Lisa Sthalekar and Dylan Alcott named for Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Seven inductees will be honoured on 24 November, with the annual ceremony moving from the MCG to Melbourne Park.
Former Australian cricket allrounder Lisa Sthalekar and wheelchair tennis and basketball champion Dylan Alcott have been selected for induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. They are part of a seven-person group to be honoured at its annual awards dinner on 24 November.
Joining them as athlete members are Winter Olympics gold medallist Dale Begg-Smith, surf lifesaver Shannon Eckstein, softball player Natalie Ward and basketballer Sandy Brondello. Barry Dancer, an Olympic hockey silver medallist who later coached the Kookaburras to their only Olympic gold, will enter as a general member.
Sthalekar said she hoped the recognition would encourage young people seeking a sense of belonging. Born in Pune, India, she moved to Sydney with her family as a child and said sport helped her fit in. Her final international appearance came in Mumbai, where Australia reclaimed the women’s ODI World Cup, at the ground where her father first developed his love of cricket.
For Alcott, the ceremony’s move to Melbourne Park has personal significance: he first watched sport there at the Australian Open. He said his first appearance on Rod Laver Arena remained his career highlight, recalling a full stadium that included about 500 children in wheelchairs.
The dinner will also recognise three existing members with elevation to legend status and feature the annual Don and Dawn award winners.
