When Prime Minister Tony Abbott described himself as “captain of the coalition”, and made a “captain’s pick” on knighthoods, the former Sydney University rugby player and boxer, and current surfer and long distance cyclist, came within the radar of The Roar as a sporting website.
How he managed to select the Duke of Edinburgh for Australian knighthood defies description, when there are so many Australian sportsmen and women worthy of the recognition.
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Only six Australian sportsmen have been knighted, and not one dame.
Sir Norman Brookes was the first in 1939, the first non-Brit to win Wimbledon in 1907, and the first left-hander. He won Wimbledon again in 1914, and the Australian title in 1911. He played 39 Davis Cup matches for Australasia and Australia between 1905 and 1920, and was a long-time president of the LTAA. The winner of the Australian Open is awarded the handsome Norman Brookes Challenge Cup.
Sir Donald Bradman was knighted in 1949, the greatest batsman who ever lived, or ever will live. Many cricket lovers rate Sachin Tendulkar the greater batsman thanks to his 15921 Test runs to Bradman’s 6996. The level playing field are the averages – Bradman 99.94, Tendulkar 53.73, Bradman the better batsman by 54 per cent. End of discussion.
Sir Hubert Opperman was knighted in 1968, a champion road cyclist whose exploits are too numerous to list here. Sufficient to say he rode his bike practically every day from eight years of age until his 90th birthday, when his wife Mavys put her foot down, enough was enough. Sir Hubert died at 91, a former Liberal Federal Minister, and former High Commissioner to Malta.
Sir Nicholas Shehadie was knighted in 1976, a 30-cap Wallaby who captained the side three times. He made his first grade rugby debut at 15 in the centres for Randwick, played his first game for NSW at 16, and made his Wallaby debut at 21 against the All Blacks. He was a former Lord Mayor of Sydney, former chairman of the SCG Trust, and a former president of the ARU.
Sir Jack Brabham was knighted in 1979, a world formula one champion in 1959, 1960,and 1966. He revolutionised formula one with his Brabham car and in 1966 he became the only driver-manufacturer to win the world title – nobody has come anywhere close since. A great result cemented in motor racing folklore for the former RAAF flight mechanic.
Yachtsman Sir James Hardy was the last Australian sportsman knighted, in 1981. He skippered three America’s Cup campaigns in 1970, 1974, and 1980, represented Australia in four Admiral’s Cups, and two Olympic Games in 1964 and 1968. He came from the famous wine-making family, so the knighthood covered both facets of his life.
Champion batsman Bill Woodfull was offered a knighthood in 1934, but declined.
So rather than award a knighthood to the Duke of Edinburgh, with all due respect to His Highness, there are eight Australians who are far more deserving, and their selection would have been saluted instead of ridiculed.
Herb Elliott tops the list. Never beaten over the mile and 1500 metres in his life, a world record-holder in both events, at the 1960 Rome Olympics he broke his own world record, and beat Frenchman Michel Jazy into second place by 32 metres, still by far the biggest winning margin for the 1500. His time that day of 3.35.6 was so brilliant, he would have won seven of the next nine Olympic 1500s, up to 36 years later. He retired at 23 after Rome, saying he had nothing left to prove.
Richie Benaud, the original and only ‘Mr Cricket’, captained the Australian cricket team for 28 of his 63 Tests. He was rightfully regarded as the best leg spinner the world had ever seen, until Shane Warne came along. Benaud was an enterprising and entertaining skipper, no mug with the bat, and continued his close contact with cricket as the best television commentator, and among the best cricket-writers-authors.
Rod Laver, the ‘Rocket from Rockhampton’ is the only tennis player in the world, male or female, to win two Grand Slam singles, capturing the Australian, French, Wimbledon, and US in the same calendar year – in 1962 as an amateur, and 1969 as a professional. He won 11 Slams overall, but having missed 20 Slams when he was a pro and the sport remained amateur, that stat isn’t on a level playing field.
And Peter Thomson, winner of five British Opens in 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, and 1965, without peer as Australia’s best golfer. Those wins among 88 around the world, including two Canada Cups with Kel Nagle in 1954 and 1959, now known as the World Cup. He has remained in close contact with golf as a highly-regarded course designer, television commentator, and writer.
Dawn Fraser heads the Dame nominations. Winner of the 100m freestyle Olympic gold at the 1956, 1960, and 1964 Games. If she hadn’t been wrongly accused and suspended by the snobbish Australian Swiming Union at the time for allegedly nicking the Emperor’s flag from his palace in Tokyo, there’s no doubt Dawn would have won 100 free gold at Mexico in 1968, and Munich in 1972 to set an all-time record for the same event.
