Graham Cyril Kennedy AO
Graham Kennedy was born in Balaclava, Melbourne, on 15 February 1934 and went on to pursue a career in the Australian entertainment industry. In 1957 he gained a position on the evening television program In Melbourne Tonight (IMT).

In the years that followed, his career flourished. Graham ruled supreme as host of IMT and Australia's most popular TV personality for 13 years. He also presented a 3AK morning radio programme with Bert Newton, in the 1960s, which originated from a studio built at Kennedy's home in Olivers Hill, Frankston, where he lived for many years.

His sharp wit and spontaneous nature won him 14 Logies – including the ‘Star of the Year’ award at the first ceremony in 1959 – and made him the most popular person on Australian television. In 1998 he was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City, and for his outstanding achievements in the Australian radio and television industry.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Dr Ruth Bishop AO
Dr Ruth Bishop AO was born on 12 May 1933, in Dandenong, Victoria and was educated at Frankston High School. In 1954 Dr Bishop graduated from the University of Melbourne with a degree in Microbiology. She obtained her PhD in 1971 and subsequently Dr of Science in 1978.

Dr Bishop pursued a career in medical research where she went on to lead the team which isolated and identified the Rotavirus – an illness which causes severe childhood diarrhoea. Dr Bishop’s discovery stands as a hallmark in Australian science.

Dr Bishop’s findings in medical research have made a profound impact to the health and understanding of gastroenteritis in children.

In recognition of her lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City on a national and international level, and for her service to medical research in the discovery of the Rotavirus.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

JWR Bill Pratt AM
John William Robert “Bill” Pratt was born in Frankston on 24 October 1925 and attended Frankston Primary School and later Frankston High School. Bill went on to do a Civil Engineering course at RMIT and enlisted to the Royal Australian Air Force in 1943.

In December 1946 Bill took over his fathers business, Pratt’s Store, in Young Street, Frankston. His plan was to sell the small grocery business for a profit within a few months, but instead, he discovered a taste and a talent for retailing and went on to become a pioneer of self-service and supermarkets

In the 1950s, he caught the eye of US company Safeway and in 1963 his company merged with the giant supermarket chain. Bill Pratt went onto become the CEO and Managing Director of Safeway Australia and was instrumental in momentously changing the way of shopping in Australia.

In recognition of his lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City on a national and international level, for introducing Safeway Supermarkets to Australia and momentously changing the way of shopping in Australia.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Robert Harvey
Robert Jeffery Harvey was born on 21 August 1971. His football career began at Seaford Football Club, and in 1988, he made his Australian Football League (AFL) debut with the St Kilda Football Club.

Robert is one of the AFL’s most decorated players, winning back-to-back Brownlow Medals in 1997 and 1998, named St Kilda’s best and fairest in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 1998, awarded the EJ Whitten medal on three occasions, appointed St Kilda football captain for seasons 2001 and 2002, and selected for the All-Australian team an astonishing eight times.

In 2008, Robert was only one of 10 players in the history of the game to play 350 or more AFL games.

In recognition of his outstanding achievement and significant contribution to Frankston City, on a national level, for his dedication and involvement in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC, DBE
Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch was born on 8 February 1909 in Armadale, Victoria.  In Langwarrin, where she has resided for more than 80 years, she’s is universally loved and admired for her tireless philanthropic work.

Dame Elisabeth has made significant contributions to numerous Australian and Victorian institutions, including the Royal Children's Hospital, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Australian Ballet, the Victorian Opera, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Deafness Foundation, and the RSPCA, along with a number of Victoria's leading educational institutions. She continues to support 110 charities throughout Australia.   

The garden at Dame Elisabeth’s property, Cruden Farm at Langwarrin, is one of Australia's finest examples of landscape gardening and is regularly open to the public for fundraising. Originally designed by Edna Walling, Cruden Farm was presented to Dame Elisabeth when she married legendary newspaper journalist, Keith Murdoch in June 1928.

Her amazing generosity will never be surpassed.

