Women in sport: Celebrating 80+ of the most influential in FNQ
Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Cairns Post is celebrating more than 80 women who have, or are, making their mark on sport in Far North Queensland.
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Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, the Cairns Post is celebrating women who are making their mark on Far North sport.
Some are currently at the elite level, others are thriving in the amateur space.
Plenty have given, and continue to give, countless hours away from the field, while there’s a few faces of the future worth keeping an eye on.
We have celebrated more than 80 women below from a cross-section of sports in the region.
If there’s anyone you feel deserves a mention, send an email to sport@cairnspost.com.au.
Jessica-Rose Clark – Combat Sport
One of Australia’s best mixed martial artist, Clark was born in Cairns and is the eldest of nine children.
She discovered mixed martial arts after dropping out of university, and went on to forge a formidable record in Australia.
She now fights in the UFC, and is set to return to the octagon in May.
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.
Mary Fowler – Football
A potential future great of the Matildas, Fowler and her talented family were based at Cairns for much of her junior years.
She spent time at several FNQ clubs, including Saints and Leichhardt, and is now one of the bright sparks upfront for the Matildas, and plays for mega English club Manchester City.
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 Tablelands, Hoffman has trained numerous winners and been among the dominant trainers in the North Queensland circuit in recent years.
Hoffman has numerous champion horses in her operation, and is a regular fixture at meets across the Far North – and in their winners lists.
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 in rugby league, she holds life memberships at several clubs and is still sought for advice from current members of the rugby league community.
She is also active with Meals on Wheels.
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 some 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.
Argoon was 56 when she played her first game of outdoor cricket with husband Steve for Mulgrave Cricket Club.
She 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, Hunter has represented Queensland Country cricket and is an idol for the young female cricketers coming through.
Hunter 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 last year 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 finished ninth 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.
She is the future of cycling in the Far North.
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.
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 Womens 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, Harisson, 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
In 2016 Howard competed in 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 elevation and 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.
Kim Carroll – Football
Born in Tully, Carroll represented her country 55 times, which included three AFC women’s Asia Cups and the 2011 World Cup.
She is an A-Leagues veteran, having played for Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar; and her prowess on the pitch has resulted in the naming on Kim Carroll Sporting Fields in Tully.
A true trailblazer for female footballers in the Far North.
Tammie Thornton – Football
Thornton played 19 games with the Matildas in the 1990s, and has played a key role in Far North sport over the time since.
The teacher stepped away from the national scene, but has never stopped giving back to the Cairns sporting community.
She has stayed active in the community sports space, playing football and Aussie rules over the years, and has thrived as a mentor for the next generation.
Karen Mounsey – Basketball
Mounsey is an incredible woman.
A long-term board member at the Taipans, she’s long been one of the only female voices in the room at the only national franchise based in Cairns.
A past Taipans secretary, she’s no serving as treasurer for the NBL club – but she has done so much more over the years, with more than three decades of experience in the health industry, and 10 years in private industry.
She’s had personal battles with breast cancer, but has not taken a backwards step in any of her professional endeavours.
Jasmine Amis – Basketball
One of the few women in the Taipans’ front office, Amis has been the NBL club’s media and marketing manager for several seasons.
A chief organiser and co-ordinator of game days, promotional activities, events, sponsorship – and a heap of work behind the scenes we don’t necessarily see – Amis is among the key cogs in the Cairns Taipans machine.
Kath Newton and Kimberley Vale – Basketball/Cheerleading
They are the women behind the Taipans’ cheer squads.
Every Taipans game day features multiple performances by the mini squad and seniors, and Newton and Vale are the women who bring it together.
Newton is the director at Dance2XS and leads the youngsters, while Vale, who is an instructor at DanceScapes The June Vale Dancers, leads the senior cheer squad.
Both have been involved with the Taipans for years – and the game day experience wouldn’t quite be the same without them.
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.
Jodi Mauro – Football
Jodi has been part of the Edge Hill United family for 14 years, is a mum of three and is a part of every aspect of the club.
The love of a sport (football), the love of team work, the love of team spirit and camaraderie that keeps her kids being Tigers and why she supports their club.
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.
Horn is 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.
Flori King-Smith – Rugby League
Now into her second season as head coach of Northern Pride’s under-19s women’s team, King-Smith plays a crucial role in the development of future rugby league players.
King-Smith has been involved in league for years, but in recent seasons coached Kangaroos in the FNQRL Womens competition as well as worked tirelessly with young footballers.
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.
Essay Banu – Rugby league
A genuine wrecking ball who should be among the inaugural Cowboys’ NRLW squad.
Banu played her junior footy in Tully, and burst onto the scene in 2019 when a video of her destroying rival schoolgirl defensive lines went viral.
Since then, she’s played in the BMD Premiership, where she was named the best prop in the competition, represented Papua New Guinea and the Indigenous All Stars.
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.
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.
The jerseys are still often seen around time, especially during the Snakes’ season.
Cayla George – Basketball
It’s no secret how much this Opal loves Far North Queensland.
George has called Cairns home for a number of years, peppered with stints with the WNBL and the NBL1, as well as representing Australia on a number of occasions.
A reigning championship winner with the Melbourne Boomers, George claimed the Suzy Batkovic Medal for the WNBL’s MVP in 2023, and will return to the WNBA after a five-year absence for Las Vegas.
Shaneice Swain – Basketball
One of the many talented basketballers to come through Cairns’ developmental system, Swain is making a name for herself in the WNBL.
