Sporting Heroes
A collection of profiles celebrating the work of the Illawarra Academy of Sport
What makes a champion
It is 11 o’clock in the morning and Amiel Cavalier just got home from four and half hours of mountain bike training. His blond hair is matted with sweat and dirt. The piercing in his left eyebrow is a sharp green, like his eyes.
Master of the game
Despite the springtime sunshine former coach IAS Gary Masters seems a little frosty – that is until the word ‘cricket’ is mentioned. His eyes widen and he leans forward with almost childlike enthusiasm.
“Cricket is my one weakness. There’s something about the sport, the mateship, the endurance, that keeps me addicted," he explains with a boyish grin.
From BMX kid to world class cyclist
She’d loved bikes since she was three years old, mucking around with her brothers on her BMX. But it was because of the perseverance of her soon-to-be coach, Mitch Law, that Rochelle Gilmore was discovered.
“A talent scout went around to schools, and I was identified as having talent in cycling, triathlon, and rowing, but I didn’t do anything about it. ....
Shane Lee, Cricket and Strings
Angus Mead
It all started with the Oak Flats Rats. But it was pretty clear even here that Shane Lee was going to be something special. His records set in the Under 16's still stand today. In his junior years he continuously impressed at every opportunity, gaining selection in both the Australian Under 17s and Under 19s sides.
The Illawarra Academy of Sport was quick to spot his talent and enrol him in their cricket program. He credits his time at the Academy as a really great start to his career.
"Bruce Jones was the head coach at the time and he was amazing," Shane remembers fondly.
Shane went on to captain the NSW team and represent Australia in One Day Internationals. After making a blistering 39 against the West Indies in his International debut, Shane showed what a force he would become. He played 45 one-day internationals for Australia, where he was a member of the Australian World Cup sides in both the 1995/96 and 1999/2000 seasons.
"Playing in front of thousands is the pinnacle isn't it? Really for me, the cricket is it."
Four years after his retirement Shane has settled into the business world. He is now the head of a large communications business. In his spare time he plays music around the country with his band 'Six N Out'. Shane plays the bass and rhythm guitar with fellow cricketing stars Richard Chee Quee, Gavin Robertson, Brad McNamara and brother Brett Lee.
"It's really hard to get all the boys together nowadays, just about everyone works and Brett's still playing cricket. But yeah we actually played a gig down in Melbourne the other day around the MCG," Shane says.
But he says nothing beats the feeling of walking out onto the cricket field with a packed stadium.
"Playing in front of thousands is the pinnacle isn't it? Really for me, the cricket is it. I actually played in the '96 World Cup in India and played in front of 126,000 people, so I mean you can't really top that at all."
Shane has always had a life outside of cricket. He credits the IAS and his parents with keeping him aware of the need of a life off the field.
"Mum and Dad always taught us to have something outside of Sport, that was always encouraged. I actually went to the University of Wollongong as well so... I did all sorts of stuff other than cricket," he says.
Shane now lives near Mosman but he hasn't forgotten the South Coast region: "I'm actually heading down to Mum's tonight for some dinner, back down the coast," he laughs.
It's been a while since Shane's knocked those bails off the stumps or watched a ball sail over the fence, yet he seems content." This is my fourth year of retirement, everything's gone so fast since then. I gave up my weekends for long enough."