Karen Murphy AM to be inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Karen Murphy AM has been announced as one of eight individuals set to be bestowed induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF), among a star-studded who’s who list of Australian sporting superstars.
Alongside Murphy, set for induction in 2024 as SAHOF Athlete Members is three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning AO; former Kookaburras’ captain Mark Knowles OAM; Olympic hurdles gold medallist Sally Pearson OAM; motor sport superstar Mark Skaife OAM; and dual-sport Paralympics champion Liesl Tesch AM.
Entering SAHOF as General Members are Gerry Ryan OAM, whose impact and philanthropy has extended from cycling across multiple sports, and visionary basketball administrator, the late Betty Watson OAM.
Membership as an Athlete Member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame belongs exclusively to the top echelon of Australian athletes who have achieved the highest honours at the peak level of competition. General Members are recognised for their outstanding achievements in roles that support sports participants.
Murphy is a stereotype-defying trailblazer of the bowls community, who has elevated the sport well beyond its usual reach with her success at the elite level over a 20-plus year career. With gold medal-winning performances at Commonwealth Games and World Championships levels, Murphy donned the green and gold at international level on more than 660 occasions – a testament to her durability and resilience. She won four World Championship gold medals – and two in succession in the singles event, one in pairs and one in fours – plus a silver and three bronze, while also claiming one gold (Melbourne, 2006) and three silver medals across five Commonwealth Games. At the last, on the Gold Coast in 2018, she was chosen to read the Athletes’ Oath on behalf of all Commonwealth Games competitors.
“I lost my mum (Lorraine, aged 82), only hours before John (Bertrand) called me to tell me the news,” Murphy said.
“Mum had battled brain cancer and I’d been looking after her for a few years and she passed away at 5.57am that day and then John called me at about 11am and told me, and I just burst into tears.
“I was extremely honoured when I heard the news, to be joining such a wonderful list of athletes across all sports is truly special.
“I feel incredibly grateful to all those who have been on my journey with me; This award is one which I share with our whole bowls community.”
Sport Australia Hall of Fame Selection Committee Chair, Bruce McAvaney OAM, said: “The eight new inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame are a diverse group representing team and individual sports at the highest level.”
“They’ve inspired generations of Australians and provided our country with so much joy. Nothing is obvious when choosing between champions from so many different sports but we know the class of 2024 sits comfortably alongside those who’ve already been recognised in the most prestigious hall of fame in this country.”
Each member of the class of 2024 has made a significant impact on Australian sport, not just through personal excellence but as a role model for future generations and by helping to foster a strong sporting culture in a nation so proud of its rich sporting history.
The honour roll of Inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame features the nation’s biggest sporting names and champions, including Sir Donald Bradman AC, Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Cathy Freeman OAM, Ian Thorpe AM, E.J. “Ted” Whitten OAM, Raelene Boyle AM MBE, Wally Lewis AM, Shane Gould OAM MBE, Sir Jack Brabham AO OBE, Greg Norman AO, Lauren Jackson AO, John Eales AM, Susie O’Neill AM, Rod Laver AC MBE, Bart Cummings AM, Louise Sauvage OAM, Layne Beachley AO and Tim Cahill AO, among other luminaries.
The 2024 Inductees will be celebrated and formally inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at the Induction and Awards Gala Dinner on Monday, November 18 at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.
Limited tickets are still available for purchase – Gala Dinner Tickets.
Bowls Australia congratulate Karen Murphy AM on this historic recognition, as just the fourth ever bowls inductee into the SAHOF, and first female bowls inductee, following in the footsteps of Glyn de Villiers Bosisto, John Dobbie and John Young.
Karen Murphy AM – Lawn Bowls, NSW
Athlete Member – 2024 Sport Australia Hall of Fame
- Vice-Captain, Australian Jackaroos, 2011-2017.
- Australian Jackaroo 1997- 2019.
- Played 668 Tests for Australia over 23 years.
- Commonwealth Games 2018, 2014, 2006, 2002, and 1998.
- 5x World Championships.
- World Champion Triples Champion 2012.
- Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist Pairs 2006.
- World Ladies Singles Champion, 2016 and 2012.
- World Indoor Champion, 2012.
- Professional Bowler, Cabramatta Bowls Club, Sydney.
- 4x Gold Medalist, Asia Pacific Championships.
- World Champion of Champion Singles, 2013.
- World Fours Champion, 2012.
- 3x Commonwealth Games Silver Medals 1998, 2002 and 2014.
– Awards and Recognition include:
- Director, World Bowls, 2014-2018.
- Inaugural inductee, Bowls NSW Hall of Fame, 2016.
- Bowler of the Year, Bowls Australia, 2013 and 2014.
- Inaugural inductee, Bowls Australia Hall of Fame, 2011.
- Australian Sports Medal, 2000.
- 2018 Commonwealth Games Athlete Oath Reader Opening Ceremony.
- High Performance Coach, Karen Murphy Bowls Clinics.
- Appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2021.
- National Assistant Coach, 2021-present
