams has also been key to Brothers Rugby League Club’s growth in recent years.
Mel Lloyd
Lloyd has been a Thunder mainstay for a number of years. A great positive on the club and region’s juniors, Mel is also one of the FQPL’s best attackers.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF INSPIRING TOOWOOMBA WOMEN
Gold Coast
Michelle Havell
South Coast Netball Association vice president Michelle Havell is a workhorse for the association.
Havell is coach of South Coast’s U17s Elite Premier League coach, coach of the U15s representative team, South Coast coaching co-ordinator and coaches two club teams on top of this.
Havell is also currently undertaking for Advanced Coaching course, all while working full time with two kids.
Havell works hard to provide top level coaching while always ensuring players have fun.
Michelle Bacon
South Coast Netball Association treasurer Michelle Bacon is another tireless worker around netball. Bacon is an U15s rep coach, B badged umpire who coaches juniors on Saturdays, and an EPL umpire. Bacon loves nothing more than giving back to developing young netballers and umpires.
Addison Newlan
Addison Newlan, 14, is an aspiring Olympic sailor who was identified by Maritimo 11’s experienced skipper, Michael Spies, as a great talent of the future with an eye to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Newlan races with Maritimo’s support aboard their yachts in many races and most recently won King of the Derwent on January 2. She was also crew in the Australian Championships, Open Skiff National Championships, Geelong Festival of Sails, and Hamilton Island Race week.
Due to her age, the Foxwell State Secondary College student will have to wait a few more years before she can compete in the Sydney Hobart, but being part of the highly experience crew in many of Australia’s great ocean races is an exceptional opportunity.
Incredibly, the Queensland Cruising Yacht Club (QCYC) have granted Newlan a special exemption for the iconic 308 nautical mile Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, set to be begin on April 7.
Competitors usually need to be aged 16 or over.
“At just 14, Addy has more offshore and other sailing experience than many other older sailors contesting the 2023Gladstone Ports Corporation Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race,” QCYC’s Commodore Ian Gidlow said.
“Addy is an inspiration to all aspiring young sailors across Australia. We commend her on her tenacity and ambitions in sailing and are delighted to have her making sailing history as arguably the youngest ever sailor to compete in the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race.
“Youth sailors such as Addy should be encouraged and supported to pursue their dreams and ambitions at all levels of the sport.”
Kim Boland
Bond University Netball Operations Manager Kim Boland has done a tremendous amount of work around grassroots netball since starting at Bond in recent years.
Boland was a key player involved in the Bull Sharks re-entrance into the Sapphire Series after a year out of the competition, and does plenty of work at club level with Hinterland District.
Boland is coach of the Bond University Ruby team, but coaches kids just beginning their netball journeys at Bond’s own netball clinics.
Dr Lisa Gowthorp
Having worked in high performance sport for over 12 years, Dr Lisa Gowthorp has had a distinguished career in sports administration.
Dr Gowthorp has worked with organisations such as the NSW Institute of Sport, the Australian Institute of Sport and Australian Canoeing, working in swimming, gymnastics and sprint canoe.
Dr Gowthorp has managed teams at World Championships level and was the gymnastics section manager on the Australian Olympic team in Beijing in 2008.
She is an Associate Dean of External Engagement at Bond University.
Dr Annette Greenhow
Part of Bond University’s Faculty of Law, Dr Annette Greenhow has been influential in the fields of concussion liability in sport — a highly topical point of discussion.
Dr Greenhow’s work and research include the topic of sports law, with a focus on the regulation of football, concussion management and policies of the major football codes, as well as the anti-doping regimen in sport. Dr Greenhow has presented at both a number of regional and international conferences, and is also admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
Claudia Bailey
Rising kayak star Claudia Bailey is sports excellence scholar at Bond University studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science.
After only a year and a half in the kayak, Bailey had a sensational outing at the 2022 Canoe Sprint Championships, coming home with four gold, three silver and one bronze medal. Her performance earned her entrance into the 2022 Sprint Canoe Junior World Championships in Hungary.
In addition, Bailey also shone in her efforts as a surf sport athlete, winning the U17 Ironwoman, and Most Outstanding Female Competitor Award at the 2022 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships.
Bailey also won Surf Life Saving Australia‘s Young Athlete of the Year award.
Tara Campbell-Barry
One of the Gold Coast Titans most influential women is not on the field, but in the office.
Tara Campbell-Barry is the design and creative lead and is responsible for the club’s entire look and feel creatively, from all creative assets on social channels to in stadium, billboards, marketing materials and everything in between.
Campbell-Barry’s work has played a major role in recruiting players to the Coast with her design mocks and recruitment creative helping the Titans recruitment team build proposals to prospective players.
Joining the Titans at the end of 2019 from the Richmond Tigers where she held a similar role, Campbell-Barry has had a huge impact on the club, being pivotal in the club’s rebrand at the end of 2021.
Hayley Doherty and Kristal Churchill
The power duo of Pac Power Australian Football Club.
Registrar Hayley Doherty and secretary Krystal Churchill are the heart and soul of the club. The wife of club president Luke, Doherty is heavily involved with the club tackling everything from payment, PlayHQ, uniforms and works alongside the committee – all while working full time.
Her sidekick Churchill is in her first year as secretary, before which she was treasurer for several years.
The pair are always willing to help out, often putting other commitments aside to get the job done. Along with the rest of the club’s volunteers, Churchill and Doherty have built up their numbers drastically across the years to build a club of over 330 members.
“I love it, I love footy,” Churchill said.
“Our family have been Gold Coast Suns members since we started, we’re forever at the Suns or at Pac Power so when I’m not the secretary at the club I’m the manager of my son’s team.”
Karen MacLeod OAM
Karen MacLeod is a tireless volunteer for Swimming Gold Coast who represents Queensland on the local, state, national and international stage.
Recently receiving an OAM, Karen is the technical manager for Swimming Queensland and Swimming Australia and was recently the competitions manager for the FINA World Short Course Championships in Melbourne in December.
Swimming events don’t happen in Australia without Karen.
Raelene Ryan
Raelene Ryan is an institution at Miami Aquatic Centre, coaching swimmers of all ages.
Raelene is also recognised as one of Australia’s premiere female coaches and has recently been awarded important roles within Swimming Queensland and Swimming Australia.
Alison Peters & Leigh Edwards
Miami Tennis Club volunteers Alison Peters and Leigh Edwards have been an influential duo in tennis for decades.
Peters, the club’s current president with over 20 years of service, and Edwards, club secretary with more than 10 years of service were both were awarded the 2022 Tennis Queensland Volunteer Achievement Award.
The award was in honour of their 10 years plus service to their club and region, as well as their help running a flood drive for the Lismore Tennis Club as they recovered from the Northern NSW floods.
Emerson Jones
Rising tennis star Emerson Jones was the youngest player at the 2023 Australian Open.
