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. All stars in their own right, and all having passed through the School Sport pathways, SESF’s ambassadors are enabling us to reach new audiences but more importantly, are providing insight and guidance on goal setting, the importance of defining your values and pathways to success, via one on one mentoring to our scholarship recipients.
The SESF Mentoring Program was initiated by Olympic Gold medalist and SESF ambassador Mack Horton in 2019, who is back mentoring two new SESF alumni in 2020. Significantly the SESF has ten Olympians / Australian representatives mentoring twelve SESF scholarship winners/alumni in 2020. With the current COVID 19 challenges for everyone, mentoring sessions are virtual with mentors set up in their own ‘mentoring pods’ with their men-tees, parents/guardians and two SESF committee members involved. All can write to each other, set mentoring goals and tasks, ask questions and post photos, videos and updates.
The mentoring Program sits under the guidance of SESF Committee Member and AFL legend Nathan Burke as our ‘Mentoring Team Leader’ who regularly collaborates and runs online training sessions with all SESF mentors. The SESF Mentor Program follows the strictest of protocols and governance.
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 a Sports Excellence Scholarship in 2018 for her participation in the School Sport Australia Triathlon Championship.
Bec became the SESF’s first scholarship recipient to attend an Olympic Games when she competed in the 20km Race Walk in Tokyo.
Bec Henderson grew up a talented Triathlete, being selected to represent 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, Bec has continued training in both Triathlon and Race walking and was able to set 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 Games, where she finished 38th. This was an amazing achievement for Bec, who had only began focusing on the 20km event in March 2021.
Outside of sport, Bec is studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at Monash University, having juggled her athletics and education in year 12 to finish the year as Dux of her school in 2019.
The SESF could not be prouder to have their first Olympian in Bec Henderson as an ambassador and mentor, Bec is a great role model for Australia’s future Olympians and athletes to look up to.
Australian Olympian and Commonwealth Medallist
Brooke is a 24 year old Long Jumper based in Melbourne, Australia, training under the guidance of her coach Russell Stratton.
Brooke began the sport of athletics at a young age of 5, at the Nunawading Little Athletics Centre, where she found her passion for long jump after winning her first state gold medal in U9. Brooke won many State and National titles through her younger years, and has also represented Australia at both a World Youth and junior level. Beyond these achievements, Brooke has progressed to be the current Australian Open Long Jump Champion, a Rio & 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 and placed 7th at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a jump of 6.83m.
Brooke is 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.
2012 Paralympic Swimming Gold Medallist, 3 Time Australian Representative & World Championship Medallist
”School Sport is one of the most amazing things that a school kid can experience in their educational career.”
Matt Haanappel was born in 1994 with Cerebral Palsy. His sporting career was supported from the beginning as he was born into a strong sporting family, which includes retired Tour de France winner Cadel Evans AM.
As a young boy Matt competed in a wide range of sport and recreational activities. Many of these were within the school sport system where he competed for his school in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. His sports included Aussie Rules Football, Basketball, Tee-Ball, Cricket and Tennis.
Matt first competed in his chosen sport of swimming at the 2005 VPSSA State Swimming Championships at age 11, where he won a gold medal in the 50m Freestyle for Students with a Disability – a medal that he treasures dearly to this day. He was selected for his first Team Vic Swimming Team in 2008, competing in the Pacific School Games in Canberra, and then was selected to represent Team Vic again in 2009, 2011 and 2013, as well as 2012 where he was Team Captain.
Matt represented Australia at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, winning a Gold and Bronze medal for the Freestyle and Medley Relays respectively. In 2013 he won his first international individual medal, a Bronze in the 100m Freestyle S6 at the IPC Swimming World Championships. 2014 took him to the Pan Pacific Championships in Los Angeles, returning home with 3 Gold, 2 Silver and a Bronze Medal, as well as an invite to join Swimming Australia’s Paralympic Squad at the Australian Institute of Sport.
On Australia Day 2014 Matt was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) for his services to sport and the community as a Gold Medallist and supporter of many community programs.
Matt took most of the 2015 swimming season off to recover from shoulder surgery in preparation to be selected for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games team.
Outside of swimming, Matt studied a Sports Management degree at the University of Canberra, whilst supports many disability organisations throughout Victoria with his work and passion.
Matt is an active and respected member within the SESF Ambassador group, taking part in mentorship opportunities as they arise.
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 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.