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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
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Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200809 Oct 2008 - Australian Sporting Heroes Honoured
The Federal Sports Minister, Kate Ellis, has congratulated the eight athletes and coaches who have been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
PDF printable version of Australian sporting heroes honoured (PDF 24 KB)
The inductees were announced at the 24th annual Sport Australia Hall of Fame dinner held in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductees for 2008 are:
Athlete Members:
- Alisa Camplin (aerial skiing)
- Ian Thorpe (swimming)
- David Nilsson (baseball)
- Todd Woodbridge (tennis)
- Mark Woodforde (tennis)
- Allan Langer (rugby league)
General Members:
- John Carew (swimming coach)
- Lou Richards (AFL and media)
"Australia has been blessed with generations of great sporting talent. The Hall of Fame awards are a wonderful way of recognising the inspirational efforts of these great Australians," Ms Ellis said.
"The Sport Australia Hall of Fame not only recognises excellence on the field but all of its members, including the new inductees, admirably represent the strong Australian values of sportsmanship, integrity, courage and fairness.
"Sport is so much a part of Australian society and such a powerful tool for social change that we are honoured to have such fine Australian sporting ambassadors such as the people who have been inducted in the Hall of Fame."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who is patron-in-chief of Sport Australia Hall of Fame, presented Hall of Fame "Legend" status upon horse trainer, Bart Cummings. Cummings, who first won the Melbourne Cup in 1965 and is known as "The Cups King" for his record of 11 Melbourne Cup wins, became only the 28th Australian sportsperson to be afforded this high honour.
"As Bart is in his 58th year as a trainer and has won 249 Group One races, we always knew he was a Legend. Last month Bart was awarded "Legend" status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame so tonight's honour is very fitting. At the age of 80, he'll probably get his 250th Group One winner this spring," Ms Ellis said.
Two of the new Hall of Fame members have links to the Australian Government's strong commitment to sport. Tennis champion Todd Woodbridge is a former Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder and Alisa Camplin is a current board member of the Australian Sports Commission.
There are now 486 Australians whose excellence in sport, coaching, administration and media have been recognised with membership of the Hall of Fame.
The Australian Government, through the Australian Sports Commission, provides $50,000 annually to support the activities of the Hall of Fame.