Mont Albert: Jill Wright made Member of Order of Australia for gymnastics judging

A world-class gymnastics judge, who is also a former teacher at an eastern suburb’s high school, is among the Whitehorse top achievers recognised in the 2019 Australia Day honour’s list.

Jill Wright is Australia’s head gymnastics technical director. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Jill Wright never expected her career as a high school sports teacher would lead her to travelling the globe judging and training the world’s best gymnasts.

The Mont Albert woman was always sporty and active, but “never a gymnast”, and only became involved with the sport when she had to learn to teach it for her university degree.

Fast forward about 44 years and she’s judged gymnastics at Olympic Games, a series of World Championships, Commonwealth Games, and every Australian and Victorian Gymnastics Championship since 1978.

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And she hasn’t just judged — she’s taught other judges, trained gymnasts and selected athletes to represent Australia.

The thousands of hours she’s put into the sport have all been voluntary, with most coming on top of her PE teaching job.

On Australia Day she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to the sport.

Jill Wright is still handing out her judging advice to gymnasts at clubs in Melbourne’s east. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The humble recipient said she wanted to thank Gymnastics Australia and Gymnastics Victoria for supporting her and all their other judges.

“I’m very appreciative of all the opportunities I’ve had,” she said.

“I’ve been very fortunate.”

Mrs Wright said Kew High School, where she taught from 1985 to 2009, was also accommodating of her many trips for competitions.

She said the highlight of all her ventures so far had been judging at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 among “the big, very happy group” of Aussie officials.

“But they’ve all had their own significance.”

The 64-year-old said she was slowly winding down but she was still the country’s head gymnastics technical director and a national selector.

Jill Wright is Australia’s head gymnastics technical director. Picture: Stuart Milligan

She also volunteers at clubs like Waverley Gymnastics helping gymnasts improve.

She said judges actually worked quite closely with coaches as “a team effort” to better aspiring athletes.

“I really get enjoyment from watching the girls improve.”

While she didn’t do gymnastics as a child herself, Mrs Wright said the sport was a fantastic way for children to get a good grounding to pursue any sport.

Burwood’s Professor Jennifer McIntosh was also appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to medicine, particularly through child developmental psychology.

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In other honours, the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) was awarded to Vermont’s James McCarthy for his social welfare work, Box Hill’s Gwennyth Baker for her work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Surrey Hills’ Helen Matthews for her service to the law.

Box Hill South’s Geoffrey Hudson also received the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to Scouts, as did Burwood’s Dr Craig Hassed for his service to medicine and Mont Albert North’s Craig Kenny for service to the community, particularly through local government.