The 14-year-old made her Grand Slam debut in January in Melbourne, winning matches in both the girls’ singles and doubles events.
Jones also had an incredible 2022 season, winning two ITF junior singles titles in Sydney and representing Australia in the Junior Billie King Cup Finals in Turkey.
She was also Tennis Queensland’s Female Junior of the Year.
Jones comes from a very sporty family, with mother Loretta Jones (nee Harrop) a former Olympic silver medallist in triathlon, father Brad a QAFL Grogan medallist, and brother Hayden also a rising tennis star.
Katie McKellar
Gold Coast Tennis official and volunteer Katie McKellar is constantly supporting local events and putting her hand up to held, no matter how last minute or far away.
McKellar first became involved in officiating at the Fed Cup when it was held at the Royal Pines “many years ago”.
Since then, McKellar has also volunteered at the ATP Cup and Brisbane International.
“I have always had a love of the game and officiating has only furthered that,” McKellar said.
“With tennis, it gives back in dividends. I feel like I am a part of this wider group and tennis family of everyone who comes together to make a tournament a success. I am lucky to have met so many wonderful people along the way.”
Rosemaree Bradford
She founded one of Queensland’s biggest and most successful netball associations, Hinterland District.
In 1995, Council approached Rosemaree Bradford with the idea to create a new association, HDNA, along with the Mudgeeraba Redbacks Rugby League Club.
A player at Southport Carrara NA and running the Mudgeeraba Netball Club, Bradford ran with the idea and was part of the club for over 20 years.
In the early days, the association was so underdone Bradford used her car boot as the office and her car to power a portable siren. A former rep coach and player for HDNA, Bradford was at one point the oldest rep player in Queensland.
“Every year we have a really great competition, we’re still continuing to build and grow,” she said.
That’s what I’m most proud of, that we have so many divisions in each age group that we’re able to let players develop in their own level and pace. Now at 73-years-old, Bradford hasn’t yet retired the netball and still coaches a team at Palm Beach Netball Club.
“I’ll be playing until I’m in a wheelchair.”
Michelle Grunske
Former President of the Tallebudgera Netball Club Michelle Grunske has been around netball her whole.
Grunske has played on and off for over 40 years, but always remained involved in some way whether it be through coaching or umpiring.
Now, Grunske coaches umpires for Tallebudgera and South Coast Netball Association, and helps train new rep coaches when needed.
Originally from Townsville, Grunske was a network coach for QAS in Townsville, where she trained the region’s most talented – including now Australian Diamond Cara Koenen and Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
“I’ve enjoyed it, I can honestly say the friends (I’ve made) have been the highlight. I’ve still got friends from netball in Townsville, it’s a fantastic group of people.”
Gail Torrens
Tenpin Bowling Association of Queensland CEO Gail Torrens has been a driving force behind the sport for decades.
In 1993 she became a part-time volunteer as well as TBAQ’s State Coaching Director of Queensland, a role she has held ever since.
National and international highlights of her career include roles as Manager of the Australian team at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bendigo in 2004 and Manager and consulting coach for the 2008 Men’s World Championships team in Thailand.
In 2019 Gail was honoured with induction into the TBAQ Hall of Fame and in 2020 she was invited to join the Board of QSport, as Chairperson of QSport’s Indoor Sport Group.
Her distinguished career of service to the sport was confirmed in 2022 by selection as a finalist for the prestigious Queensland Sport Administrator of the Year Award at the Queensland Sport Awards.
Michelle Schultz
Before stepping down last year, Michelle Schultz was a volunteer and president of the Musgrave Mustangs for 15 years.
She was awarded Football Queensland’s Service to Football Gold Award in 2022 for her service which includes founding Musgrave’s inclusive program, an all abilities soccer program, and overseeing a full renovation of the club house.
Schultz was also awarded the Daphne Pirie Spirit of Sport Award in 2022.
Jess Austin
Working for Football Queensland, Jess Austin began as Competitions Officer last year before moving into the role of Women and Girls Officer.
Austin currently plays for the Gold Coast Knights in QPL3 competition and has spent time in the USA playing soccer as a student athlete.
Austin holds a B level coaching license and coaches a junior girl’s team at Kingscliff.
Maria Roughley
Maria Roughley has been the Gold Coast Referee Appointment Officer an a member of the Football Gold Coast Board for the past five years.
But Roughley’s involved in football goes way beyond this, having been involved in football on the Gold Coast for about 20 years in total.
Brooklyn Manu
Few have brought the same level of passion for growing the game as Brooklyn Manu. The Gold Coast District Rugby Union community manager stepped into her role at the end of 2021, and has since helped orchestrate a host of girls and women’s initiatives previously never seen in the region. A wealth of Rugby 7s outlets for grassroots clubs and schools have been created, as has a women’s development program aimed at inspiring a 15-a-side club-based competition.
Elisha Godsiff
Fresh off a mountain of success in the Bull Sharks line up, Elisha Godsiff has now sought to use her talents to usher in a new era of female stars. The forward has taken up a female development role with the Surfers Paradise Dolphins, and has now called on the powers that be to provide a sustainable financial pathway in the Super W to retain the crop of talent in the game.
Tania Hala
In a code where the women’s game still appears to be somewhat in its infancy, Tania Hala has been working tireless to enable the grassroots to blossom. Coaching women’s and schoolgirl outfits out of Bond University, the Coomera Crushers, Kings Christian College and Renegades 32, Hala has helped a whole generation of talent hone their craft and push for higher honours. She has taken the Kings XV program to Japan for a global showcase and guided the Crushers to the Brisbane Suburbia premiership in 2022. As part of the Bond coaching staff, the Bull Sharks also went on to claim three titles across Queensland Premier Rugby and the Rugby 7s elite competitions.
Kristin Dunn
Having grown up requiring to make her own women’s rugby side just to get the chance to play, Kristin Dunn has dedicated much of her adult life to ensuring the next generation do not have to endure the same obstacles. Dunn founded and continues to run the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, an annual showcase celebrating culture and the rising rugby stars of tomorrow. Last year’s efforts attracted more than 950 players, with a major focus put into girls sides to grow together through the ranks. Dunn’s ultimate goal is for the Festival to be considered a genuine representative pathways for more players to pursue higher honours.
Michelle Tuffley
There was a time when Michelle Tuffley feared she may never have the chance to take the field. Now, having undergone a profound life transformation, she has set about providing as many opportunities to young girls in rugby as possible. Tuffley shared her story with the Bulletin, detailing how when she decided she wanted to pick up the Gilbert she was too overweight to do so. She lost 60kg, donned the Gold Coast Eagles colours, travelled to Europe to play at a higher level, and even found herself on the cusp of Wallaroos World Cup selection. Tuffley’s playing days may be behind her, but she has returned to Eagles as a forwards specialist coach for the club’s women’s team and mentor the next brigade of talent through to the plateaus of the code.
