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McKay, Heather Pamela (1941 - )

AM, MBE
Published Sources
Sportswoman
Born: 31 July 1941  Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Awarded the Australian Sports Medal on 30 August 2000, Heather McKay was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) on 26 January 1979 for her service to the sport of squash. She was appointed Order of the British Empire - Member (Civil) on 1 January 1969 for services to sport.
Australian representative in squash and hockey, Heather McKay dominated ladies squash for two decades and lost only two squash matches in her career.

Career Highlights
Born Heather Blundell, the eighth of eleven children, who were all interested in sport. Heather Blundell played tennis in summer and hockey in winter.
In 1959 with the idea of improving her fitness for hockey, she played her first game of squash. A year later she entered the National Championships and won the Australian title, and then won it every year for the next 14 years. In 1962 she won the British Open - a title she held until 1977.
Heather Blundell married one of her male practice partners, Brian McKay, in 1965.
The McKay's left Australia in 1975 to coach in Canada and while there Heather McKay played racquetball.
In 1985 the Mckay's returned to Australia and until 1993 she worked as a squash coach at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Chronology
31 July 1941Born Queanbeyan NSW
1960 - 1973Australian Amateur Championship
1961 - 1973NSW Championship
1961 - 1973Victorian Championship
1962 - 1977British Open Championship
1965Married Brian H McKay
1967ABC Sportsman of the Year
1969MBE
1976World Squash Championship
1977American Championship
1979American Amateur Racquetball Championship
1979AM
1979World Squash Championship
1980Canadian Racquetball Championship
1980 - 1981American Professional Racquetball Championship
1982 - 1985Canadian Racquetball Championship
1984American Professional Racquetball Championship
1985 - 1998Squash Coach Australian Institute of Sport
30 August 2000Australian Sports Medal

 

Google
Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Anne Heywood
Created: 18 October 2002
Modified: 4 April 2003

Published by National Foundation for Australian Women on Australian Women's Archives Project Web Site
Comments, questions, corrections and additions: awap@womenaustralia.info
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 19 March 2004
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0180b.htm

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