National NAIDOC Award Winners

Pam Pedersen - Sportsperson of the Year

This year’s NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year sets an outstanding example to sportspeople of all ages.

At 62 years of age, Pam Pedersen is a swimming champion and triathlete who continues to compete at an international level.

She is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, a member of the Reconciliation Victoria Council and public officer of the Nillumbik Reconciliation Group.

She started her sports career quite late in life, initially walking for her own health and to get the message out to other Aboriginal people that they needed to take care of themselves through exercise. Walking led to jogging, which has led to fun-runs, triathlons and swimming.

Pam Pedersen is a member of the Doncaster Dolphins Swimming club and regularly competes throughout Australia. At 59 she took up triathlons and has participated in 15 events since then.

In 2002, she competed in the World Masters Games in the 100 metres breaststroke, 200 metres breaststroke and 100 metres freestyle.

This year she competed in the Aussie Masters National Swimming competition in Hobart, taking part in the 800, 400 and 50 metres freestyle and 200, 100 and 50 breaststroke in the 60 to 64 age group.

She is also a keen sailor, and is a member of the Hobson’s Bay Yacht Club. The highlight of her sporting career was taking place in the five Melbourne to Davenport Yachting races, including the 1997 race on board Stiletto, which gained first place.