Catie Perrett
Behind the scenes of the Currumbin Eagles, Catie Perrett diligently works to ensure the players have every opportunity to thrive. Each and every week she gives up her time to strap the players, perform first aid and manage teams across the junior rugby league ranks. Has been recognised as the Eagles’ club person of the year and such is her dedication to the game and club will likely claim several more honours moving forward.
Jenny Peck
Praised as one of the founding mothers of girls rugby league in the south of the Gold Coast, Jenny Peck has been praised as the ‘Mother Eagle’ of Currumbin by head coach Matt Geyer. Having also held roles with the Rugby League Gold Coast in the past, Peck continues to sacrifice her time to ensure more young girls have the opportunity to pursue their dreams of picking up the Steeden, and one day perhaps take on the NRLW. In late 2019, she became the first female to join the RLGC board, while she was also an administrator for the Mudgeeraba Redbacks and was the Currumbin senior chair for five years.
Jackie Brown
Jackie Brown is the current NBL1 Women‘s head coach for the Lady Rollers.
On the back of a stellar playing career, one which included a host of school records at the University of California and a long stint in Europe, Brown has continued to be a strong on court presence in the coaches square — mentoring Queensland and Australian junior teams.
She has achieved this all while juggling her work in the Queensland Fire and Emergency services.
Jessica Petrie
Jess Petrie has taken her game to a new level since joining the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in 2021.
She was named captain of the Australia Sapphires team which claimed Gold at the under-16 FIBA Asian Championship and went on to finish fifth at the FIBA World Cup in Hungary. Petrie continued her national representation by being named in the under-19 Australian team which competed successfully in India to qualify for the 2023 FIBA under-19 World Cup.
Petrie has been a valued member of the Queensland South Girls team and led the Gold Coast Rollers to a State Championship in January.
Petrie’s commitment to her development and outstanding performance made her a worthy recipient of the Basketball Queensland 2022 Female Player of the Year Award.
Anneka Lickiss
When Anneka Lickiss first began seeing her now husband — and Helensvale first grader cricketer Jack Lickiss — the only thing she knew about cricket was there was a bat and a ball.
Now, Lickiss is one of the hardest workers around Helensvale Cricket Club where she oversees the junior girls program, which she has helped build up from two teams to five, including two opens teams and a girls team in the U12s boys competition.
Lickiss’ passion evolved even further and she now works for Queensland Cricket as a community development officer.
She has gone to do her coaching course, and now coaches the Gold Coast representative team along with the Southern Blaze, while also helping out with club events and their social media.
Lauren Haydon
Another workhorse of cricket, Lauren Haydon is integral to Coomera Hope Island Cricket Club as the junior club vice president.
Haydon will help out anywhere, from behind the screen doing social media to working behind the bar at club events and coaching on the field, there is no task Haydon won’t get behind.
With more than 12 years of paying experience, Haydon heads up the girls cricket program, coaching junior girls including Gold Coast representative teams and the Southern Blaze.
She also helps run fundraisers that support local charities or the junior program, with the most recent being the Pink Stumps day where the club were able to raise thousands of dollars for the McGrath Foundation.
Lynn Cowie-McAlister
Lynn Cowie-McAlister swapped the stick for the whistle and went on to become an incredibly decorated international hockey umpire. A member of the Hockey Australia Officiating committee, the Gold Coaster continues to be involved in the officiating community at local levels in the region all the way up to national standards. In addition, Cowie-McAlister has devised a high-performance officiating conflict resolution and professional assertiveness training program which has been used across Australia.
Christine Schultz
A workhorse of the Gold Coast gridiron community through the Stingrays. Christine Schultz has been on the club’s committee since 2017, a coach since 2018 and is now the Stringrays Vice President. Stingrays secretary Sera Schultz praised her as “amazing” for her commitment and involvement in the grassroots program for the past four years, coaching the 10-13 year olds in the youth division.
Sera Schultz
Sera Schultz is currently the Gold Coast Stingrays secretary and assistant youth coach. She has had an influence throughout the club on all levels. She has played the game and was in two state championship campaigns while she has been coaching the youth ages 10-14 years old for the last four years. Schultz has played a huge part in influencing the love of this sport in the youth as well as the skills. She is at every game on the sidelines supporting the juniors and senior games every weekend. She currently has been secretary for two years now and is working at creating long term sponsorship and business relationships for the club.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF INSPIRING GOLD COAST WOMEN
Cairns
Hannah Dayes – Combat Sport
A relative newcomer to the Muay Thai game, Hannah Dayes can already call herself a champion after claiming her first Muay Thai belt at Destiny 20. In doing so became the first female fighter to earn a belt to hang on DF Gym’s wall of champions. Has potential to win a few more and be among FNQ’s best.
Jessie Geyl – Combat Sport
Arguably the best Muay Thai athlete in the Far North, Geyl has thrived since moving into the combat sport. Training under Paul Hosking at Pretty Top Team, Geyl has seven title belts to her name and just made her pro debut. While that ended in a referee’s stoppage, Hosking believes she could one day be a world champion.
Amy Glennon – Combat Sport
Glennon only started Muay Thai training three years ago, but has shown she has what it takes to mix it with the best. In 2022, she claimed a gold medal at the ISKA World Championships in Turkey, stopping her Moroccan opponent in just 45 seconds. She mixes competing with being the fight manager at Pretty Top Team.
Paula Fabila – Cricket
Fabila was one of just two girl; s playing indoor cricket when she took up the sport, and has gone to make a lifelong impact in Australia’s premier summer sport.
She went on to play indoor cricket for Queensland and Australia, now Fabila is coaching the next stars of tomorrow. Fabila now coaches the Norths juniors, Northern Flames and is captain of the Norths seniors.
Trish Spry – Cricket
Trish introduced Cairns to women’s cricket in 2018 commencing with the Lacy Bra Cup, a fun competition aimed to attract more women to the game.
What started with four teams sparked a women’s cricket revolution as it progressed into a much more competitive competition.
Spry is continuing to grow women’s cricket as well as helping the game expand across people who wouldn’t usually get the chance to play the game.
Kylie Anderson – Cycling
In 2022 gum female rider Kylie Anderson took out the Cairns Cycling Club Criterium Championships and the overall women’s trophy in the MiHaven Mareeba Tour.
Chloe Butler – Netball
As the new operations manager at Cairns Netball, Butler, who has had a long and strong connection to the sport, is now a driving force for what has traditionally been the sport with the highest female participation rate.
It is an important role, one which she has not taken lightly since stepping up.
Kym McPhee-Smith – Netball, Hockey
A leading netball coach at Leprechauns and administrator at two key sports in FNQ, McPhee-Smith has had, and still has, a huge impact in sports. A former operations manager at Cairns Netball and general manager at Cairns Hockey, McPhee-Smith now works in sport and rec where she plays a part in the betterment of sports across the board.
Sharlee Hoffman – Racing
A leading horse racing trainer at the Tablelends, Hoffman has trained numerous winners and been among the dominant trainers in the North Queensland circuit in recent years.