Heather McKay was winner of an extraordinary 16 successive British squash Opens from 1962 to 1977, 14 successive Australian titles from 1960 to 1973, and a two-time Hockeyroo. Heather was beaten only twice in her entire squash career, and went on to carve out another successful career in the United States, winning their national racquetball championship, the American equivalent of squash.
Margaret Court, winner of the ladies Grand Slam singles in 1970, among her world record 24 Slam singles titles, 19 Slam doubles, and 21 mixed – the total of 64 Slam titles places her in a world of her own. Margaret was born left-handed, but her coach changed her to play right-handed, no doubt the reason why she had such a powerful backhand.
And finally Betty Cuthbert, with her blond hair flying and mouth wide open as she cleaned up 100, 200, and relay gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, and 400 gold eight years later in Tokyo, an inaugural event. Betty has been suffering from multiple sclerosis since not long after Japan, but is showing the same courage fighting the debilitating disease as she showed on the track – a mighty athlete, and a very special lady.
Selecting one or two of those eight would have saved the Prime Minister a lot of grief.
Besides, our cousins across the ditch have far more knights and dames than Australia, and their whole country is not much bigger than Victoria.
The Kiwis have 15 sporting knights, and 3 dames.
The Kiwi 18
All Blacks Sir Wilson Whineray, Sir Brian Lochore, Sir Colin Meads, Sir John Kirwan, and Sir John Graham, with coaches Sir Fred Allen, and Sir Graham Henry.
Middle distance athletes Sir Murray Halberg, Sir John Walker, and Sir Peter Snell, equestrian Sir Mark Todd, golfer Sir Bob Charles, yachtsman Sir Peter Blake, mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, and cricketer Sir Richard Hadlee.
Plus Dame Lois Muir (netball), Dame Susan Devoy (squash), and Dame Naomi James (yachting).
Time for Australia to play catch-ups PM, pass it on to the council.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Perhaps a flaming idiot??? :-)
JimmyB
Guest
You Sir, are on fire.
JimmyB
Guest
As was yours.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
"Phil the Greek" is not a polite term, and is about as relevant as "Benaud the Frog" or "Grimmett the Pakeha". The Prince was an outstanding polo player, who helped to popularise the sport, and who coached after his playing days. Charles' interest in the game owes much to his Father. Like many of us, the Prince was also a keen cricketer, probably better than many of us, and a regular participant in many sports (including evading tennis racquets thrown at him by his wife!). Also excelled at carriage racing. "titles have their uses. Only where people suffer the delusion that the title means anything" -- well, a lot of the world is built on delusion, illusion and confusion, including our whole economic system. My comment about equality was based on the idea that people are happy to suggest that royalty divest themselves of privileges and property, but not too many people are willing to make the same sacrifice and give away the possessions they have been lucky enough to receive (e.g. being Australian). But perhaps we have strayed too far from sport, and I suspect we will not reach agreement. Luckily, in our constitutional monarchy, we can have and express our views pretty freely.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
Not a great post, Prof. You say royal (English?) titles have their uses. Only where people suffer the delusion that the title means anything. Joh Bjelke-Petersen in Queensland and Rob Muldoon in New Zealand thought it might buttress their crude power-grabbing but it only heightened the public disgust for both of them, as it has for the many thousands over the years who have sold their honour for 40 pieces of silver. When someone gets a title, it does not reflect the culture or the time, it reflects the personal/political wishes of the donor as our Tony has amply illustrated. As for Phil the Greek, what has he achieved in the sporting arena? Maybe public money under his name has done some good, if that's what you mean. Now, if sand-throwing over reporters was an Olympic sport he may stand a chance of a medal. As for achieving equality in the world, surely it would be better to try and bring everybody, within Australia and the world, up to an acceptable level, rather than approach the issue negatively.
bigbaz
Roar Guru
Great post professor ,funny how the bias comes out .