In recognition of her lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City on a national level, in her philanthropic endeavours and support of many charitable organisations and the community.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

John Famechon
John Famechon was born 28 March 1945 in France. He moved to Frankston in 1950 and later pursued a career in Featherweight Boxing.

During his 20 year boxing career John Famechon held a boxing record of 56 wins (20 by knock-out), six draws and only five losses. In 1969 he won the World Featherweight Boxing Championship title, and retired in 1970.

John Famechon was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in Los Angeles in 1997.  John continues to donate his time for charities and the local youth such as the Frankston Blue Light Boxing Club.

In recognition of his outstanding achievement and symbolic contribution to Frankston City on a national and international level, in his service to Australian Boxing.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Sir Daryl Lindsay
Ernest Daryl Lindsay was born in Creswick, Victoria in 1889. He lived with his wife Lady Joan Lindsay at his Mulberry Hill home in Langwarrin South, Victoria, now a National Trust property.

Sir Daryl Lindsay was a medical artist for the Australian Imperial Force. In 1941 he became the Director of the National Gallery of Victoria. After retiring in 1956 Sir Daryl was knighted for his service to Australian Art. 

From 1953 to1973 Sir Daryl Lindsay became a member then chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, and was co-founder and first president of the National Trust Fund.

In recognition of his lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City on a national and international level in the commitment of service to fine art.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Lady Joan Lindsay
Lady Joan Lindsay was born in St Kilda East, Victoria, in 1896. She studied painting at the National Gallery School, Melbourne, but later found her niche in writing.

Best known for her novel Picnic at Hanging Rock which later became a feature film, Lady Joan’s other works include Time Without Clocks, Through Darkest Pondelayo, Facts Soft and Hard and Syd Sixpence.

Lady Lindsay lived with her husband Sir Daryl Lindsay at Mulberry Hill in Langwarrin South, Victoria, now a living house museum open to the public.

In recognition of her lasting and significant contribution to Frankston City, on a national and international level in the commitment of service to Australian literature.

Inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 10 October 2008.

Born Beryl Bedggood on 24 September 1923, Dame Beryl’s family ran a successful shoe manufacturing company in Melbourne.

As a child Dame Beryl and her family holidayed in Frankston every summer holidays with her parents owning a holiday house first in Seaford and later in Gould Street.

As a young woman, she experienced discrimination when overlooked as a potential future manager in the family firm as the position was ‘not fit for a woman’.

During the Second World War, aged 18, Dame Beryl joined the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force, where she worked as a Meteorological Officer in East Sale. During this time she encountered a lot of discrimination against women and was advocating equal pay for equal work.

In 1947, Dame Beryl married Ian Beaurepaire of the Olympic Tyre dynasty. Following the birth of their children she became involved in political and charity work.

Recruited by Sir Robert Menzies to work in the Victorian branch of the Liberal Party, Dame Beryl graduated to the Federal branch of the party and lobbied successive prime ministers on both sides of politics.

Dame Beryl sat on many boards which advised the government, and tackled many issues including women’s employment, provision of quality child care, domestic violence, sexual discrimination and education issues.

In 1982, she was the first woman appointed to the Council of the Australian War Memorial, and was instrumental in bringing home the Unknown Soldier and securing pensions for ex-servicewomen.

Dame Beryl has been an active community worker and patron of a number of charities including Children First Foundation, Peninsula Hospice Service and Australian’s Against Child Abuse.

Dame Beryl has lived in Mt Eliza for the past 20 years, and during her life she has influenced great change in our society and is most proud of her work in creating equal opportunity for women in employment.

Dame Beryl Beaurepaire AC DBE was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Donald Charlwood AM was born in Hawthorn on 6 September 1915, and grew up during a time when Australia was at war.

His family moved to Frankston in 1923, where Don attended Frankston Primary School (State School 1464), and in 1927 he started at Frankston and District High School.

