Real Tennis Player Dr Kate Leeming Awarded an OAM for her Outstanding Contribution to Adventure Sports
The accomplished athlete was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) on Australia Day.
Congratulations are in order for Dr Kate Leeming, who was awarded an OAM on Australia Day for her outstanding contribution to adventure sports.
“Leeming’s achievements are many,” shared David Lloyd Jones, President RMTC (where Leeming is an assistant Real Tennis pro). “Of note is cycling 22,040 km over ten months through Africa in 2010. It was an expedition that was not only a physical quest but also a platform to highlight the development needs and activities of war-torn and poverty-stricken nations.
“Leeming also has two earlier world firsts under her belt – the Trans-Siberian Cycle Expedition (1993) when she became the first woman to cycle across the new Russia unsupported (in aid of the children of Chernobyl), and the 25,000km Great Australian Cycle Expedition (2004/05) which included the first bicycle crossing of the Canning Stock Route by a woman.”
Says Leeming of her honour: “This recognition through the Order of Australia affirms that my commitment to projects over the last 30 years is significant and appreciated at a national level. Travelling by bicycle gives a great sense of place and offers a realistic perspective of how the world fits together…There is still much more to do!”
Leeming started her Real Tennis career in England and was briefly a professional at Fontainebleau. She has been an assistant pro at RMTC for a number of years but skips off every now and then to embark on her amazing sports adventures.
The University of Western Australia has also awarded Leeming an Honorary Doctor of Education degree for services to education and community. She is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society (UK), a member of The Explorers Club (New York), an Honorary Advisor for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and a Scout Ambassador.
As Real Tennis followers know, former World Champion Rob Fahey was also awarded an OAM in 2019 for service to Real Tennis.
