Sally Shipard has continued to inspire since retiring from soccer. Photo: Supplied.
Former Matilda star Sally Shipard will return to Wagga on Sunday (15 March) for an official ceremony marking the naming of an oval after her at Bolton Park — a tribute recognising both her decorated football career and the resilience she has shown beyond the game.
Her name replaces that of former Australian cricketer Michael Slater, whose honour was removed by Wagga Wagga City Council following his conviction for a domestic violence-related offence.
Born in Tumut and raised in Wagga, Ms Shipard excelled in cricket and soccer before pursuing the latter professionally, going on to play 59 matches for Australia’s national team and representing the country at two World Cups. Her football career took her from Wagga to Sydney and Canberra, as well as stints overseas, before she eventually settled on the NSW South Coast.
Since retiring, she has continued to inspire — reinventing herself as a qualified carpenter, overcoming ovarian cancer and raising funds and awareness for the disease.
Region caught up with her to talk about growing up in Wagga, the challenges women still face in sport, her new career and how she feels about the debate surrounding the oval’s renaming.
Tell me about your early life in the Riverina
My Riverina roots run deep. My parents were born in Henty, grew up in Albury and went to college in Wagga. My grandma had most of my uncles and aunts at Wagga Base Hospital.
I was born in Tumut because my mum taught at Tumut Public School and in Talbingo.
We moved to Wagga when I was three and I developed a passion for sport with my brothers by the age of six. We grew up in a cul-de-sac with a decent-sized yard, a huge trampoline and access to open space near Wollundry Lagoon. I went to Wagga Public and then Wagga High, which were walking distance from home.
We were always playing soccer in our backyard, even in the rain, or mowing a cricket pitch. My parents did a lot of tramping around the countryside to take us to events.
Sally playing in her backyard in Wagga. Photo: Supplied.
As a girl growing up in the 1990s, did you get as much support in sport as the boys?
My brothers would probably say they didn’t get as much support as me. But seriously, I always felt equally supported and my brothers never made me feel my gender mattered. That put me in good stead as I developed as a footballer. I often played with and against boys.
Why did you decide to pursue soccer professionally?
I was always tossing up between soccer and cricket, but attending the Sydney Olympics with my family when I was 12 really cemented the idea of becoming a Matilda.
Why does Wagga produce so many elite sports stars?
I’ve heard a theory that the population size of Wagga is just right — there’s a good number of people to compete with and improve against, but not so many that you get drowned out.
Sally receives an award from Albury basketball legend Lauren Jackson. Photo: Supplied.
The previous Michael Slater Oval name divided Wagga. Did you have any thoughts about that?
I didn’t have any involvement while it was unfolding, but my partner has worked in domestic violence and I’ve seen the toll it can take. I’d rather not focus on that. I’d prefer to focus on the positive of having my name on the oval and the hope it might inspire others to get involved in sport. It could be a stepping stone towards more recognition for female athletes.
We recently had controversy involving a Riverina assistant coach commenting on women’s body shapes. How did that make you feel?
I didn’t hear about that incident, but I find that whole issue incredibly frustrating — it makes my whole body light up with rage. I come from a culture where we were being skin-fold tested every other week and it led to me having a very unhealthy relationship with food. I would like to live in a world where we simply never comment on women’s bodies.
What have you been doing since retiring from the sport?
While I’m still a huge fan of sport, I’m not employed in it anymore. I did commentary and coaching after my retirement but quickly learned I needed to do something else.
I decided to transfer my skills from using my feet to using my hands. I’m now a qualified carpenter and part of a collective with my partner and friends.
I live in Candelo on the South Coast. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020 and later found out it had spread into my abdomen. They caught it before stage four and IVF treatment ended up saving the day.
Sally Shipard. Photo: Facebook, Canberra United.
Finally, how do you feel about having an oval named after you?
It speaks to the part of me that feels it’s really a recognition of my family, who will be at the event on Sunday along with my partner April and some very special friends.
It’s become a wonderful excuse to see a lot of people I haven’t seen in a long time.
The official naming ceremony for the Sally Shipard Oval will take place at Bolton Park at 10 am on Sunday 15 March. All are welcome.