Lacey Morrison – Racing
Lacey Morrison is the face of perseverance. She has overcome serious injuries suffered in significant falls not once, but twice – in 2008 and 2013 – and left race riding behind for eight years. She picked up where she left off, is one of the leading riders for Sharlee Hoffman and is among the best in her field.
Krysten Swaffer – Racing
One of the up and coming hoops in North Queensland, Swaffer has shown she has what it takes to match it with the best. She is one of several female jockeys who ride regularly in Far North Queensland, with a fair level of success.
Pat Bailey – Rugby League
Pat Bailey pretty much ran rugby league in the Far North for more than three decades, holding keys positions in the Cairns District Rugby League along with helping clubs thrive and survive. While no longer in an official capacity, she holds life memberships at several clubs and is still sought for advice from current members of the rugby league community.
Libby Cook-Black – Rugby League
The former Jillaroos and Indigenous All Stars representative has become a key member of the Northern Pride’s staff. A dual-code gun in her playing days, Cook-Black works as the Pride’s commercial director, has previously worked in corrections, and is one of several passionate people driving the re-establishment and growth of women’s rugby league in FNQ.
Jodi Stevens – Rugby League
Long-term volunteer in rugby league who is about to move into a position with the QRL. Stevens held one of the most important roles at the FNQRL as operations manager, and before that was a key member of Southern Suburbs’ committee. Also a mother to promising athletes – which might just be the most rewarding “role” of the lot.
Tahlulah Tillett – Rugby League
A proud Moa and Murray Island woman, Tillett is one of the best female footy talents to come out of the Far North. She has represented the Indigenous All Stars twice, won a BMD Premiership with the Gold Stars and was part of the Knights’ inaugural NRLW squad.
Tanya Tully – Rugby League
She has been described as representing the new age of rugby league.
When Tully participated in the Queen’s Baton Relay in 2018 thanks to her huge involvement in league, with roles including the then-president of White Rock Junior Rugby League, coach, Level 2 sports trainer, referee, NRL Development, and then-QRL game day manager with the Northern Pride. She is now operations manager at the Pride, and remains a passionate voice for women’s league.
Ellianna Suluvale – Rugby League, Rugby Union
The Far North’s dual-code representative sensation is among best in this part of the country. In league, she captained the Cairns Foley Shield team, was a key figure in Edmonton’s premiership and has trained with the Northern Pride’s open development squad. In rugby union, she captained Far North Queensland, represented Queensland Country and made her international debut for Samoa.
Janet Argoon – Cricket
Far North Cricket’s first female coach returned to coaching to drive and develop the women’s game in the Far North. Originally serving as the junior coaching director for female cricket. Janet was 56 when she played her first game of outdoor cricket with husband Steve for Mulgrave Cricket Club. Janet helps out with scoring, umpiring, around the club, cooking for players teas and developing the junior boys and girls coming through
Amy Hunter – Cricket
A star in women’s cricket already, Amy has represented Queensland Country cricket and is an idol for the young female cricketers coming through. Amy started playing cricket seven years ago and has played consistently in the senior men’s competition in the Far North. She is helping grow women’s cricket in Cairns by helping out with the juniors showing them techniques and skills to become better cricketers
Julie McNeil – Hockey
The former Cairns Hockey president and operations manager, as well as current Aspire to be Deadly general manager has championed gender parity and Indigenous programs to enable widespread engagement for the sport in the Far North.
A Hockey Australia life member who has made a habit of breaking barriers.
Renee Barber – Hockey
A future star, Renee was picked to play for the Australian under-21s in December of 2022 at age just 18. Renee has played hockey since she was four and has helped the young hockey players coming through with skills and knowledge on and off the field.
Chloe Buckley – Cycling
Rising star of the Queensland cycling team, champion junior rider and Cairns Cycling Club member, Chloe Buckley’s pool room is getting crowded after her recent podium results.
The 15-year old juggernaut competed in the U15 Women Criterium at the Junior Road Nationals in Wollongong last October and in the Junior U15 Women’s Time Trial, Chloe came 9th in a time of 23:18.48, 1.28.17 after the first placed rider and a strong sixth in the U15 Women Road Race.
Along with first place in the club’s Criterium Championships in the Junior 15 division, Chloe has upped her training commitment to shine brightly in 2023.
Gabby Thomasz – Cycling
A Cairns Cycling Club senior women’s champion, Gabby Thomasz, 43, combines incredible skill, dedication and a take-no-prisoner approach to doing her best against intense competition.
In 2022 Thomasz broke two records at the AusCycling Track Championships, won the inaugural Port Douglas Gran Fondo Open C-Grade against strong male and female opposition ahead of claiming the Women’s 250m sprint shortly after.
And at the 2022 Townsville Cup on Wheels, claimed second place in the Women’s A Grade Keirin.
A veteran of the podium, Thomasz is renowned for multiple wins at events including at the 2018 National Masters Track Championships she won the Women’s 500m Time Trial, Scratch race, Sprint, Points race and the Victorian Masters State Criterium Championships.
Colleen Harisson – Cycling
Colleen Harisson is a Cairns Women's Racing Team rider, founding She Spoke senior rider and a recognised force of nature in the Far North.
Competing in many cycling and Ironman events, Harison, 66, is fitter than many athletes half her age.
Harisson, 66, rides six hours a week as well as putting in arduous swimming, running and gym training in order to prepare as a solo competitor for her sixth 70.3 Ironman event this year.
In 2022 her results included taking first place in the women’s 65-69 category and competed in the MiHaven Tour and finished the gruelling Port Douglas Gran Fondo which saw riders one third her age struggle in the heat.
Glyns Huyser – Cycling
An experienced cycling commissaire (event official) for the Cairns Cycling Club, Huyser is one of the most experienced Far North umpires and advocates for the sport.
Having officiated at numerous cycling events, Huyser a highly respected and stalwart member of the CCC where her eagle eye and depth of knowledge of the pre-race and post-race formalities including ensuring rider and official compliance of regulations and equipment, resolving disputes, judging and filing results and ensuring the sports’ integrity.
Apart from her contribution as a commissaire, Huyser also encourages people to try the sport no matter their age.
According to the club where Huyser she also holds the position of grants officer, she is regarded as “a really versatile and a highly experienced official.”
Lauretta Howarth – Mountain Bike
A founding rider of She Spoke Cairns women’s cycling group, a talented and focused mountain bike athlete, Lauretta Howarth is a by-word for skill and tenacity.
In 2016 Howard competedin the RRR Mountain Bike Challenge and took out the women’s 35km leg of the event in 1:25:05, just over 13 minutes after the men’s champion.
Howarth has also shown her grit by completing in the famously competitive Croc Trophy over 650km with 13,000m elevationand coming second in the general category for women.
Howarth is a strong advocate for women cycling and holds international and national skills instructor qualifications.