Don became interested in writing in 1928 when his history teacher asked him to write a history of the town. He interviewed many of the locals in the small township and captured their early memories. His teacher was so astonished with Don’s work that the principal took the works to the local newspaper and they decided to serialise it.

In 1940, Don joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and later went to Canada to train, before serving in the Second World War as a navigator in the Bomber Command in Britain. During this time Don wrote in a journal and he later published his accounts in his books No Moon Tonight and Journeys into Night.

In 1944, Don married his Canadian wife Nell, and they returned to Australia before the end of the war, where they settled and had four children.

Over the years Don has published 13 books, and is probably best known for his novel All the Green Year, a Huckleberry Finn style novel, of a boy growing up in Frankston, with the characters in the book based on people Don knew. His book Marching As To War also depicts an early Frankston, as it delves into the reasons behind why so many Australian’s saw it as ‘their duty’ to serve the nation.

Don became Vice President of the Victorian branch of the Fellowship of Australian Writers in 1975 and held the position for 15 years, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1992 for services to Australian Literature.

Don Charlwood AM was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born in Cheshire in England, Mal and his family moved to Frankston when he was six years old.

Mal attended Frankston Primary School and later Frankston High School and Mentone Grammar. When his father was offered a job in Warrnambool the family moved there for a short time.

Mal returned to Warrnambool in the early 1960s for his first professional job at the local radio station 3YB. He later moved to Tasmania where he joined 7EX and later Channel 9, in Launceston. In 1966, Mal moved back to Melbourne and worked as a news reporter and general announcer for Channel 7.

In 1969, Mal took a year off from the hectic media scene and backpacked around South East Asia and Europe spending six months on a kibbutz in Israel, where he produced his first radio documentary.

Mal Walden read his first bulletin for Melbourne's Channel 7 on June 6, 1970.  During this time he was also the host of the popular game show program Jeopardy.  The following year he began a journalism cadetship with Seven and, in 1978, he became the first working journalist to be appointed a senior television presenter, a trend which has since been adopted by most other television networks.

One of the highlights of Mal's career was his scoop on Cyclone Tracey in Darwin in 1974. He was the first reporter at the scene and sent the first footage of the devastation back to Melbourne which was televised around the world.

In April 1987, Mal made the move to the Ten Network where he presented the news bulletin with David Johnston along with a new innovative segment called "Mal's Melbourne", which covered a wide variety of human interest stories. 

In 1990 Mal presented the weekend news bulletin and in December 1995 he was appointed newsreader of Network Ten’s News at 5:00pm.  In 2006, Mal became the longest continually serving face on Australian television after 36 years in television news.

Mal Walden was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born on 5 February, 1956 in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Jackie emigrated to Australia in 1959 with her parents and older brothers, John and Stephen. 

The family eventually settled in Frankston where Jackie attended Forest Hill Primary School and Monterey High School in Frankston North and finally Karingal High School.

Jackie always had a desire to act, but it wasn’t until returning to Melbourne after a year of travelling she felt confident enough to audition for The National Theatre Drama School; graduating in 1980.

During her last year of study Jackie was cast in the role of Josie Von Flugel in the ABC television mini-series Outbreak of Love.

Since then, Jackie has performed widely in theatre and television including long running roles as Nurse Maggie Gordon in The Young Doctors, Gina Rossi in Cop Shop where she was cast along side her current on-screen husband, Alan Fletcher, and as Julie (Chookie) Egbert in Prisoner: Cell Block H.

In 1994, Jackie embarked on her longest television role to date, as Susan Kennedy in Neighbours. In this role Jackie has captured the hearts of millions of viewers worldwide and received numerous award nominations, including the Rose D’or Award for best female performance in a soap opera in 2005.

On 22 March 2007, Jackie officially became Neighbours’ longest-serving female cast member, overtaking the late Anne Haddy. On 9 July 2007, she celebrated 3000 episodes since her first appearance, and in August 2009, she clocked up 15 years with the show.

Jackie Woodburne was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born in Surrey, England on 26 May 1898, Sir Laurence Hartnett knew from an early age he wanted to work with engines.