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Atawhai, "Abbott was born in England in 1957 and did not become an Australian citizen until the early 1980s" -- people don't normally pick where they are born. I'm not sure why so many people get upset at Tony Abbott's (or Turnbull's or Gillard's) place of birth, and wonder if they would have copped the same flak were they born in Helsinki or Hong Kong. Matthias Cormann and Penny Wong do not seem to have faced the same level of opprobrium. Tony moved to Australia aged 3 and, like many hundreds of thousands, did not need to become Australian (even if he was aware that he wasn't -- for example Johnny Farnham was made Australian of the Year and didn't realise he wasn't Australian). He could vote, own land, pay taxes, get a job, stand for NSW state parliament, and if he had been younger could have been conscripted and sent to Viet Nam without Australian citizenship. As the law progressed, the need for Australian citizenship for certain activities became more clear. Although it's clearly stated in the Constitution that MPs must be Australian citizens, it has not always been clear what that means. Whether Tony Abbott became an Aussie to get a scholarship is a matter of opinion, not fact. Whether he renounced his citizenship is more important, but this is the case with many Federal MPs, including Julia Gillard. As far as I know, no documentary proof was ever given that she had renounced her British citizenship. The usual line from MPs is "I have fulfilled all requirements of Australian citizenship". Some countries allow dual citizenship for Australians ; others cancel original citizenship when Australian citizenship is adopted ; others believe their citizenship has primacy and cannot accept renunciation.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Rob, I think Royal titles have a lot of useful social functions ; not just for the recipient, but their organisations, charities, sport, etc. They also give a voice to the feelings of a particular culture at a particular time. I think this is where Tony Abbott mis-read the Australian public (or more likely didn't even think about it). I have no problem with the Duke getting an Aussie knighthood, but plainly a lot of people do. He has probably achieved more in many sports than most of us ever will, although that's not why he was knighted. "Equality" -- now there's a nice term to toss around and debate. There's not a lot of equality in Australian society, but since most Australians have running water, we are better off than most of the world. I suppose that means we should all give up running water, rule of law, free movement within the country, freedom to purchase land, etc., so that the world would be a little more equal.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
Richie Benaud is recognised. He was a great cricketer and has been a valuable and enduring commentator ever since. Everybody knows this so what more recognition does he need? If he really wanted something more give him an Order of Australia (if he hasn't got it already) - at least it's not a foreign award rooted in the feudal past. The only people who need one of Tony's awards are the very people who should not get anything.
Margaret M
Guest
Richie Benaud needs to be recognised ,though he may say no . Have noticed a trend most years towards Sport people, nothing against this ,they do Our Australia Proud . Goes to Show sadly we do not hear about many others who could join these Great Ambassadors of our Australia at Home or Overseas. Many others do need to be recognised in our Australia A very interesting read. Thank you
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
Hi Punter, I like the sound of "Super Tim" but I assume you're talking about Tim Cahill. Again we need a bit of a reality check. He's scored a few goals at World Cup level, and one great one in Brazil, but what competition of any stature has he helped his team win? What did Everton win when he was there? And now he's off to China, I hear. Bit like Michaelangelo going off to paint the roof of a dunny out the back of Bourke.
punter
Guest
Are you surprised Timmy is not on David's list? Forget Knighthood, Super, Super Tim, Super, Super Tim, Super Timmy Cahill!!!! He is the KING!!!!
oldtimer
Guest
Daniel Margaret Court was not bought into this discussion by David for her opinion on the gay community, she was considered one of the best tennis players this country has seen and as such David thought she may be worthy of a gong. No one is suggesting (apart from you) that she be knighted for her opinions, I am aware that gay people are Australians I don't need your sarcasim to point this out, and for you to declare people should or shouldn't be eligable for a knighthood depending on their stance on homosexuality is absolute B-----it get over yourself.
W4str3l
Roar Rookie
first cab off the ranks is timmy cahill and its shameful that hes not already on the list in this article can we get a knighthood happening for dk? :D in fact, i think we should knight kurt fearnley - that guy is a demon! robbie mcewen - 3x green jersey, tour de france and im gonna throw in woosha because i am an eagles man - make of that what you will
Jarijari
Guest
You mean Neil Harvey.
Me Too
Guest
well i'm disappointed. when abbot revived knighthoods i supported it in the certain belief that it was purely to bestow the title upon the most deserving, humble, and honour worthy australian it has been our pleasure to share an era with. Sir Robert Harvey. alas, i was mistaken, and now join the ranks of the disgruntled.
DC NZ
Guest
Grimmett was a bloody Kiwi.
daniel
Guest
Regardless of the forum old timer, this article is about awarding knights and dames. An award to the order of Australia does need to take into account more than what they have achieved in Sport. After all... gay people are also australian She is entitled to her opinion... However she shouldn't be knighted for it.
Tim Reynolds
Roar Pro
Conversations are funny things that can take you anywhere. If you knew where you were going it probably wouldn't be worth joining in. Sport, politics, money, power, they are all tied up together and you can't divorce one from the other. Daviid's original proposition, whether it was conscious or not, endorsed the concept that knighthoods should be handed out and to some people that is repugnant in an egalitarian society. It was a political statement even if he didn't mean it that way.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Thank you, Simon and melbourneterrace.