In 2022 Howarth led a successful women’s ride over 600km through the Cape York wilderness including traversing the Frenchman’s Track, The Overland Telegraph Track.
Karen Bland – Cycling
A lifelong cyclist, Karen Bland is a highly respected ride leader and co-ordinator with the She Spoke Cairns all-women‘s group.
Not only is Bland, 51, very supportive of female cyclists and getting newbies up to speed in the weekly 5.30am 25km+ ride which starts an finishes in Aeroglen, she is a strong voice in the region’s cycling community.
With 40+ years in the saddle, Bland while preferring to stay in the background, is nonetheless promoted the physical and mental health benefits cycling offers, including the friendships forged through regular riding.
Bland also encourages members to support a number of regional charities such as Christmas Lights on The Move and the Luke Azzopardi Memorial Rides.
Mary McGuiness – Cycling
Since 2014 Mary McGuiness has been on the region’s most enthusiastic, influential and supportive riders and a determined fundraiser for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation’s Cardiac Challenge.
A She Spoke Cairns regular, the effervescent McGuiness is committed to training for the annual gruelling 330km fundraising event which starts in Cairns and finishes in Cooktown.
As a pack leader, McGuiness ensure her squad starts and arrives safely while raising much-needed funds to buy specialised equipment to improve cardiac care in the region.
As well as volunteering with Meals on Wheels and fundraising for the annual Ride for Isabel event, which raises awareness and funds for the Special Care Nursery at Cairns Hospital, through the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, McGuiness is an advocate for women’s cycling.
In 2021 McGuiness’ passionate volunteering resulted in the midwife and birth suite nurse unit manager at Cairns Hospital named the 2021 Cairns’ Woman of the Year.
Sue Helmke – Cycling
After her beloved son Luke Azzopardi, 19, died in a tragic cycling incident in 2021, Sue Helmke has been a tireless advocate for cycle safety.
Still involved with the Cairns Cycling Club where her talented son trained and raced, Helmke is determined to make riding in the Cairns region as safe as possible by encouraging council to establish and maintain more purpose-built cycle paths.
After Luke’s death she helped raise $70,000 for the Amy Gillett Foundation.
Helmke has stated she wanted to help stop the 20 Australian cyclists a day estimated to be injured on the roads and prevent the chilling one cyclist death every nine days.
Tamara Blore – Football
Blore personifies the women behind the scenes who don’t necessarily get the recognition they deserve.
An unheralded champion at Edge Hill Utd, Blore is a canteen/gate volunteer who doubles as the club’s junior registrar, which means she co-ordinates 37 junior teams at the club.
She’s always willing to step up for the club, which she manages to do despite being a mum of six (five of whom currently play for the Tigers).
Siobhan Macken – Football
There’s not much Macken doesn’t do at Edge Hill United.
She is a B23 Ready Women and Girls Ambassador, U12 Girls Coach, Premier Women’s Captain, Canteen Volunteer – and an absolute weapon on the field.
Macken has been with Edge Hill Utd since 2011 and, on the field, has claimed numerous titles with the Tigers.
Off of it, she creates inclusive and positive environments for women and girls in order to retain new members of the World Game.
Tracey Horn – Tennis
Horn comes from a state level swimming background and playing for Cairns in hockey as a junior, Horn is now a very accomplished Tennis administrator and an amazing volunteer.
Hornis the bookkeeper, membership officer and all-round administrator for Edge Hill Tennis Club and the Cairns International Tennis Centre, which caters for over 700 members and tennis players.
Georgina Sesto – Tennis
A former state level tennis player who also played in college, she has become a long-term coach at Edge Hill Tennis Club – and brought a number of brilliant initiatives with her.
She introduced Cardio Tennis and a ‘ladies learn to play group’ which has contributed to many more women playing the sport.
Janel Ryan – Racing
One of the best and most consistent trainers in North Queensland, there’s not many major races Janel Ryan and her team haven’t won. She cannot only find a good runner and brings the best out of them, but she is among the busiest trainers around in supporting smaller clubs with entries.
Jo Butland – AFL/School Sport
The Aussie rules legend has been involved in the Peninsula School Sport program for a number years and she is passionate and dedicated about providing opportunities, access and pathways for FNQ students. This includes from grassroots through to the Peninsula and QLD representative school sport programs. AFL Cairns’ best and fairest medal for the women’s competition is also named after her.
Montana Mook-Kusu – Rugby League
The dynamic Northern Pride and Kangaroos forward, who has excelled in the front or second row, made her Queensland debut in 2022 to cap an outstanding rise.
Mook-Kusu is desperate to play at a higher level, and has been part of the former Gold Stars’ BMD Premiership satellite squad.
The Saibai Island product has been described as a one of the most coachable players in the Far North.
Rhianne Williams – Artist
The proud Kaiadilt woman is behind the Indigenous jerseys worn by leading teams over the years, including the Taipans’ NBL21 design. Ngankirri was a brilliant piece of work based on the four Indigenous players to have played for the Taipans: Tim Duggan, Deba George, Kerry Williams, and Nate Jawai.
Erina Williams – Golf
One of FNQ’s most talented golfers, almost every golf trophy in the district would have Williams’ name inscribed on it. Besides succeeding both locally and regionally in golf, Williams has her name inscribed in the Cairns Golf Club hole in one honourboard for her spectacular shot on the 17th hole in 2006.
Amelia Harris – Golf
Harris was the youngest female on the Australian Open card in December, at just 14 years old.
Originally from Cairns and a Yorkeys Knob junior, Harris moved to Melbourne to take the next step in her golfing career at the beginning of 2021.
In August 2022, Harris equalled the course record (73) at Cairns Golf Club, she also played in the Vic Open in February 2022 as her first taste of professional event.
Debbie Gallop – Rugby League
There may be no more respected voice in rugby league than Gallop’s.
The notable league trainer has had her finger on pulse of many facets of the Far North league landscape, serving as a convener, coach, referee and committee member over her many years involved in the sport.
A former Northern Pride trainer who has showcased her craft on an NRL level, her commitment to league resulted in the creation of the Deb Gallop Award to recognise the female rookie of the year.
Kathy King – Hockey
A Cairns Hockey life member, King has committed five decades to the sport she loves.
She has played hockey for Cairns since she was a child, and still plays in the masters.
The Brothers hockey volunteer has been the club’s longstanding treasurer and registrar, and remains a regular sight helping out at the Cairns Hockey facilities.
Richanda-Leigh Kassman – Netball
Kassman delivers quality netball clinics to communities within the Cairns and Hinterland Region for young athletes.
A long-time Sharks Netball Club player and coach, she filled both roles for the club’s Division 1 team which won a premiership in 2022, and will do so again as they chase back-to-back titles.
Jess Fatnowna – Hockey/AFL
A model citizen both on and off the field, Fatnowna has contributed much to the Cairns sporting community and is very much an active player.
