Bowls legend Karen Murphy’s tragic reveal as she’s inducted into Australian sport’s Hall of Fame

Sally Pearson, Mick Fanning and Mark Skaife are among Australian Sport’s latest Hall of Fame inductees but another legend had tears flowing for a different reason.

A sporting great has revealed how her elevation to Australian Sport’s Hall of Fame has come just five hours after the tragic death of her mother.

Australia has announced its latest batch of Hall of Fame inductees including motorsports’ Mark Skaife, Olympic athletics champion Sally Pearson, surfer Mick Fanning, hockey’s Mark Knowles and dual sport Paralympic star Leisl Tesh.

But the most touching story came from lawn bowls great Karen Murphy who was grieving for her lost mother when the call came to notify her she had been included in the above group.

“I lost my mum (Lorraine, aged 82), only hours before John (Bertrand) called me to tell me the news,’’ Murphy said.

“Mum had battled brain cancer and I’d been looking after her for a few years and she passed away at 5.57am that day and then John called me at about 11am and told me, and I

just burst into tears.

“I was extremely honoured when I heard the news, to be joining such a wonderful list of athletes across all sports is truly special. I feel incredibly grateful to all those who have been on my journey with me. This award is one which I share with our whole bowls community.”

Karen Murphy is considered one of the sport’s greatest female bowlers.

Murphy, a two time singles world champion and 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold medallist in Melbourne, is regarded as one of the sport’s greatest female bowlers.

The group, who join such legends at Sir Donald Bradman and Cathy Freeman, will be inducted in a ceremony in Melbourne next month.

Businessman and philanthropist Gerry Ryan, who has made major contributions to five sports including rugby league and cycling over three decades, was included in the general division along with basketball administrator Betty Watson, known as the “founding mother of women’s basketball in Australia.’’

Four-time Olympian Mark Knowles. Picture: Michael Willson

Three time world champion Fanning said he was taken aback by the honour.

“Australia produces so many incredible sporting stars and to be honoured as one of

those, amongst the greats, I’m pretty flabbergasted, to be honest,’’ Fanning said.

“It’s not something that we ever look for when we’re doing our sport, but to be acknowledged later in life is very special and

I’m very honoured to be able to share it with people who have supported me.

“I wasn’t the most talented person, I wasn’t the most gifted, I didn’t have the most money or anything like that, but

I just gave it my all.’’

Olympic champion Sally Pearson. Picture: Dave Hunt/AAP Image

Four time Olympian Knowles said he was “shocked’’ by the recognition.

“It’s just an amazing honour for me. I was certainly in a little bit of shock early,’’ Knowles said.

“I kind of went back to ‘how does a boy from Rockhampton get an honour like this?’. It is the highest accolade that I could possibly achieve as a sportsperson.’’

“You’re striving for greatness on the field and you’re trying to always represent yourself and your family in the right way, and I guess this is a reward for all that hard work. It’s a bit of a reward for the sport of hockey as well. I kind of always reflect on myself as a team player and as a team person, and if I’m honest, if you don’t play in great teams and have some success I don’t think I would have got these honours.’’

Originally published as Bowls legend Karen Murphy’s tragic reveal as she’s inducted into Australian sport’s Hall of Fame