In 1914, Sir Laurence completed his apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering, building First World War munitions and aircraft, before moving on to serve with the Royal Navy Air Force and Royal Air Force in the First World War.

In February 1925, Sir Laurence married his wife ‘the girl next door’ Gladys, and they had three daughters, Maureen, Ethne and Deirdre.

After the war Sir Laurence became involved in motor vehicle repair and used car sales, and soon after he joined the General Motors Export Company where he was responsible for sales and service in India, Burma, and Ceylon. He later worked in Sweden and Finland, until 1934 when he was appointed Managing Director of General Motors Holden in Australia.

In 1936, Sir Laurence moved the family to Frankston, where he resided until his death in 1986.

From 1934 until 1946, Sir Laurence led General Motors Australia through a period of strong growth. Following his resignation from General Motors, Sir Laurence became the Managing Director of his own company Hartnett Holdings. He then embarked on manufacturing the Hartnett car, of which only 120 were released due to lack of parts and supplies.

In 1978, Sir Laurence was responsible for building ‘Roller City’ in Klauer Street and also the ‘Frankston Indoor Tennis Centre’ which hosted two World Indoor Tennis Tournaments, forerunners to today’s Australian Open.

Sir Laurence also had a major role in the Australian Defence Industry where he was named the Inaugural Director of Commonwealth Aircraft Corporations.

During his life he also acted as an Industrial Advisor to the Singapore Government, and was a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers, a Member of the Institute of Applied Science, and the Chairman of the Ambulance Design Committee, and also the founding member of Canadian Bay Yacht Club. His autobiography is titled Big Wheels Little Wheels.

Knighted for his services to the Australian Automotive Industry in 1967, he was also listed with 200 Australians in the Heritage 200 Committee Project: The People who made Australia Great. He is still regarded as the ‘father’ of Australia’s own car, Holden. Hartnett Drive and Sir Laurence Drive in Seaford are named in his honour.

Sir Laurence Hartnett Kt cr CBE was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born in Moreland, on 11 October 1941, Des became involved in hockey at the age of nine, playing in the park in Windsor with some other boys who were involved with the Power House Hockey Club.

Des joined Power House Hockey Club in 1951, and played in the under 16s state hockey team for two years, then with the under 21s and later in the seniors team.

He joined Essendon Hockey Club in 1960 and played seniors hockey with the team until 1972.

In 1960, Des was selected for the Australian hockey team, for which he played in several World Cup Series International Games and three Olympic Games until his retirement in 1972.

In 1964, Des received the ultimate honour in the life of a sportsman when he represented Australia at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and the team received a bronze medal. He was given the same honour in 1968 at Mexico, where the team received silver, and then again in Munich in 1972 when the team came in fifth place.

After his retirement from international hockey in 1972, Des and his long time friend Robert Howell formed the Frankston Hockey Club, in Seaford, where the team shared the ground with the local soccer club. Later the team moved to the new grounds at Eel Race Road in Carrum.

Des coached the team for 10 years, and also played hockey with them, winning several premierships. He later coached at Power House Hockey Club for five years.

An Australian Hockey selector in 1980 until after the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Des formed part of the Olympic torch relay in 2000 when he carried the torch through Mt Eliza.

Des married his wife Judith in 1965, and they moved to Frankston in 1968, where they raised two children, Bradley and Michelle. They still live close by on the Mornington Peninsula.

Desmond Piper was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born on 17 January 1899 in West Ealing, London, Nevil Shute Norway was educated at Lynam’s School in Oxford, and Shrewsbury School, Shropshire.

The Norway family later moved to Dublin, Ireland soon after the First World War began. In 1918, Nevil trained at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich and served in the 1^st Reserve Battalion.

With an interest in aeroplanes, Nevil Shute Norway attended Balliol College, Oxford where he studied engineering. In 1923 he began writing novels; both his father and grandmother were published authors. His interest in planes grew, and at the same time he spent more and more time writing novels, with his first novel, Marazan, published in 1926.

