Current Role: Project Officer in the Ministerial and Government team, Sport Australia.

AIS Athlete from: 1997-1998, Netball

What attracted you to sport?

I’ve always loved playing and watching sport. My parents were into sport and played competitive tennis. I grew up on a farm just outside of Canberra, hence my love of equestrian. I also spent many hours playing backyard cricket. I discovered netball at school and also enjoyed doing Little Athletics on a weekend.

My pathway for netball was playing for the school team, then Belconnen district from which I was selected in ACT teams from u/17s to Opens. At Nationals, I was selected in under-age Australian squads and from there offered an AIS scholarship.

What are you first memories of the AIS?

I was extremely honoured to be offered an AIS scholarship, especially playing for the ACT which doesn’t get a lot of representation compared to the netball powerhouses like NSW, VIC and SA.

My first memory was being blown away that so many athletes were living on Ressies, training hard to achieve at their sport. Being in a team with a group of girls from all over Australia was pretty awesome too.

I went on to meet and become friends with athletes from various sports and it was always very exciting when some of the big athletes of the time were visiting like Matt Shirvington, Kostya Tszyu or members of the Aussie Cricket team. Though he wasn’t on Ressies at the time, it was also quite daunting bumping into Alexander Popov at the pool!

If you were talking with a modern-day athlete, finish this sentence: ‘Back in my day …’

We used a video recorder to review games which took a while if you were trying to get to a specific section!

What are your fondest memories of the AIS?

I made lifelong friends and we still meet every five years to catch up and reminisce. I met my husband there (swimmer Regan Harrison) and through us, my sister Di met her husband (Grant McGregor, also a swimmer). Tours to Singapore, the UK and Jamaica were amazing and really contributed to my skills as a netballer and growth as a person.

Other good memories include the AIS ball, dining hall pancakes, following other athletes’ progress at national competitions and nights hanging out with my teammates in our common room singing away. Recovery ice-baths in wheelie bins were definitely not a good memory.

I worked pretty much full-time for a credit union, so the day was very hectic. Normally 6.30am training (weights, proprioception or a swim session), work before 9am then back just in time for a court session 5-7pm, dinner and bed. Repeat.

AIS life felt like home with our house parents, Reg and Bev. Gaye Teede was our head coach and Sue Hawkins and Lisa Beehag assistant coaches. Laurie Fisher was the manager of Ressies and it’s great to chat when I see him around town. John Boultbee was the AIS Director and I always remember the passion and support he showed all AIS athletes.

How did the AIS help progress your sporting career? What were your proudest sporting achievements?

Without the AIS, I definitely wouldn’t have achieved what I did in netball. Playing for the ACT, which often has low representation, I would have really struggled to make it to the National League.

The AIS gave me the opportunity to progress to a more elite team, gave me so much experience and the chance to be selected to play for the Queensland Firebirds. I was proud that I was able to play four years in the National League (Queensland Firebirds and Sydney Sandpipers). I was also very proud to be an invitee to the Australian Open team on a few occasions – definitely a highlight being an Australian Camp at the AIS on Australia Day 2000.

Describe the AIS in three words.

Excellence. Elite. Team.

How did this time at the AIS influence your career after sport?

Living and training at the AIS made me a much more disciplined person and installed in me a strong work-ethic. When I retired from playing, I completed my deferred degree and the skills gained at the AIS certainly contributed to me being a better student. Though I enjoyed working in finance, being at the AIS highlighted to me that I really wanted to work in sport as I know how great sport is for people at all levels of life.

Tell us about your role now and what you enjoy most about it?

I work part-time in the Ministerial and Government team at Sport Australia. Though I assist the team with the crazy inbox as required, my main focus at the moment is on a few different projects to help automate and streamline our processes and reporting. It is a great team to be a part of with very supportive, professional and knowledgeable workmates and it provides a broad understanding of the Australian Sports Commission.

Are you still involved in sport outside work?

Yes! I still compete in eventing and I also enjoy running. After a 15-year absence, I have loved playing netball again in a team with several ASC ladies. I am also really enjoying watching my children play sport and I might even start a bit of netball coaching again now that my daughter is old enough to play.