Jackson Harvey awarded SAHOF Tier 1 Scholarship

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (SAHOF) today announced the exceptional athletes awarded a Tier 1 Scholarship within its 2024 Scholarship & Mentoring Program, with four Olympic gold medal champions, a surfing superstar and one of Australia’s most decorated Australian Rules footballers set to mentor our next generation of sporting stars.

The three-tiered scholarship program, which is backed by the Australian Sports Commission incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport, supports young elite athletes on their journey to excellence and success on the world stage, awarding $150,000 in funding to 32 athletes each year.

The six athletes awarded a Tier 1 Scholarship have been paired with a mentor who is a current member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, having been inducted for success in and contribution to their sport.

Mogul Skier Jackson Harvey has been named as one of the six Tier 1 Scholarship holders, and will be mentored by Pole Vault Olympic and World Champion, Steve Hooker OAM.

The athletes selected in Tier 1 of the program will receive a $10,000 sporting grant to go towards their training and competition, as well as one-on-one mentoring from these Australian sporting greats to help them reach the highest level in their chosen sport.

“Being selected as a SAHOF Scholarship recipient and having the opportunity to work with a mentor is a massive and exciting development in my career,” Harvey said.

“I am incredibly excited to develop a relationship with Steve Hooker, whose success in sport and business I greatly admire; I can’t wait to begin learning from his experience and then applying this insight to my own pursuits.

“I am humbled by my selection and am eager to interact with the SAHOF family in the future!”

“I would like to congratulate Jackson on this fantastic achievement,” said Snow Australia CEO Michael Kennedy.

“He is a great young talent, and will no doubt excel under the mentorship of Olympic Champion Steve Hooker and through the relationships and opportunities provided by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.”

Olympic WInter Institute of Australia (OWIA) CEO, Geoff Lipshut, also congratulated Harvey.

"Jackson Harvey is an excellent young mogul skier who will benefit tremendously from the opportunity of a tier 1 SAHOF scholarship,” Lipshut said.

“The recognition of his efforts as an athlete and the invaluable future interactions with his SAHOF mentor, pole vault Olympic champion, Steve Hooker will be real difference makers in accelerating Jackson Harvey’s development both as an elite athlete and a fine young person.

“Everyone at the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia is thrilled for Jackson Harvey and we remain appreciative of the scholarship programs provided by SAHOF and the ongoing efforts to keep improving the programs for the best Australian athletes of tomorrow."

"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of Jackson’s journey as he progresses in sport and life,” said Harvey’s mentor Steeve Hooker.

“It gives me so much enjoyment to go back in time and see how lessons that I have learned both in sport and in life after sport can be helpful in solving a problem for someone who is aspiring to be great.

“Also, I’m looking for this to be a two-way mentor/mentee relationship as I just took up skiing this year, so I’m sure there will be plenty that Jackson can pass on to me,” he said.

Sport Australia Hall of Fame Chair and legend of Australian Sport, John Bertrand AO, said: 

“The Scholarship and Mentoring Program is a powerful, game-changing program serving the broader Australian sporting landscape. Giving our young emerging champions the unique opportunity to have direct access to Australia’s sporting greats is a once in a lifetime opportunity for them to learn from the best of the best, the dream builders.

“This program wouldn’t exist without our Members. There is no further honour than induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Our Mentors share their personal experiences and wealth of knowledge to encourage these young athletes to excel in their athletic performances, face their fears and have the strength and resilience to pursue their dreams while facing the highs and lows of performing at the elite level. 

“Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Layne Beachley AO, Steve Hooker OAM, Rechelle Hawkes AM, Chris Judd and Drew Ginn OAM – you couldn’t ask for a more decorated or experienced group of Australian champions, and we thank them for volunteering their time and sharing their knowledge and expertise. We welcome all 32 scholarship recipients representing 26 sports into the 2024 program.”

The SAHOF Scholarship & Mentoring Program is supported by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport.

ASC Chair, Josephine Sukkar AM, congratulated this year’s scholarship recipients. 

“The ASC is proud to support a program that helps elite young athletes from a range of sports including fencing, archery, athletics and more chase their sporting dreams,” she said.

“The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program is a wonderful initiative that has seen great success with many athletes going on to represent Australia on the world stage.

“This financial support will no doubt provide extra incentive for young athletes to help them reach the highest level of their chosen sport, and I wish all 2024 scholarship recipients every success with their sporting endeavours.”

The Tier 1 scholarship recipients are: Torrie Lewis (athletics – sprinting); Jackson Harvey (mogul skiing); William Petric (swimming); Amy Lawton (hockey); Jacqueline Swick (rowing); and Mark Crosbee (canoe slalom).