Lumen Spring 2021 - Flipbook - Page 12
“Being involved in one of our many sport and
recreation clubs is an ideal way for our students
to take a break from study and to keep themselves
healthy and active.
“In my experience as a student, it was also a great
way to meet people from all faculties, through the
common link of a love of the sport of our choice.’’
AUS has a long history of celebrating excellence
and success.
In 1908, the Association adopted the rules of the
prestigious University ‘Blues’ awards, originating
from Oxford and Cambridge Universities in
the 1800s, for student athletes competing at the
highest level. In this year, 28 Blues were awarded
to University of Adelaide students, starting a
rich tradition of celebrating excellence in athletic
achievement.
Since then, myriad notable athletes have been
part of the Association, including: Australia’s most
successful Paralympian Matthew Cowdrey, South
Australian hockey dual Olympic gold medallist
Juliet Haslam, Olympic rowing gold medallist
Kate Slatter, former Matilda’s Vice Captain Moya
Dodd, and Olympic boxer Johan Linde.
Women were first admitted to AUS in July 1911,
and in December of that same year, the Association
had its first woman Blues recipients, with Miss B.
Crump and Miss M. Fowler both awarded a Blue
for hockey. AUS would have to wait until 1973 for
its first female President, Miss Gillian Birdsey, who
took over when the President at the time stepped
down. Before this, Gillian was acting as the
Association’s first female Deputy-President.
As sporting opportunities for women grow,
AUS has continued to embrace the opportunity to
10
THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
