Celebrating 40 Years of Honouring Excellence
2025 marked a historic milestone for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) as we proudly celebrated our 40th anniversary. For four decades, SAHOF has honoured Australia’s greatest sporting heroes and preserved the legacy of excellence that defines our nation’s sporting identity. This year, we marked the occasion through a series of high-profile events and initiatives that brought our mission to life in powerful ways.
2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame | August 13, 2025
Excellence Meets Excellence
As part of our 40th anniversary program, the Sport Australia Hall of Fame will co-host a stop on the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, in collaboration with the Australian Sports Museum and the Victoria Racing Club. The 18-carat gold Cup will be presented within the SAHOF exhibition at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, highlighting the shared legacy of two of Australia’s most iconic sporting institutions.
SAHOF Chair John Bertrand AO reflected on the significance of this collaboration, describing it as a powerful convergence of two of Australia’s most iconic sporting institutions at the heart of the nation’s sporting identity. “This is a moment where excellence meets excellence,” he said, capturing the spirit of the occasion and the enduring power of sport to unite and inspire.
Now in its 23rd year, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour connects with schools, communities and cultural institutions across Australia and beyond, using the story of the Cup to inspire the next generation. Victoria Racing Club CEO Kylie Rogers has spoken of the Tour’s unique ability to connect young Australians with the legacy of the Cup and the values it represents. For SAHOF, this partnership offers a meaningful way to support that mission, particularly in engaging young Australians with the stories and values that continue to shape our national identity.
At SAHOF, the Cup will be joined by some of Australia’s most celebrated athletes. Their presence reflects the power of story, tradition and example. Through this gathering, SAHOF continues its mission to preserve Australia’s sporting greatness and to ensure its impact endures.
2025 Gala Dinner – Honouring Excellence, Inspiring a Nation | November 17, 2025
Celebrating 40 Years of Sporting Legacy
2025 marks a significant milestone for the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. For four decades, SAHOF has been the national custodian of sporting history, honouring the athletes who have shaped Australia’s identity through their achievements, character and influence.
A true legacy is not defined by victory alone. It lives in the stories we share, the values we uphold, and the inspiration that passes from one generation to the next. This year, we recognise not only the champions themselves, but also the people who work tirelessly to preserve their stories and ensure their impact endures.
Throughout this anniversary year, we continue our mission with the support of our members, sponsors, and community. Together, we are not only celebrating sporting greatness but ensuring that its legacy remains a living part of Australian culture.
As part of our ongoing program, preparations are underway for the 2025 Gala Dinner on November 17. With the support of our partner Crown, the event will bring together generations of Australian sporting figures and supporters. We are expecting 1000 guests and it will serve as a defining moment in our anniversary year, offering a space to reflect, honour and reconnect with the legacy we are collectively shaping.
National Television Special: Legends and Heroes | December 2025
Telling the Stories That Shaped Us
To close our anniversary year, SAHOF will produce a national television special broadcast for Legends and Heroes on Channel 7. This program in 2024, reaching over one million viewers and available for six months via 7Plus, brought the stories of our members to life for a wide Australian audience. This 40th anniversary production extends the reach of SAHOF’s work and reinforces our role as the guardian of Australia’s sporting spirit.
As SAHOF moves into its fifth decade, our commitment remains as strong as ever. We will continue to honour sporting excellence, protect its stories, and share them in ways that inspire Australians of all ages. Through storytelling, education, and celebration, we aim to ensure that the spirit of Australian sport remains a living force in national life.