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Sporting Hall of Fame

The Sporting Hall of Fame is an educational resource that acknowledges and honours members of the Bankstown community for their outstanding sporting achievements.

 

About the Hall of Fame

​In August 2011, Council endorsed the proposal to revive the Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame within the new Centre of Excellence constructed at Bankstown Memorial Park.

The Sporting Hall of Fame is an educational resource that acknowledges and honours members of the Bankstown community for their outstanding sporting achievements. The Hall of Fame serves as a point of interest to residents, visitors, sport enthusiasts and school children.

In 1988, Council and Bankstown Sports Club established a Sporting Hall of Fame as part of the Bicentenary Program. On 26 November 1988, 101 names, representing 25 different sports were unveiled on a roll of honour or board located at Bankstown Sports Club. The original intention was for Council to add new names as they qualify, however, this only happened in 1991 when a further 7 names were recognised and added to the board. Athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame during this period included Steve and Mark Waugh, John and Isla Konrads and Terry Lamb to name a few. The 2012 Bankstown Sporting Hall of Fame recognises all inductees from t​he 1988 Hall of Fame by automatically inducting them into the new Sporting Hall of Fame.

In 2012, the Steering Committee setup by representatives from Council, Bankstown Sports, Bankstown-Canterbury Torch Newspaper and Bankstown District Cricket Club called for nominations from the community to form a new induction cycle at the official opening of the new facility in March 2013. From the nominations, 23 athletes and administrators were chosen by the Committee to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Among the athletes inducted were Hazem El Masri, Brett Emerton, Ian Thorpe and Bilal 'Billy the Kid' Dib.

Sporting Hall of Fame​ inductees
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Athletics

Baseball

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Boxing

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Cycling

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Rugby League

Rugby Union

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Wrestling
Peter Phizacklea
Peter's sporting prowess materialised very quickly and he represented NSW in the Australian Championships in 1965 as an 11 year old. In 1971 he would represent Australia in the Trans Tasman Competition in New Zealand. In the same year Peter would win the Australian Championship at 17 years of age.
Surf Life Saving
Peter Tibbitts
Peter came to prominence in Surf Life Saving in 1972 as a member of Cronulla Surf Club when he was selected to represent NSW.Between 1973-74 and 1987-88 he would reach the final of the Australian open belt championship on 13 of a possible 15 occasions, recording four firsts, three seconds two thirds and four fourths. There is no beltman in the history of surf lifesaving who can match Peter's record.
Rugby League
Peter Tunks
Peter was a brilliant ball playing forward who was as tough as they come. He was a very important part of the Bulldogs when they were known as the entertainers. He continues to contibute to the sport as a Radio comentator.
Water Polo
Raymond Mayers
Ray was an excellent all-round player and ferocious competitor. He started his aquatic career as a strong surf swimmer. He first came to prominence when he won the open belt race bronze medal for Cronulla SLSC at the 1979 National Surf Lifesaving titles in Perth. Ray was selected to represent Australia at three Olympic Games and wore the green and gold for a record 532 international matches for the Australian men's team from 1981 to 1996.
Water Polo
Rebecca Rippon
Rebecca has had a stellar career in women's Water Polo spanning over 12 years. Her talent was acknowledged early becoming a member of the national junior team in 1993 aged 15 years. By 2003 Rebecca was selected to represent Australia as a member of the National Open team ‘The Stingers'.
Cycling
Reginald Arnold
Arnold was considered one of Australia's most successful post-war cyclists. He was chosen in 1945 to represent Australia in the 800 kilometre Brighton to Glasgow race with another Sydney rider Alf Strom as his partner.
Ice Hockey
Rob' Dewhurst
Rob has the distinction of being a player on the 1st Olympic ice hockey team in 1960 and wore the green and gold as a member of the 1961–2 World Championship team that recorded Australia's historic first ever International win..As a player and Assistant Coach Rob represented NSW many times at Goodall Cup level and continues to contribute to his sport.
Soccer
Robbie Slater
Robbie would be considered one of the most dynamic midfielders this country has produced. He would be selected to represent Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the Socceroos would reach the Quarter Finals. Robbie would wear the green and gold in forty four matches.
Soccer
Robert Madden
In 1951 Bob had the honour of representing NSW against England in Soccer and in Cricket. His sporting prowess would take him to the soccer field where he played with distinction representing Australia against China in 1953. He would play in the position of centre half-back.
Soccer
Robert Murray
Robert, at twenty years of age would play 1st Grade Soccer from 1939. His route to international representation would take much longer. His maturity would not surface until 1947 at the age of 28 when he would don the green and gold for Australia playing against South Africa. As his professional career receded he would become a selector and referee 1st Grade matches.
Cycling
Robert Whetters
Whetters' rise to a champion Australian cyclist was meteoric and at 17 he was the Australian Amateur 25 mile Road champion. His toughness as a rider was legendary. He would represent Australia at the Rome Olympics in 1960 at the age of twenty and would win Australian Cyclist of the year in 1967.
Cycling
Rochelle Gilmore
Rochelle Gilmore is a former Australian racing cyclist and during her representative career was a member of the Bankstown Sports Cycling Club from 1995 to 2018
Soccer
Rodney Brown
Rod's involvement with soccer began early when he represented the Bankstown District as an eight year old. In 1983, Rod was selected to represent Australia in the Under 20's World Cup in Mexico after qualifying in the Oceania Football Confederation Cup. Rod was again selected in 1985 to represent Australia in the World Series Club Tournaments, played against visiting teams from England, Brazil and Yugoslavia.
Rugby League
Ron Bailey
A brilliant centre in his day, Ron was born in Mayfield, Newcastle and commenced playing for Canterbury-Bankstown in 1941. He was the first player to both represent and captain Australia.
Rugby League
Ron Costello
The crash-tackling second-rower would sign with Canterbury in 1970 and was called into the Ashes-deciding Third Test against Great Britain. He later made Australia's World Cup squad that year and backed up with another tour to NZ in 1971. Against all odds, Australia downed Great Britain 12-7 in a final that was one of the dirtiest, most brutal games of all time, becoming known in rugby league folklore as the "Battle of Leeds".
Booking information

Guided tours of the Hall of Fame are available by appointment with the Bankstown District Cricket Club and are suitable for families, schools and community organisations.

Memorabilia from athletes is displayed throughout the facility and the interactive touchscreens allow users to scroll through the inducted athletes and see their achievements.

The Hall of Fame also operates as a business meeting space ideal for workshops or seminars. It can seat 25 people board style or 60 people theatre style with a kitchen available for use.

Click here for more information on using the Hall of Fame