A mentor for young and vulnerable girls in FNQ, Fatnowna is part of the Aspire to be Deadly program and spearheads the Aspire Me mentoring program in four schools.
Named Cairns young woman of the year in 2022, Fatnowna hasn’t slowed down on the field, starring for Brothers Hockey Club and Cairns City Lions in the AFL Cairns competition.
Michaela Kadlecek – Netball
She is potentially the Far North’s most accomplished netballer and Michaela Kadlecek has made a historic step forward in her career.
The 24-year-old was the first Cairns player to be named to the Queensland Sapphire squad slated to play in the Australian Netball Championships in August.
The milestone was made all the more impressive for the Sharks veteran and Northern rays star, given she had entered the year still in recovering from a patella hairline fracture suffered in early 2021.
Kelly Hynes – Netball
Hynes has spent the best part of two decades in netball across Victoria and Far North Queensland.
During that time, she’s helped to develop and mentor numerous aspiring netballers, and produced her fair share of winners.
A former Marlin Coast Marlins coach and Northern Rays assistant coach, she is evolving from one of the region’s most valuable netball figures into one of the state’s leaders through her work with the Queensland Suns.
Nicole Bruce – Golf
Bruce is another golf champion worth celebrating in the Far North. With 11 Cairns Golf Club championships to her name, the humble yet steady putter has failed to lose her touch on the green.
Helen McLaren – Netball
Simply put, there would be no Cairns netball without McLaren. The Radars Netball founder and life member was part of establishing the early days of the sport in FNQ.
The president of the Marlin Coast netball helped pave the way for netballing landscape – and its thousands of players – and remains heavily involved in the sport to this day some 40 years later.
Joyce Lester – Softball
An expert in softball who’s highly regarded not only in the region, but in the state.
Lester played with Australia’s softball team in the Olympics from 1985 until 1996 in Atlanta where the team won bronze.
She has also served more recently on the Olympics committee as a selector for future national softball stars.
Kareena White – AFL
A 200+ game veteran from the Manunda Hawks, White has helped the women’s competition in AFL Cairns grow over the years. A life member and a part of the team of the year in 2022 for the Hawks, the young girls coming through junior and senior footy look up to and listen to what White has to say on how they can grow as people and footballers
Kat Fatnowna – AFL
Kat helped a lot of younger girls coming through the AFL Cairns football program realise their playing potential. An influential woman who will help the community grow, and help the sport grow.
Jill Fowler – Netball
The Leprechauns Netball Club founder is a major reason the Cairns Netball competition is what is today. Volunteering more than four decades of her life to developing the sport in the region, Fowler has observed her club become a netballing powerhouse.
A Cairns Netball life member, Fowler’s passion for the sport has inspired many, and she is still a presence at the courts.
Libby Powell – bodybuilding
An influencer in the truest sense, Cairns-based Powell has one of the most far-reaching nets in this list.
The Muscle Nation-backed bodybuilder has amassed a stunning 1.2 million followers on Instagram.
As well as her substantial online following, the fitness mum has proven to be a gun on the bodybuilding stage, boasting a WBFF Australian Pro Champion title.
Tracey Hannah – Mountain Bike
An 11-time national champion, a junior world champion, and the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup winner in 2021 – Hannah is one of the leading women in mountain bike riding in Australia, let alone Cairns.
She has been on the bike since she was four, starting in BMX before making the jump to MTB, conquering just about every race she’s been in since.
The most coveted being the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in 2021; she was the first Australian woman to accomplish the feat.
Kathy Hare – Swimming
Hare is one of the unsung, tireless volunteers who has helped make swimming as strong as it is in FNQ.
Involved extensively with FNQ Swimming as well as Swimming TAS, Hare served as the regional body’s technical officer, a committee member and president in the last two decades.
Her vital efforts in FNQ Swimming were recognised in 2021, when she was made a life member of the organisation.
Alice Foote – Swimming
Foote has been FNQ Swimming’s race secretary for five years officially and in a support capacity prior to this. She has been involved with the swimming community for 15 years as a parent and then as a club race secretary at Cairns Stingrays, before also taking on the regional role as well.
Her skills and ability to train and teach the next generation of parent volunteers has led to a strengthening of technical knowledge through the various FNQ swimming clubs.
Shannon Keating – AFL
Keating first introduced her daughters to women’s Aussie rules four years ago and volunteered as the manager of the U15 Lions Girls side two years ago.
As a proud Aboriginal woman, Shannon loves the diversity of cultures and talent at the club. In addition to managing her daughter’s team, Shannon has taken on the extra roles of registrations co-ordinator for the Lions and promotes the social media page, connecting our young female players to the senior women’s players.
Gillian Bann – Rugby League
There is no understating the input and significance of Gillian Bann’s work in Yarrabah.
A driver of the Seahawks junior rugby league, she has played an enormous role in helping the development of Yarrabah’s youth over a number of years.
She was awarded the QRL Female Contribution and NRL Women In League awards in 2021 for her efforts.
Tammy Collins – Volleyball
Tammy has been involved with Volleyball for many years and she is very passionate about providing opportunities for school students. Tammy is one of the Peninsula volleyball champions and coaches. She also stages the FNQ Schools Volleyball Competition each year to get as many kids in the region to play the games she loves.
Katie-Anne Flegler – School Sports
Katie-Anne has been involved with various school sports over a long period of time and in her role as Cassowary Coast District Secretary she organises all of the schools in Cassowary Coast cluster with the goal of providing opportunities for students and staff to access the representative school sport pathways. She is a leader and champion for school sport in the FNQ region.
Therese Watson – School Sports
Therese has been involved with various school sports over a long period of time and she is the backbone of the Tablelands District School Sport program. She is seriously devoted to providing opportunities for students and staff from all over the Tablelands and as far north to Cooktown. Her work ethic and leadership are second to none. A champion for school sport in the FNQ region.
Hayley Russell – School Sports
Hayley has been going the extra mile for years in Innisfail to provide opportunities for students and staff from the Innisfail Zone. She is passionate about having students from her school and those from throughout Innisfail participate in sports ranging from cross country to netball. Hayley is a person other PE teachers aspire to be and she is a champion for school sport.
Sonya Barber – Cricket
Barber has over 25 years experience in various roles as a career health and fitness professional.
As a teacher at CQ University, Barber delivers Vocational Education and training in schools and with the school leavers as part of the pathway to Exercise and Sports Science in Cairns.
She won the Australian Fitness Professional of the Year Award in 2002 and Cairns Business Women’s Club Award in the same year for her work in the Cairns Community, local media and health promotion.
Soraya Houghton – Cricket
Houghton was the inaugural captain for Mulgrave’s female team in the 2017/18 season.
Having first played vigoro in the Far North, she made the immediate jump to cricket when women’s cricket come to Cairns.
Now a committee member for Mulgrave, Houghton continues to show support around the club in both the senior and junior aspect.
