The SESF is incredibly fortunate to have the support of its ambassadors, all who bring not only a long list of accolades, but so too a commitment to provide mentoring and guidance to scholarship recipients.
The SESF Mentoring Program was initiated by Olympic Gold medalist and SESF ambassador Mack Horton in 2019, who mentored two SESF alumni in 2020. Significantly, the SESF had 10 Olympians/Australian representatives mentoring 12 SESF scholarship winners/alumni in 2020.
Olympic and Commonwealth Medallist.
The Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund is proud to welcome Mack Horton OAM to our exclusive group of ambassadors. Horton is a perfect fit for many reasons. Nick Mooney, Executive Director of SESF, says “Mack is an inspirational athlete and a passionate advocate for school sport and students in schools across our nation.” Horton cherishes his school sport memories. “Team Vic and School Sport Victoria has been a major part of my swimming journey. Going away with the Team Vic team was the start of my swimming pathway and gave me the understanding that I could take my sport further.”
Mack Horton is one of Australia’s most successful elite athletes. The Olympic and Commonwealth Gold medalist started his illustrious swimming career while in school, making his first international debut as a 13 year old, breaking the first of many Australian records as a school boy. From this it was clear that Mack was destined for greatness, but he has always had a grounded perspective when it comes to his international success, stating that he felt a similar sense of achievement from winning his school championships as he did an Olympic Gold.
Horton overcame a fear of water at age 11, and less than two years later he broke his first of many Swimming World Records. These aspects of his story will inspire the next generation of emerging athletes. “Meeting my swimming hero Grant Hacket at the 2006 Commonwealth Games provoked me into wanting to be just like him. Now I want to inspire other athletes to not only be their best, but to be the best.”
Most elite athletes begin their journey in school and Horton is no different.
Australian Diamonds Captain
Co-Captain Melbourne Vixens
Commonwealth Games Gold medalist
Throughout her professional career, Liz has cemented herself as one of the world’s best netballers. Her leadership off court also lead to her appointment as co-captain of the Melbourne Vixens in 2020 and captain of the Australian Diamonds in 2021, leading the team to Commonwealth gold in 2022.
Since joining the Melbourne Vixens in 2014, Liz has won two premierships with the team and is a three-time recipient of the Sharelle McMahon Medal, the club’s highest individual award.
Her international career is no less successful with Commonwealth gold and silver medals to her name, four Constellation Cup wins, and a dual recipient of the Liz Ellis Diamond award, marking her significant performances in both national and international competition.
The SESF is delighted to have Liz as an ambassador helping to share the message of the foundation and offer mentoring to scholarship recipients.
Bec was awarded an SESF scholarship in 2018 for her participation in the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championship. She became the SESF’s first scholarship recipient to attend an Olympic Games when she competed in the 20km Race Walk in Tokyo, and the first dual Olympian after her participation in Paris 2024.
Bec grew up a talented Triathlete, representing Team Vic at the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championships in 2016, 2017, and 2018, where she was also named captain of the squad. Since 2018, she has continued training in both Triathlon and Race Walking, setting her sights on the Tokyo Olympics when they were delayed by 12 months due to COVID-19.
Bec achieved her goal of attending an Olympic Games at just 20 years of age, becoming the youngest competitor in the 20km Race Walk at the Tokyo Games, where she finished 38th—a remarkable achievement, considering she had only begun focusing on the 20km event in March 2021.
In 2024, Bec further solidified her place in Olympic history by competing in both the 20km Race Walk and the Marathon Racewalk Relay at the Paris Olympics, showcasing her incredible versatility and endurance.
Outside of sport, Bec is studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University. She successfully balanced her athletic pursuits with her education, finishing Year 12 as the Dux of her school in 2019.
The SESF is incredibly proud to have Bec Henderson as an ambassador and mentor. She serves as a great role model for Australia’s future Olympians and athletes.
Dual Olympian, Dual Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist, 3 Times World Championship Team Member, National Champion and Victorian Female Athlete of the Year
”My passion for sport and specifically gymnastics came when I joined my local gymnastics club as a 7 year old for fun. As the sport quickly progressed for me I experienced 3 different primary schools to accommodate my gymnastics needs as I moved closer to where I trained. Beginning at St Michael’s Primary School in Berwick, moving to Mentone Park Primary School and then Stonnington Primary School when the gym relocated to Prahran.”
Ash made her first National team as a 13 year old and was a National Team member from 2004 to 2012 whilst completing high school at Melbourne Girls’ College in Richmond.
As gymnastics is generally a young sport for girls, Ash was experiencing the demands of elite sport that most athletes would go through in their mid to late 20s. Luckily, Melbourne Girls’ College provided Ash with the assistance and flexibility to achieve both her sporting and academic goals, allowing her to go to the Beijing Olympics during year 12.
