Seven-time World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley has been recognised with the Dawn Award at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Awards.
Beachley was recognised with the prestigious award for her extraordinary achievements in surfing and for her bravery in overcoming personal challenges to change women’s surfing for the better.
The award is named after Australian sporting icon Dawn Fraser. Beachley is the fifth recipient of the award, following Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, the late Peter Norman, the Sydney 2000 Olympics Women’s Water Polo champions and basketballer Lauren Jackson.
“I was pleasantly surprised and a little overwhelmed to be quite honest. Dawn is one of my absolute heroes, so to receive this award in her name fills me with immense pride and joy,” Beachley said after winning the award.
“I refer to her as the matriarch of sport in this country and I’m very proud to be receiving this award in her honour.
“When I joined the pro tour in 1990, I was shocked by the state of women’s surfing and committed to changing the sport’s trajectory. Through compromises, sacrifices and battles, we achieved pay equity in 2018. Now women can truly aspire to be seen and respected in what was once a male-dominated environment. It’s incredibly satisfying.”
The Dawn Award is designed to recognise an individual, team or organisation who demonstrates courage and bravery and has changed sport for the better.
Beachley claimed her first world championship at the age of 26 before going on to dominate in women’s surfing from 1998 to 2003.
The award recognised Beachley for her “never-say-never” attitude and her commitment to challenging the status quo and driving equality in surfing. It also acknowledged the challenging circumstances she was born into and how she channelled her pain into passion.
Bruce McAvaney, Chair of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Selection Committee, said Beachley is the “living epitome” of what the Dawn Award stands for.
“The obstacles she has overcome on her journey to the pinnacle of surfing have added a new chapter to the history of the sport – and left a profound legacy for all who’ve followed, including this year’s world champion, Molly Picklum,” McAvaney said.
“Layne’s courage and perseverance kept her at the top of world rankings over two decades and I can’t think of a more deserving recipient for an award that recognises strength of character, drive and ability.”
On Monday night, nine-time Grand Prix winner Oscar Piastri was also named the recipient of The Don Award. The award honours an Australian athlete or team whose achievements over the past year have most inspired the nation.