Between 2019 and late 2021, Houghton was a Community Cricket Officer for Queensland Cricket in Cairns.
Naomi Arthurson – Cricket/School Sports
Arthurson is a teacher at Wonga Beach, where she actively coaches junior sports, developing the younger kids sporting skills and helping them find their feet.
She also coaches a junior cricket team and helped in the Wonga Beach Blast Program for Community and Pathways cricket.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF INSPIRING CAIRNS WOMEN
Townsville
Kerri Ritchie
Kerri Ritchie in the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) Townsville area manager and works closely with all things rugby league.
Ritchie goes above and beyond in her endeavour to promote the game in Townsville, and she’s a passionate supporter of the women’s game.
She looks after both the juniors and the seniors, and makes sure all competitions are in line with RLTD requirements.
Rothana Baira
Townsville’s Foley Shield women’s team coach Rothana Baira has been involved in Townsville rugby league for years.
Baira has more than 20 years of experience in the game as a player, and has also tirelessly volunteered before her move into coaching.
One of the best North Queensland women to grace the ovals of Townsville, Baira now works hard to support the development of the city’s up-and-coming players.
Baira also works as the Community Education Counsellor at Townsville State High School.
Rebecca Peterson
Rebecca Peterson is the RLTD under-17s girls’ representative team coach, and she does wonders for the league and showcasing the girls in the game.
Peterson is another great supporter of developing girls in junior rugby league, and she shared her time in 2022 as the Queensland under-17s Country Girls assistant coach and coaching a RISE North team.
Stevie Dyer
Stevie Dyer’s dedication to the game of rugby league has invigorated and assisted in the overall increase in female participation in Townsville rugby league.
Dyer is an important member of the RLTD game development committee and also plays for the Norths Devils in the open women’s competition.
Julie Jensen
Julie Jensen is the RLTD’s secretary and she does a wonderful job to keep the game running behind the scenes.
Jensen regularly goes above and beyond what is expected to assist in the overall governance of the competition.
Cath Loveday
Cath Loveday has a number of roles across Townsville’s AFL community, especially in the women’s footy space.
Loveday is the Suns Academy coach for the under-17s girls, which she’s been doing for the last four or five years.
She has managed the 15s and the 17s squads in the past, and she’s also the senior women’s coach for the Thuringowa Bulldogs.
Loveday was part of the original women’s competition in Townsville that started 10 years ago with just two teams.
She’s had her hand in women’s football pretty much since its inception in Townsville.
Emma Ferguson
Emma Ferguson won the AFL Queensland regional administrator of the year award in 2022 as a recognition for all the hard work she does for the sport.
Ferguson has multiple roles. She was the president of the University Hawks in 2022 and she’s the current youth girls (under-17s) coach at the Hawks.
She is the QLD transition manager at the Stars Foundation, which supports young Indigenous girls and women complete year 12 and move into work or further study.
Ferguson also worked with AFL Queensland and AFL Townsville to set up a program for 30 up-and-coming girls that runs every Wednesday morning.
Nicole McKenzie
Nicole McKenzie is the president of the Curra Swans, now in her third year in the role.
She helped lead Curra out of a time when they didn’t have many junior participants and weren’t having a whole lot of success in seniors, to now where they are one of the more successful clubs.
Under McKenzie’s guidance, Curra turned their situation around and they’ve won back-to-back senior women’s premierships and have teams in junior grand finals and a really big number of junior participants.
Meg Greenland
Meg Greenland is the senior women’s coach of defending premiers the Curra Swans, who have won back-to-back AFL Townsville premierships.
Greenland has also been named back-to-back coach of the year and was an assistant coach in the North Queensland senior women’s representative side in 2022.
Before she started focusing on Aussie rules, Greenland was a prominent football coach in the region.
Vanessa Brage
Vanessa Brage was recently named to captain the Northern Beaches Suns for a fourth year running.
Since moving to Townsville from Minnesota, USA, Brage has had a massive hand in building the Ryan Catholic College AFL Academy which has become the strongest Aussie rules school in Townsville.
A fearless leader on and off the field, Brage is a devoted Suns player and a key figure in the local game.
Judy Bulley
Judy Bulley does just about everything you can think of for Townsville’s netball community.
Bulley is an umpire, a player for Neptunes Netball Club, a coach, an administrator and she’s a life member of the Townsville City Netball Association Inc (TCNAI).
She was also announced as a finalist for the Netball Queensland 2022 Spirit Of Netball Award, which was eventually won by Katie Mangan of the Nanango and District Netball Association.
Rebecca Bulloch
After three years with the Northern Rays under-18s team, Rebecca Bulloch was an assistant coach of the Sapphire Series team in 2022.
Bulloch is the netball co-ordinator at The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James, and was a coach developer for Netball Queensland.
She has also coached the Phoenix Netball Club in Townsville’s Premier League, and she runs coaching development courses in the region.
Amy Butler
Amy Butler is TCNAI’s umpire co-ordinator and she has put a lot of time and effort into running sessions for local umpires, to encourage and develop them.
She is a high-ranked badged umpire herself, and is regularly seen adjudicating Premier League games in Townsville.
Krystal Kirkman
As one of three of the female Townsville and District Rugby Union (TDRU) board members, Krystal Kirkman helps manage and promote the sport in Townsville.
Locally she is involved with the North Ward club, and she is a big supporter of country rugby – Kirkman also works with Queensland Country Rugby to promote the game regionally.
Sonia Viero-Malone
Sonia Viero-Malone has been the TDRU treasurer for 10 years now, doing an amazing job of overseeing the financial side of the organisation with a lot of volunteer hours.
At the end of the day, Viero-Malone is a passionate rugby mum to her sons who play the game locally for Townsville Grammar.
Her husband Pete has also been described as a ‘lunatic’ for his unwavering resolve to take to the field, even if his golden years are behind him – Pete Malone is an advocate of master’s rugby in Townsville and he organises the annual Remembrance Day game between the Army and Brolgas each year.
Cathy West
Cathy West is the only female life member of the Charters Towers Bulls, where she has also held roles as secretary and manager of the junior girls.
West started and promoted the juniors program many years ago and she also played a leading hand in starting the junior girls program at the club.
She has been a driving force behind ever-increasing girls participation in Charters Towers rugby.
Anne Jones
Anne Jones is a high level hockey umpire who coordinates the umpire Academy, mentoring the younger umpires and helping them develop their abilities.
Jones umpires at a state and national level, and her keen eye is well-valued in Townsville’s hockey community.
Rhylee Pendeigh
Rhylee Pendeigh is Townsville Hockey Associations' (THA) new regional coaching director whose role is to help local players develop their skills and guide players and coaches to improve.
Pendeigh is a born and bred North Queensland girl who has loved the sport since she was six years old.
She has a solid background in playing, selecting and coaching at a local, city, state and country level and is really excited and motivated to meet, develop and learn from the THA community.