Ash finished up her gymnastics career as a two time Olympian, dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a three-time world championship team member.
Since retiring after the London Olympics, Ash has now completed a Master in Clinical Exercise Physiology (Rehabilitation) and remains involved in the sport, speaking publically where opportunities present and introducing primary school children to gymnastics to show them the benefits of building strong foundations through these skills.
Ash is another SESF ambassador who also participates in the mentorship program, offering wonderful insight on her experience as a student and elite athlete to the next generation of stars.
In 2023, Ash was awarded with a life membership in recognition of her hard work and commitment to the SESF over the years.
Australian Olympian and Commonwealth Medallist
Brooke is a Long Jumper based in Melbourne, Australia, training under the guidance of her coach Russell Stratton.
Brooke began athletics at the age of 5 at the Nunawading Little Athletics Centre, where she discovered her passion for long jump after winning her first state gold medal in the U9 category. She went on to win many State and National titles throughout her younger years and represented Australia at both World Youth and Junior levels. Beyond these achievements, Brooke has progressed to become the current Australian Open Long Jump Champion, a Rio & Tokyo Olympic finalist, a World Indoor finalist, and a World Championships finalist.
More recently, Brooke took home silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 with a jump of 6.77m, placed 7th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a jump of 6.83m, and has now competed in her third Olympics at the Paris 2024 Games, solidifying her status as a three-time Olympian.
In recognition of her long-term commitment to the SESF, Brooke was awarded life membership of the organization in 2024. She continues to be a wonderful asset to the SESF, taking on mentorship opportunities as part of her Ambassadorship and always working to promote the SESF and assist Victorian students wherever she can.
Australian Hockeyroo
Sophie is an Australian Hockey player, whose unconventional pathway to success is an inspiration.
As a youngster Sophie loved playing Cricket and tried out for the Team Vic 12 Years and Under Cricket Team, and while she was not selected for the Team Vic team, to her surprise she was selected to play for the SSV Australian team.
Sophie still has the baggy blue from her Team Vic uniform and speaks very fondly about the experience she had in the team.
Cricket was another of the many sports that Sophie was passionate about, and after much encouragement from family and friends, Sophie decided that she would try her hand at the Team Vic 12 Years and Under Hockey trials. Sophie still remembers the day clearly, as they read through the names and it became clear that she had not made the team.
Sophie didn’t let this come between her and her love for Hockey and used this opportunity to push her onto bigger and better things. Sophie trained hard and looked for any opportunity she could to play Hockey at the highest level, being selected for every future Hockey Victoria team she was age eligible for.
For this reason, Sophie is passionate about living by the words that ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.’
It hasn’t been smooth sailing, with setbacks getting in the way of her progress multiple times. “I have faced a fair number of health set- backs throughout my career to date. I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue in 2013 and suffered very badly for 3-4 years. In 2015 I was diagnosed with glandular fever, and was also diagnosed with eating intolerances (gluten, lactose and fructose intolerance). Some days while in year 12 I was unable to get out of bed. This impacted every area of my life. The biggest lesson that I have learned is that listening to my body is very important.”
Since finishing school, Sophie has relocated to Perth, Western Australia in order to train and play alongside The Hockeyroos.
Sophie is keen to share her message with students nationally, that setting goals and following your dreams is important, and not letting setbacks take your eyes off your goals. Her mantra is clear: “hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”
We are incredibly proud of all that Sophie has achieved so far and grateful that we can have her as an SESF Ambassador.
Paratriathlete and SESF Alumni
Jack received a scholarship from SESF in 2016 for Primary School Swimming before emerging in the paratriathlon space.
Jack is a Paratriathlete, PTS5 category, and was born an amputee of the left hand. At 19 years of age, Jack is the youngest international competitor in the world rankings and the youngest on the Australian team.
A competitive swimmer, cross country runner, and triathlete throughout School Sport Victoria and National competition, Jack commenced international Paratriathlon in 2022. In just 12 months of international racing Jack has won five medals for Australia and is currently ranked 6th in the World Triathlon Para PTS5 rankings.
Jack is aiming to compete at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
He currently holds both the Para and Under 19 years National Triathlon Championship titles, is a Lindsay Gaze Awardee, an Olympic Changemaker awardee, and school speaker for the VIS & AIS school’s programs.
Melbourne Vixen
Kate Eddy is a Victorian born and bred netball talent, and a key member of the Melbourne Vixens defence since joining the team in 2020. Her first Super Netball appearance came in 2018 for the New South Wales Swifts, with Kate first tasting premiership success with the Swifts in 2019.
Since her move to the Vixens in 2020, Kate has won another Super Netball premiership and reached 66 career national league games. Outside of netball, Kate is currently studying a Bachelor of Health Science and is always on the lookout to give back to the community.