Daphne Pirie AO MBE
Daphne Pirie is an inspirational sportswoman and administrator who has worked tirelessly in a voluntary capacity for over 60 years to promote and further the cause of women in sport. Having enjoyed sporting success on the athletic track, hockey pitch, and golf course at an elite open level and international masters championships, Daphne proudly captained both the Queensland Open Athletic team and the Queensland Womens Hockey team. Daphne’s greatest moment in her hockey career was being selected Vice Captain of the Australian team.
As a passionate patron of the Gold Coast Recreation and Sport for Disabled and the Queensland Sporting Wheelies and founding president of Womensport Queensland, Daphne’s vision is to encourage female athletes while advancing and communicating the outstanding achievements of Queensland sportswomen. Honoured with 10 life memberships and patron of numerous sporting organisations, Daphne’s commitment never wanes.
Daphne and her husband Malcolm have two sons and four grandchildren. Three generations of the Pirie family are employed by Pirie Enterprises, a family business Daphne founded with her husband in 1959.
Honours
• Awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queens Jubilee Birthday Honours, 2012.
• Inducted by the Premier of Queensland as a Queensland Great, 2012.
• Named as an Australia Day Ambassador by the Premier of Queensland, 2012.
• Inaugural winner Daphne Pirie AO MBE Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame Spirit of Sport Medal, 2012.
• Selected No 34 in Tweed’s 100 greatest sporting heroes, 2012.
• International Olympic Committee “Women and Sport” Award Oceania – presented in Lausanne, 2011.
• Queensland Academy of Sport unveiled the Daphne Pirie Aquatic Centre at the QSAC Nathan, 2011.
• Queensland Academy of Sport Ambassador, 2011.
• Honoured by Queensland Government celebrating 150 years “Our Women – our State”, 2010.
• Named with 8 Brisbane Sportswomen – Brisbane Museum “Brisbane’s Wonderwomen in Sport”, 2010.
• Interviewed by National Library Canberra for inaugural Oral History of Australian Sport, 2008.
• Inaugural inductee Hockey Queensland Distinguished player, 2008.
• Inaugural Daphne Pirie Scholarship presented by Athlete Coach Support Services of Q.A.S., 2008.
• Finalist in Bulletin Smart People making a significant contribution to Australian Life, 2006.
• Inducted into Hockey Queensland Hall of Fame, 2006.
• Inaugural winner Womensport Queensland Contribution to Sport Award – 50 years service, 2006.
• The Australian Centenary of Federation Medal, 2001.
• The Australian Sports Medal, 2000.
• Chosen to be first Gold Coaster to carry the Sydney 2000 Olympic Queen’s Baton on Gold Coast, 2000.
• Awarded the Member of the British Empire Medal (MBE) in the New Year Honours, 1989.
• The Bicentennial Medal, 1988.
• The Australia Day Council Sports Medal, 1984 & 1988.