Trailblazers: Evonne Goolagong Cawley

Tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC, MBE was one of the first Indigenous Australian women to achieve international sporting fame – reaching world number one and dominating the game through the 1970s. 

A member of the Wiradjuri people, Evonne helped pave the way for future generations of Indigenous sportspeople – from Cathy Freeman to the current tennis world number one, Ash Barty, who cites her as a key influence and mentor.

“I hope I made her proud,” Ash said of her friend and mentor in 2021 after seizing the Wimbledon crown.

Evonne began playing tennis as a young girl, hitting a ball against a water tank with an apple crate board. 

“My greatest high was to hit a ball well, to try to do it perfectly, to try different things, whether they came off or not,” says Evonne.

At the age of nine, Evonne received her first racquet and stepped onto local courts. Tennis coach Vic Edwards spotted Evonne in 1967, impressed by her natural grace and timing.

“As a player, Mum was celebrated for her grace and elegance on court. But you don’t win as much as she did without steel inside,” says Evonne’s daughter, Kelly Cawley Loats.

Evonne retired from tennis in 1983 with fourteen grand slam singles and doubles titles to her credit, and went on to passionately promote Indigenous rights and health – including establishing the Goolagong National Development Camp.

“After I was fortunate enough to achieve my dreams on the court, I have done my best to, in turn, help young people achieve theirs,” says Evonne.

In 2018, Evonne was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia – the nation's highest honour – for services to tennis and the community.

Kelly describes how as a child in the only Aboriginal family in the small NSW town of Barellan, locals did everything they could to support her mother’s tennis dream – from buying clothes to raising funds so that she could travel to tournaments. 

“Through the foundation, Mum is doing exactly what people did for her – giving kids opportunities and helping them develop the life skills to make their way in the world.”