Kylie Dixon
Kylie Dixon is a long-time hockey mum who has been involved behind the scenes at a club level and on the THA board as director of finance.
Most recently, Dixon holds a position as treasurer for THA.
Her hard work keeps the association functioning, doing much of the behind the scenes work that doesn’t often get recognised.
Christine O’Neill
Christine O’Neill plays in the local women’s hockey competition and she has competed at a state and national level.
As well as being a great role model for her kids, O’Neill works in the office at THA doing a lot of behind the scenes administrative work to make sure every weekend runs smoothly and Townsville’s rep teams are organised when they compete.
Sunshine Coast
Jodi Price
Sunshine Coast and Gympie Rugby League president Jodie Price became the first female to lead the organisation in its 103-year history after she was appointed in 2022.
She has since been re-elected for the 2023 season.
“I’ve got lots more to do so I’m very happy to go in for another term and get it done,” she said.
The Mountain Creek mother of former Maroochydore Swans player Locky Price, served as a club board member from 2019 to 2021.
Price is also the owner and principal of Ray White Mountain Creek and she and her husband Michael started the Billy’s Buddies rugby league-based program in 2017.
“As the saying goes, if you want something done ask a busy person,” she said.
“I think sporting clubs are getting to the point where more business people need to get involved because they’re turning into quite big business so I thought it would be a challenge to step up and take on this leadership role and it’s working well so far.”
Danielle Trask
Danielle Trask launched Connect Rugby League in 2022 as an inclusive training program for young adults with disabilities.
The program, available for teenagers 16 and over, was met with support from industry professionals such as mental health advocates, nutritionists, QRL and NRL representatives and former Australian stars Kerrod Walters and Billy Moore taking part.
“We hosted 10 sessions all together and ended up with 17 players taking part which was very exciting,” Trask said.
“You could see a huge benefit in regards to their social, physical and mental health moving forward and 90 per cent of the players I spoke to said they were coming back.”
Georgina Kovacs-Muller
St Andrew’s Anglican College and Queensland water polo staff member Georgina Kovacs Muller began her work on the Sunshine Coast in February 2022.
“I have two part-time roles, one with St Andrew’s Anglican College as water polo co-ordinator and my other role is with water polo Queensland, which is through regional development for players, referees and coaches on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
“That also means working with some state level teams, and I was recently privileged and honoured to be reappointed as the girls under-16s Australian head coach.”
The Hungarian-born player, official, coach and selector said she was proud of the growth and commitment within the sport over the past year.
“I think it’s now about regrouping. I know that in the past 10 years when I was in Perth, the Sunshine Coast was very strong, and I think there has been a tendency for players coming out of high school to go down to metropolitan clubs,” she said.
“They’re obviously pursuing their careers, so we’re now just trying to revive the Sunshine Coast starting with the grassroots, to then boost those playing numbers later on.
“We now have some fantastic opportunities to provide pathways for these kids through our various local clubs by them collaborating and showing the kids they can make high-level teams from playing and training on the Sunshine Coast.”
Lauren Nourse
The Matthew Flinders Anglican College Elite Athlete Program has entered into its second year and director Lauren Nourse said the program was growing as a key offering for young, high-achieving athletes.
The program includes students that are involved in athletics, basketball, cricket, cross country, hockey, modern pentathlon, netball, rowing, rugby, soccer, swimming, surf lifesaving, touch football, triathlon, volleyball, water polo and skiing.
“It empowers our dedicated young athletes at Flinders by teaching them strategies to juggle all aspects of their busy lives in an organised and proactive manner and with a healthy mindset,” Ms Nourse said.
Ms Nourse – a former Australian Diamond player who won gold at the World Championships and silver at the Commonwealth Games – said it was important to provide the necessary pathways in order for the students to maximise their schooling and sporting achievements.
“As a former elite athlete in the sport of netball, I am aware of the need for a healthy life balance in order to excel and perform to the highest possible standard,” she said.
“We are passionate about ensuring our next breed of high-achieving athletes have the necessary skills and opportunities to maximise their potential in their chosen sport and in their Flinders education, while thriving in their personal lives.”
Alexa Leary
After suffering horrific brain injuries in a devastating cycling accident on the Sunshine Coast, Alexa Leary was in a fight for her life in a coma.
She spent 111 days in a hospital and rehabilitation ward but rallied against her life-changing injuries to become one of Queensland’s most inspirational tales.
One year on from the nightmare event, Ms Leary is back in the pool and part of the Swimming Australia Para National Development Squad.
“It’s great to be back in the pool, I’m doing mainly freestyle, I can do a little bit of backstroke but my arm isn’t the best so it’s very hard, I can’t do butterfly and I hate breaststroke,” she said.
“I’ll be moving to the Gold Coast soon to be with my coach and I’m going to push myself as I want to win gold for Australia at the Paralympics.”
Nat De Rossi
Sunshine Coast, Fraser and Burnett District Touch Association regional manager Nat De Rossi has been a driving force behind the success of touch football across the region for a number of years.
De Rossi is at the forefront of 15 clubs that include Noosa, Coolum, Caboolture, Bribie Island, Kawana, Kingaroy, Maleny-Witta, Glasshouse, Maryborough, Biggenden, Gympie, Childers, Hervey Bay, Gayndah and Mundubbera.
Athletes from across the region represented the Sunshine Coast Pineapples at the recent National Youth Championships in Kawana with some recently selected for the Broncos Queensland Youth Academy for 2023.
Mackay
Bette Wyer
When you think of Mackay Netball you think of Bette Wyer.
Having spent the last 40 years volunteering, coaching, playing and managing a variety of netball teams and leagues within the region Wyer has become the pinnacle of what it is to give not just your time but your heart to a sport.
Nikki Giles
Possibly the fittest woman in Mackay, Nikki Giles created Tri-activ8 just over eight years ago in a bid to bring the sport of triathlon and endurance training to the area.
Giles is responsible for many distance events held in Mackay and is a consistent regular in giving her time and energy toward the community and its sporting population in both a fitness and volunteer position
Pat Wright
Pat Wright may be the most synonymous name with swimming in far North Queensland after years of training and developing Olympic-level swimmers within our region.
Owner of the Mackay Swimming Academy and Pat Wright Swim school in town Wright has been more than just a coach to the youth and developing teens of the area acting as a role model and mentor among the community.
Chloe Butler
Butler came to Mackay when Covid started in 2020.
Back then we had no girls‘ or women’s, only teams. During this time she still established a junior girls’ rugby Mackay regional competition with teams from emerald. Whitsunday Rocky and Mackay that has grown to u13, u15, and u17 divisions.
Kate Geiger
A multiple-time Queensland and Australian representative Kate Geiger is a constant motivation for those around her and has become the face of touch rugby in the process.
Working for Queensland touch rugby Geiger is either playing, speaking or officiating the game and has been a constant presence in the community for a number of years.
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Originally published as Named: The Queensland women leading the charge in grassroots sport
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