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Champions inducted into Sports Hall of Fame
International basketballer Jae Cross (nee Kingi) and surf lifesaving champion Jason O’Pray have been inducted into the Sunshine Coast Sports Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
The ceremony on Tuesday 25 November was the 11th Hall of Fame event hosted by USC and the first to be held at the University’s new Health and Sports Centre which is set to become its permanent venue.
Jae Cross represented Queensland from 1989-1995 and her team won the Australian National Championships in 1995, the same year that she won the Under 20 R.E. Staunton Award (for Most Valuable Player).
She went on to play in the Australian WNBL, winning three championships with Adelaide, and in the American WNBA, playing for Detroit, Phoenix and San Antonio.
In 2006, she won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games playing for the Australian Opals. Jae also was a member of the Australian National Team for 12 years (1995-2006) and won a bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships.
This team also claimed a pair of Oceania Gold Medals in 2003 and 2005 en route to qualifying for the Olympics.
Jason O'Pray's lifesaving titles include 20 Queensland Surf Lifesaving State Championship medals, 16 Australian Surf Lifesaving National Championship and Australian Royal Lifesaving Pool National Championship medals.
He also has won more than 30 world and international championship gold medals, represented Australia in surf lifesaving and royal lifesaving teams, and set seven international lifesaving world records.
The Hall of Fame event also saw Certificate of Merit awards presented to long-time Sunshine Coast Cricket Association administrator Pat Drew and to Sunshine Coast Gympie Rugby League secretary Rhondda Poor.
About 90 guests attended, including past Sports Hall of Fame inductees, their friends and family members, event sponsors and business and civic leaders.
USC sport scientist and Hall of Fame inductee Dr Brendan Burkett compered the celebration, while Seven Local News sports presenter Yvonne Sampson conducted short interviews with many of the past inductees or their relatives.