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The Lithgow region has been home to many sporting stars that have represented Australia at an Olympic or Commonwealth Games level. These athletes include: David Palmer - Squash David Palmer is Australia ’s leading squash player. A PSA professional since 1994, in 1997 he won four successive PSA Tour titles. He strode into the top ten in February 2000, claiming two PSA titles from six final appearances in 1999, seized the No. 3 ranking in May 2001 - beating world champion Peter Nicol – and went on to reaching the PSA Masters final in Egypt. He triumphed at the Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong and attained the World No. 1 ranking in September 2001. David’s illustrious sporting career has seen him attain the following:
Joanne Banning - Hockey Making her debut for the Hockeyroos on the first tour of the 2001 season to Argentina , Joanne has represented Australia with the Hockeyroos at the 2002 and 2001 Champions Trophy and attained a Bronze Medal at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. Joanne is a fast and skilful striker with the ability to score goals. Rick Timperi - Boxing Rick was born in Rome , Italy in 1967, and came to Australia (Hartley, near Lithgow) at the age of 4 with his parents and sister. Rick started boxing at the age of 10; however it wasn’t until he was 17 that he took the sport seriously. Since then Rick has competed in over 150 bouts with an 85% success rate. His competitive nature and will to succeed saw him pursue an illustrious career in boxing, some of his highlights being:
Rick retired after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Graham “Spike” Cheney - Boxing Spike began his boxing career aged 13 at the Lithgow PCYC under the guidance of boxing trainer John Bolt. By the time he was 18, Spike had fought 47 bouts, with an impressive 39 wins. The highlight of Spike’s career was his silver medal win at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Spike’s other boxing credits include:
Terry Mason - Pentathlon, Weightlifting Terry Mason has completed in two Paralympics winning bronze medals in two different events. At the 1972 Heidelburg Games Terry participated in the Pentathlon and the 1976 Canada Games in weightlifting. Terry was a keen sportsman from a young age playing football for local team St Patrick’s, hockey for Hornet’s and school athletics and swimming. After leaving school he began amateur wrestling. Terry was injured at age 26, leaving him in a wheelchair. Jack Wilkinson encouraged Terry to maintain fitness, acting also as key motivator. Two years after Terry’s accident he was chosen to represent his country at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, however he did not attend. Terry’s impressive list of sporting pursuits also includes Gold medals in weightlifting and the Pentathlon at the Dunedin Commonwealth Games, a number of Australian Championship medals and a Best and Fairest Player at school level football. Today, Terry is heavily involved with sport for wheelchair bound juniors. Helen Searle (nee Frith) - Athletics Helen contested the long jump and high jump at the Rome Olympic Games and won silver medals in both events at the Perth Commonwealth Games. Helen, an all round sportswoman also contested the long jump and pentathlon in the Tokyo Olympics. Helen is regarded as one of the greats of NSW athletics, winning six successive State pentathlon and long jump titles from 1961 to 1966 and the high jump championship in 1960. In her later years Helen went onto be come a world class veteran in throwing events. Nancy Hill - Basketball Nancy represented Australia as part of the Opals Basketball team at the 1958 Commonwealth Games. Nancy married fellow basketballer and Lithgowite Barry Hill. |
Denis Tipping - Athletics Denis trained under Jim Monaghan at the local Lithgow Cinders Track. Denis contested numerous athletic events and attained the following successes:
Whilst Denis had a stellar athletic career, he is most remembered for dropping the baton in the sprint relay during the 1962 Commonwealth Games. When asked if this was an embarrassing event, Denis replied “Not nearly as embarrassing as picking it up!” Fleur Mellor - Athletics Fleur trained under the guidance of Jim Monaghan on the Lithgow Cinders Track. Fleur was controversially included in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games 4x100m medley relay with team mates Shirley Strickland, Betty Cuthbert and Norma Croker. The team went on to win Gold. Barry Hill - Basketball Barry Hill won a place in the 1956 Olympic basketball squad. Barry trained with the side, however could not compete with his team in the Games due to injury. Barry went on to become a coal miner, and is now retired to Toowoon Bay . Billy Holden - Boxing Bill Holden began his boxing career at the Lithgow Police Boy’s Club under Ken Bolt in 1953, staying with Ken throughout his career. He started boxing in open tournaments in Sydney in 1954 going on to win the City of Sydney Championship and Golden Gloves NSW, middleweight title. In 1955 he had won every title in Sydney , retaining the State Title. Later that year in Brisbane , Bill was to contest the Australian Title. After six elimination contests Bill won the Australian Middleweight Championship making him eligible to compete in Tournaments; in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. After winning all of these contests, consisting of 15 fights, Bill was selected to represent Australia at the 1956 Olympic Games. Donald McDonnell - Boxing Donald Mc Donnell began his boxing career in Lithgow. His career highlights include 5 NSW Boxing Titles and inclusion in the 1952 Olympic Boxing Team. Marjorie Jackson - Athletics Olympic Games: 1952 Commonwealth Games: 1954 Marjorie Jackson, “The Lithgow Flash” was the first Australian to win Gold on the Athletics Track. Marjorie is one of Australia ’s most celebrated athletes. Raised and trained in Lithgow, Marjorie’s illustrious sporting career includes:
Billy Boyce - Boxing Olympic Games: 1948 Billy Boyce, the gentleman of Australian boxing, competed in the Welterweight Division (67kg) of boxing. The highlight of Billy’s career was competing in the 1948 Olympic Games in London .
Olympic Games Trainers, Umpires and Coaches Maurie & Carol Poole Doug Frost Robyn Bannerman Jeff Crowe John Bolt Merv Emms Athletics – Coach (Trained Marjorie Jackson, Denis Tipping, Fleur Mellor, Helen Frith) Olympics: 1952, 1956, 1960 Commonwealth Games: 1954, 1958, 1962 |
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The Lithgow Flash Gift is a drug and alchol free event
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