The Sport Australia Hall of Fame will honour the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future at the annual Induction and Awards Gala in Melbourne on Thursday 11th October 2018.

2018 will mark the 34th edition of Australian sport’s night of nights and will be highlighted by the induction of eight Australian sporting icons, from on and off the field, into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

In addition, one existing Hall of Fame member will be elevated to Legend status, becoming the 40th official Legend of Australian sport.

The night will also celebrate the announcement of ‘The Don’ Award to the athlete or team who, through their performance and example over the past twelve months, has most inspired the nation. A shortlist of nominations will be released in early October.

Last year, the likes of AFL star Tony Lockett and Olympic gold medallists Lauren Burns OAM, Steve Hooker OAM and Brad McGee OAM were admitted as members, boxer Jeff Horn took home ‘The Don’ and Raelene Boyle AM MBE became the 39th Legend of Australian Sport.

Membership to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is widely considered the highest national sporting honour that can be bestowed. With 557 members, it represents the pinnacle of Australian sporting excellence.

The new members will join those who represent more than 170 years of Australian sporting excellence, including Sir Donald Bradman AC, Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Betty Cuthbert AC MBE, Rod Laver AC MBE, Bart Cummings AM, Ron Barassi AM, Wally Lewis AM, John Eales AM, Greg Norman AO, Catherine Freeman OAM, Layne Beachley AO, Ricky Ponting AO, Casey Stoner AM, John Coates AC and Bruce McAvaney OAM.

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chairman John Bertrand AO said the theme for the 2018 gala is ‘Stars of the Southern Cross’ and inductees would come from on and off the field across the sporting spectrum.

“From the recently retired, to the ‘never-to-be-forgotten’ the class of 2018 will be celebrated additions to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” Bertrand said.

“Our motto is honour the past, celebrate the present and embrace the future’ and with our inductions, Legend announcement, ‘The Don’ Award and most importantly our ‘Scholarship and Mentoring Program’, we will continue to celebrate and promote all that is wonderful about Australian sport.”

The 2018 gala will also recognise the next generation of Australian sporting success.

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program will see five junior Australian athletes mentored by five current Hall of Fame Members for the next 14 months. As well as providing a $5,000 sporting grant the program offers a rare, money can’t buy experience that will further nurture and support the future of Australian sport.

Established in 1985, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame plays a vital role in preserving and perpetuating Australia’s rich sporting heritage, whilst promoting the values of courage, sportsmanship, integrity, mateship, persistence, and excellence, all underpinned by generosity, modesty, pride and ambition.