Former Ironwoman now living firefighter dream
Former Ironwoman Hayley Bateup was so certain she couldn’t win her first professional competition, she didn’t even tell her mum she entered. Now, she looks back on the shift from a nearly two-decade long career to her firefighter dream.
Women of the Year
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women of the Year. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hayley Bateup was so certain she wouldn’t make it into her first professional Ironwoman competition she didn’t even tell her mother she’d entered.
The then 16-year-old only revealed her big news after scraping by into a 10th place qualifying position — the start of a career that would span nearly two decades.
“It was kind of like ‘you know what, I’ll give it a go and see how it goes’ and then it would be training for the future,” she said.
“Mum was really proud and quite shocked that I’d done it, and from then she was supportive and going to make it happen.”
NOMINATE HERE FOR GOLD COAST WOMEN OF THE YEAR
From then on Ms Bateup took less than a year off from training until her retirement due to injury at 34 several years ago — but she was never going to sit still.
She now works two days a week with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, using her free time to run her personal training business with partner April and raise her two young children.
“I had four shoulder surgeries, and my last one was a career-ending one … it’s one of those things where I’m probably better off playing football and doing the job than doing what I was doing,” she said.
GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY
“Growing up I didn’t want to be a policeman or a firefighter because as a girl I didn’t know I could do that, you were told to study to be a secretary or a hairdresser.
“That’s all changed now and it’s awesome.”
The Bulletin’s inaugural Harvey Norman Gold Coast Women of the Year campaign celebrates the city’s leading females.
A winner will be crowned at a gala event at The Star Gold Coast on International Women’s Day on March 8.
More information is at womenoftheyear.com.au.
Being Glitter Mum: It was doing so well I quit my job
The mother of entrepreneurial sensation Sophia Rizzo who started soaring company Glitter Girl before she was 10 has plenty of advice for parents of youngsters planning start ups.
Harvey Norman CEO: ‘No retiring or legacy talk. I think what’s next?’
Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page - fresh from expansion in the UK - opens up on her enduring belief in bricks and mortar retail while dismissing suggestion of retirement or care for legacy.