Dual gold medallist given new honour
FORMER Commercials hockey junior and dual-olympic gold medallist Renita Garard received a Member of the Order of Australia as part of the Queen’s Birthday honours.
Garard grew up in Townsville before making her impact on the international turf during a golden era for the Hockeyroos. After making her international debut in 1994, Garard was a member of the Hockeyroos teams that won gold at Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.
Already an OAM and Australian Sports Medal recipient, Garard was appointed an AM by Australian GovernorGeneral David Hurley AC DSC for her service to hockey and other career pursuits, including as a director for the 4 Aussie Heroes Foundation. Garard has had a storied career since leaving the turf, and has been the chair of the Port of Townsville, was the first ever female director of the QRL and is also a director of not-for-profit organisation Lifetec Australia. Garard was also the inaugural patron of the Townsville Fire. Hockey Australia president Melanie Woosnam said it was a tremendous achievement for a member of the hockey fraternity.
“For Renita to be acknowledged in this way is tremendous, both for what she has accomplished and contributed as a Hockeyroo, and also for her career post playing including as a Hockey Australia director, a member of the executive board of the Federation of International Hockey and more recently being appointed as the first female director on the board of the Queensland Rugby League,” Woosnam said.