Cockburn Sports Hall of Fame

Ben played Goal Ball for WA for over 10 years. He’s been a silver medallist three times and a gold medallist twice at the Australian Goal Ball Championships in 2015 and 2018. In 2013 he was the MVP and has been named in the All-Australian Team six times. Internationally, Ben started competing for Australia in 2011. Ben was the founder of Goalball WA and the inaugural President for its first six years.

Brett was the Laurie Sawle Medalist, awarded to the State Cricketer of the Year, for the 2005/06 season. That kicked off his national career and from 2005 to 2011 played for WA in all forms of the game – the Sheffield Shield, One-Dayers and T20. In 2008/09 Brett was named in the Sheffield Shield All Star Team and was named the Mastercard Interstate Most Valuable Player across all three formats of the game. In 2006 he was selected for Australia in the One Day International Tri Series against Sri Lanka and South Africa. He also toured Bangladesh with the Australian Cricket Team in 2006.

From 2002 through 2016 Soa has competed in various State Competitions in the disciplines of MMA, Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling. Nationally, he was crowned the Heavyweight Australian Fighting Champion at Australian Fighting Championship 3 and then successfully defended his title at Australian Fighting Championship 4. Internationally, Soa made it the highest pinnacle of the mixed martial arts sport where he’s been to six Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events from 2013 to 2015 and finished with a 4 and 2 record. He is a three time World Champion - IKBF, KOz Entertainment and AFC World Champion

Athens Olympian in 2004 and Melbourne Commonwealth games swimmer. In 2005 Lara set a new Australian & Commonwealth record in the 400m Individual Medley – the previous record stood for 12 years held by Hayley Lewis.

Local Cockburn RSL Dart club member has represented Australia at the 2003 World Masters Games. Has competed for WA  14 times and win the State Championships four times. 

Represented Australian at the 1966 & ’67 World Track Cycling Championships, and gold medallist in the World Masters Tandem Criterium in 1985. Ken re-emerged in the 90’s as a Paralympics coach in 1992 (Barcelona) and 1996 (Atlanta) and awarded 1996 Paralympics Coach of the Year.

A South Fremantle Football Club legend from 1960 – 1976, Tom played 258 games for South Fremantle a record which stood until 2008. A premiership player (1970) and SFFC fairest & best winner (1968 & 1972) who is a life member of South Fremantle & WA Football.

George Grljusich (1939-2007) was a sports commentator and radio broadcaster who covered 39 different sports, 6 Olympic Games and 10 Commonwealth Games. George was an avid sports fan and commentator broadcasting WAFL and AFL matches and is well known for his brilliant call of Ben Johnson’s world record 100 metres sprint at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In 2000 the Prime Minister John Howard on behalf of the Queen awarded her the Australian Sports Medal Award. A multiple WA champion bowler and three times Australian representative bowler, Smiljana has been a Cockburn Bowling Club member since 1981.

A foundation member of the Cockburn Bowling club in 1964, Steve competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games winning a Silver medal for Australia. An outstanding State and Australian representative bowler he won multiple State awards in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s as well as Gold and Silver at the Asia Pacific Championships in 1993. In 1995 Steve was awarded the Australia Day Citizens Award and in 2000 an Australian Sports Medal.

A State, Australian & International Sailing champion, Kevin represented Australia three times in International Sailing Competitions. World & Australian Champion in 1985, Kevin was also a WA Champion in 1977, ’79, ’84 & ’86.

A Lacrosse player for over 20 consecutive years, Frances was a member of the 1982 Australian World Cup Team and State Team Member from 1981 to 1988. She was Association fairest and best in 1980 and was awarded life membership of Lacrosse West in 1999.

Member of the WA Teal Cup, 1985 who went onto play 112 games for South Fremantle Football Club and drafted in 1988 to the West Coast Eagles where he played 150 games and kicked 514 goals. Sumich played in the 1992 & 1994 AFL Premiership Team and was the first left-footer to kick over 100 goals in an AFL season. He coached South Fremantle between 2000 and 2001, before taking an assistant coach role at West Coast, from 2002 to 2011, before joining Fremantle as an assistant coach.

Lacrosse Coach & Player, John represented WA as a player in 1979. ’81 – ’83 and as a coach in 1986, ’87, ’90 – ’95 & 2000. He coached five National Premiership teams and was Australian Head Coach for the Lacrosse World Series in 1994, 1998 and 2002. Denic was awarded the ASC Coach Award in 1994 and Australian Sports Medal in 2000.

Olympian Gymnast in Tokyo (1964) and Mexico (1968), as well representing Australia at the World Championships in Germany – 1966, Val is a champion athlete and coach. WA State champion in 1962, ’65, ’68 & ’69 and Australian Champion in 1965, ’66, ’68 & ’69, she was inducted as a Member of the Australian Gymnastics “Roll of Honour” in 1989 and Awarded Life Membership to Western Australian Gymnastics Association in 1991. Val is still currently coaching in the City of Cockburn at Olympic Fun & Fitness in Jandakot.

Member of the WA Teal Cup, 1985 who went onto play 51 games for South Fremantle Football Club and 270 games for West Coast Eagles. A member of the 1992 & 1994 AFL Premiership Team, Jakovich  was selected in the AFL All Australian team in ’94 & ’95. Glen won Fairest & Best at the West Coast Eagles in 1993, ’94, ’95 & 2000. He retired from the club in 2004 & is now a sports commentator & broadcaster.

Ranked No 1 Ladies player in Western Australia in 1970, ‘72, ’79 - ‘81, and 1985, Christine was a WA representative 1966 - 1969 (Junior) and 1979 - 1982 (Senior). Christine played at Wimbledon five times and qualified three times and in 1977 reached the Quarter finals in the French & US Open Ladies Doubles. In 1978 she was a Semi finalist in the Australian Open (Ladies Singles) the first Australian woman to qualify in a grand slam event and reach the semi finals. Christine is a member of the Fremantle Lawn Tennis Club and Club Coach for over 20 years.

Alan Beale (1921-2001) was a champion Football player originally from Plaistowe, London, England who arrived in the Port of Fremantle in 1924. He was a member of the Spearwood Rovers FC, 1936 - 1965 & Cockburn United FC, 1965 – 1977. Beale represented Western Australia from 1946 to 1950 and won the WA Soccer Player of the Year in 1954 & 1958. In 1996 he was inducted into the WAIS Hall of Champions and Awarded Life Membership to the Soccer Federation of Western Australia

A state and Australian Player & Umpire, Golding was a member of the Fremantle Hockey Club, 1987 – 1994 and the University Hockey Club, 1995 – 2004. Member of WAIS Squad from 1989 to 1991 he represented WA in indoor hockey between 1989 – ’96 and again in ’98 – ’03 (Coach 2001 – ’03).

To present day a member of the Melville / Fremantle Cycling Club since 1985, Grahame started at the Fremantle Districts Cycling Club 1956 - 1961 & Fremantle / Cockburn Professional Cycling Club 1970 – 1985. Benthien was selected to represent Western Australia 8 times in track events, in 1958 he was all round junior track champion & in 1959 (at 18) was the youngest rider ever to ride off scratch in the Northam to Perth Road Race. A World Veterans Cycling champion in 1982, 84 and 1987. He has been a strong supporter of Cycling as a member of organising committees for Australian track and road championships, a foundation committee member of Western Australian Veterans Cycling Council and track manager at numerous World Junior Track Titles.