Dawn returns for Hall of Fame

[Go_The_Mighty_Magpies]

Dawn returns for Hall of Fame
By Ron Reed - Fox Sports


THREE years after she stormed out with all guns blazing from Australia's club for retired sporting superstars, Dawn Fraser will be back among her peers tonight.

Sadly, though, negotiations to reinstate her as a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame have broken down amid more tension.

The triple Olympic gold medallist will attend the annual dinner and induction and awards ceremony in Melbourne as a guest of the Nissan motor company, but not in any formal role.

It is believed this will prevent her from taking a leading part in a presentation honouring an element of her great career, with another former swimmer expected to be called on stage instead.

The Hall of Fame chairman, former tennis star Neale Fraser, said yesterday there were no lingering hard feelings and that his namesake - they are not related - would be informally made welcome.

Dawn Fraser, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, was president of the Hall of Fame for eight years before resigning at the annual meeting on the day of the dinner in 2000.

She told the Herald Sun at the time she no longer wanted anything to do with the organisation, describing it as "a Victorian boys' club" that did nothing for its members.

However, time has healed the wound to the point the Hall of Fame directors believed that an invitation to rejoin had been accepted several weeks ago.

Neale Fraser said this was agreed to on the basis that Dawn sign the standard document outlining members' responsibilities, which are mainly to do with supporting sponsors and making images and sporting records available for promotional use.

"Every other member has signed this, and she did so when she was a member before," he said. "But she has sent the document back to us, signed but with the reference to her image and her career records crossed out.

"She says she has had legal advice to do this.

"Our board has agreed unanimously that while we very much want to see her back, we can't make an exception for her."

Neale Fraser said the board would discuss the situation at its scheduled meeting today and then report to the members at the AGM, which is also on today.

The Hall of Fame was formed in 1985 with the late Sir Donald Bradman the first inductee.

Dawn Fraser followed almost immediately and, until she walked away, was regarded as one of the more enthusiastic supporters of the concept.

Fifteen presentations will be made tonight, including the naming of the 23rd official Legend of Australian Sport.

Tennis star Lleyton Hewitt, disabled skier Michael Milton, footballer Jason McCartney, jockey Damien Oliver and hurdler Jana Pittman will vie for The Don award, which is for the athlete who most inspired the nation over the past 12 months.

Four new members and two associate members will be inducted, while Olympic hockey gold medallist Rechelle Hawkes will accept the membership given to her last year, when she was unable to attend.

And six great teams of the past will be recognised.

As well, the Hall of Fame is auctioning a large flag signed by 100 of the nation's greatest sportsmen, including Bradman.

Prospective buyers not attending the dinner can bid for the flag by contacting the Hall of Fame at mail@sahof.org.au or phone 9572 4600.

[Donny]

What a great champion and character Dawn Fraser was (and is).

Who know what else she would have achieved if she wasn't banned from competition for 10 years, after pinching a flag from the Emporer's palace in Tokyo.

I remember a headline in a Melbourne paper (The Truth probably) which screamed, "FRASER IN THE NUDE !!"

Dawny had swum a sub 1 minute 100 metres in private. In those days (around 1959) the costumes were a lot heavier and she wanted to find out just how fast she could swim without one.

At the time, her world record was a touch over 1 minute but it wasn't long before she broke the minute - in her costume.