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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 had previously been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil) on 1 January 1969 for services to sport. An Australian representative in squash and hockey, McKay dominated ladies squash for two decades and lost only two squash matches in her career.

Career Highlights
Alternative Names: Blundell, Heather (maiden name)
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 McKays left Australia in 1975 to coach in Canada and while there Heather McKay played racquetball. In 1985 the McKays returned to Australia and until 1993 she worked as a squash coach at the Australian Institute of Sport.

Chronology
1960 - 1973Winner of the Australian Amateur Championships
1961 - 1973Winner of New South Wales Championships
1961 - 1973Winner of Victorian Championships
1962 - 1977Winner of the British Open Championships
1965Married Brian H McKay
1967Awarded ABC Sportsman of the Year
1 January 1969Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire
1976Winner of the World Squash Championship
1977Winner of the American Championship
1979Winner of the American Amateur Racquetball Championship
1979Winner of the World Squash Championship
26 January 1979Awarded Member of the Order of Australia
1980Winner of the Canadian Racquetball Championship
1980 - 1981Winner of the American Professional Racquetball Championships
1982 - 1985Winner of the Canadian Racquetball Championships
1984Winner of the American Professional Racquetball Championship
1985 - 1998Squash Coach with the Australian Institute of Sport
30 August 2000Awarded the Australian 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: 18 June 2004

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: 10 March 2005
http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/IMP0180b.htm

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