A junior Australian representative earmarked for big things throughout her career, Swain now plays for Canberra Capitals in the WNBL and the region’s rivals – Townsville – in the NBL1 North when it begins in March.
Erina Williams – Golf
One of FNQ’s most successful golfers.
Just about every golf trophy in the district would have Williams’ name on it, and she remains one of the best in the region.
She also has her name inscribed in the Cairns Golf Club hole in one honour board 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.
Litonya and Liquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap – AFL
The Cockatoo-Motlap twins both debuted for Port Adelaide AFLW in season 2022.
Originally from Cairns City Lions, they have helped develop and inspire the younger players who are coming through before they moved to the Gold Coast at the hopes of chasing the AFLW selection.
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.
Jenny Evans – Basketball
The Opals legend is the gift that keeps on giving to FNQ’s basketball landscape.
A noted advocate for women’s basketball, Evans has coached a number of squads and has been inducted into the Cairns Basketball Hall of Fame.
Evans’ prowess in the paint has dribbled over to her daughters Shaneice Swain as well as Teyla and Summah Evans, all three of whom are brilliant basketballers in their own right.
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 is still hitting massive goals.
The Northern Rays star flew the flag as a regular starter for the Sapphire Series team in 2022, and was the first Cairns player to be named in the Queensland Sapphire squad for the Australian Netball Championships.
The Sharks veteran returned to her Cairns Netball club and picked up the grand final MVP award as she helped lead her team to the title.
It’s made the all more impressive given she had entered the year still 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
An 11-time Cairns Golf Club champion, this humble yet steady putter still has a golden touch on the green.
She has been among the standard bearers in Cairns for decades as one of the most consistent and talented golfers on the circuit.
Bruce is still very much one of the best in the region.
Tia-Clair Toomey – Weightlifting
The world’s fittest woman has come a long way since her childhood in Weipa.
She is a five-time CrossFit Games champion, cementing her status as arguably the best in the world in the sport.
Her success with the barbell earned her a spot in Australia’s Rio Olympics team, while she won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Helen McLaren – Netball
The Radars Netball founder and life member was part of establishing the early days of the sport in Far North Queensland.
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 from 1985 until 1996, when the team won bronze at the Atlanta Olympic Games.
She has also served more recently on the Olympics committee as a selector for future national softball stars.
Jacqui Dupuy – AFL/Netball
One sport was not enough for this star to excel in, with Dupuy proving deadly on both the court and the oval.
But it’s on the footy field she’s made the biggest mark.
She reached the top level for FNQ netballers by captaining the Northern Rays in the Sapphire Series.
But while she starred for the Rays, she was a gun for Cairns Saints, choosing footy over netball and never looking back.
She now plays for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW.
Mel Kelly – AFL
Kelly is a premiership player, a club best and fairest for the Manunda Hawks as well as a fierce competitor and natural leader.
In 2022, she was given the opportunity to coach the women’s team, leading the side to a preliminary final.
She has been a leader of the football club, helping develop the junior footballers coming through the ranks.
Kareena White – AFL
A 200-plus game veteran from the Manunda Hawks, White has helped the women’s competition in AFL Cairns grow over the years.
A Hawks life member and still a big part of the team, 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
Fatnowna has 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 founder Leprechauns Netball Club founder helped shaped the Cairns Netball competition into what it is today.
Volunteering more than four decades of her life to developing the sport in the region, Fowler has watched her club become a netballing powerhouse.
A Cairns Netball life member, Fowler’s passion for the sport has inspired many people involved in numerous capacities across the sport, 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 Biking
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.
Jill Boltz – Running
Boltz (nee Hunter) is a former English distance runner who represented Great Britain at the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Since 2005, Cairns’ next generation of runners has had the privilege of having Boltz as their mentor.
The 1990 Commonwealth Games Silver Medallist operates running programs in Cairns schools as well as her own running club – PaceProject.
Elisha King – AFL
Elisha played footy in Cairns before getting drafted to AFLW team North Melbourne in 2018.
Prior to her being picked up by the Kangaroos, King trained with Brisbane, being named in the under-18 All-Australian squad at age 16.
The star footballer is fighting her way back from two serious knee injuries to get back to the top level once again.
Sue Ansell – AFL
Ansell is the powerhouse at the junior Cairns City Lions kiosk.
On home games, she is the first at the clubhouse, preparing the food and keeping everything (and everybody) working seamlessly all day.
When it’s time for Ansell to watch her grandson play, the enjoyment and passion for the sport is obvious.
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
Collins has been involved with volleyball for many years and she is very passionate about providing opportunities for school students.
She 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
Flegler has been involved with various school sports over a long period of time, and in her role as Cassowary Coast District Secretary 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
Russell 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.
She is a person other PE teachers aspire to be and 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.
Kristen Filitonga – Combat Sports
Filitonga is the lady behind the scenes at the DF Gym in Cairns, home of ‘The Fight Academy.’
Having fought in 14 fights herself, Filitonga now looks after memberships, accounts and training sessions for all new and existing members of the Muay Thai gym.
She also helps organise fights, flights, accommodation for the fighters when they fight away from Cairns but also helps put on the amateur and professional fights out of the gym and Cairns.
If there’s anyone you feel was missed and deserves a mention, send an email with details to sport@cairnspost.com.au.
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Originally published as Women in sport: Celebrating 80+ of the most influential in FNQ
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