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Kilbreda has produced some wonderful sportspeople over the years. Despite not having an Olympian in Tokyo, Kilbreda girls have competed in a number of Olympic Games.
I believe our first Olympian was Natalie Hunter (née Hood), who finished at Kilbreda in 1983. Natalie is the sister of Katrina Hood (1995) and sister-in-law of staff member, Sonya Hood. Currently Head of Paediatric Emergency at Monash, Natalie competed in the women’s K-4 canoe sprint at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Catherine Arlove (Class of 1988), is a triple Olympian, and represented Australia in judo in three Olympics 2000, 2004 and 2008. In 2000 and 2004 she placed 13th and 5th in the middleweight division, then, in 2008, transferred to half-middleweight, but was eliminated in the preliminary round. Interestingly, Catherine competed in the television series Gladiators in 1996, where she finished runner-up.
Bridie Kean attended Kilbreda College from 1999 to 2004. Despite losing parts of her feet due to meningococcal disease at age 2, Bridie was an active child. Although she played regular basketball for many years, Bridie took up wheelchair basketball as a teenager.
Bridie was part of the bronze medal-winning ‘Gliders’, at the 2008 Paralympics. Her team defeated Canada 53–47 in earning their medal. She was the captain of the 'Gliders' at the London Paralympics in 2012, where they won a silver medal.
Tania Luiz, who was a member of my badminton team here at Kilbreda, which won not only the SCSA but the All Victorian Intermediate title in 1997, represented Australia in the Junior World Championships in China during her VCE exams in 2000. She was in my Year 12 French class and had to do the exam the morning after her arrival home in Australia from China. While that wasn’t her best performance, Tania was an Olympian in 2004 and 2008.
Beth Stutterd-Walsh competed in the Junior Synchronised Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada in 2002, while still a student at Kilbreda. Success came with a first place for her duet in the Oceania Championships in Noumea, also in 2002. Beth completed her education here in 2003, took part in the German Open in 2005 and in World Championships later that year.
In 2007, in addition to the Rome Open she sought qualification for the Beijing Olympics in the Swiss Open, and was successful, competing in Beijing where her team placed 7th. Beth was a finalist in the Free Combination at the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, where she came 12th.
Melanie Jones (2004) competed in Gymnastics events while here at Kilbreda. She earned top 10 finishes on all four events at the 2008 Australian National Championships. Melanie then travelled to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as an emergency but was not called on to compete. Melanie is currently an undergraduate student assistant coach at Oregon State University (OSU). An Exercise and Sport Science major, Melanie focuses primarily on the fitness and conditioning of the OSU gymnasts. She has spent the past four years at Oregon State performing as one of the most dynamic gymnasts to take the floor of Gill Coliseum for the Beavers. She earned All-America honours on the floor exercise in 2012 finishing third overall at Individual Event Finals.
Lisa Moro, who completed her education here in Year 10, 1997, competed in the Gymnastics at Atlanta whilst still in Year 9. Lisa competed in six gymnastic events and her framed and signed Australian uniform was on display here for a while. Here is her qualifying routine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_0UzR7_5rE
I am reminded of former world champion trampolinist Lauren Gillett, who, had her sport been included in the Olympics, would surely have been an Olympian and a likely medal prospect. Lauren finished in 1999 and was a classmate of Lisa, winning gold at the World Championships when she too, was in Year 9.
Damian Smith
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