He wrote under the name Nevil Shute, a shortened version of his real name, in the hope that his writing wouldn’t compromise his engineering work. During the late 1920’s Nevil was the Secretary of the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club and wrote about his experiences in his novel The Rainbow and the Rose.

He married Frances Mary Heaton in March 1931, and in the same year he established his own aircraft construction company, Airspeed Ltd, which became one of the major aircraft makers in Britain during the Second World War, employing over 1000 people.

Nevil and his wife Frances had two children, Heather and Shirley. In 1948 the family emigrated to Australia, flying here in Nevil’s plane, and in 1950 they settled on farmland in Langwarrin.

Writing under the name Nevil Shute, he sold hundreds of thousands of copies of his books worldwide with a number being made into films, the most famous of these being A Town Like Alice and On the Beach which were both written in Australia. On the Beach, staring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardener, was mostly filmed in Frankston, with scenes at Frankston train station and the beach at Daveys Bay.

Nevil Shute Norway passed away in January 1960.

Nevil Shute Norway was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Born on 23 November 1929, in South Melbourne, Harry Wragge spent the early part of his childhood on his family farm in Cranbourne, until 1941 when the family moved to Seaford.

Educated at Devon Meadows Primary School, Scotch College and Melbourne University Harry graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering with Honours in 1954, and a Master of Engineering Science in 1955.

Harry entered the PMG Research Laboratories (later Telecom Research Laboratories) in 1955, and attended meetings of the International Consultative Committee for Telegraphy and Telephony (CCITT) in Geneva from 1969 to 1981, which develops international standards on which all telecommunications networks are built. He retired from the research laboratories as head in 1993.

Harry participated in the early development of digital network technology standards, with his work paving the way for an integrated services digital network (ISDN), which has improved the quality and streamlined telecommunications in Australia. This work also provided the technical basis for the ISDN which now carries the Internet service.

Since retiring, Harry has been active in the national and international aspects of engineering accreditation and science awareness, and has held positions on many boards and committees. He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Institution of Engineers, Australia for services to engineering by its Council in 1991.

He has been a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering since 1987. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and awarded the prestigious Kernot Medal in 1990 for services to engineering and engineering education, and received a Centenary Medal in 2003. In 2000, Harry was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering from Monash University.

Harry married his wife Shirley in 1957 and they made their home in Seaford with their three daughters. Harry and his family spent every Sunday morning at the Frankston Yacht Club where he was the Commodore from 1978 to 1981 and Vice President of the Victorian Yachting Council in 1985-1986. Harry is still a Race Officer on the club’s Racing Committee.

Harry Wragge AM, Hon DEng, FTSE, Hon FIEAust was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 30 September 2009.

Peter Mitchell
Peter Mitchell was born in Frankston in 1960, and attendedPeter Mitchell was born in Frankston in 1960, and attendedFairway Primary School and for a short time Karingal HighSchool.His father, Geoff Mitchell, was a local Councillor and was the mayor of Frankston from 1970 to 1971, as well as playing football for Frankston in the Victorian Football Association. After moving to Shepparton for a few years, the family returned to the area where Peter completed his schooling at the Peninsula School in Mt Eliza.

Peter began his journalism career at Channel 9 in MelbournePeter began his journalism career at Channel 9 in Melbourne and moved to Channel 7 in February 1988. During his 30 years in the media, Peter has covered some of the world’s biggest stories including Princess Diana’s death in1997, the breaking stories of September 11 in New York, the Bali bombings, and most recently the Black Saturday tragedy. Peter and his family still live locally and he drives through Frankston daily on his way to the Channel 7 studios atDocklands.

In recognition of his outstanding career in television journalism, Peter Mitchell was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 29 September 2010.

Ellie Cole
Born in Lilydale on 12 December 1991, Ellie and her family moved to Frankston, where she and her twin sister attended Eliza North Primary School and Frankston High School. After a battle with cancer at a young age, Ellie’s right leg was amputated and she attended swimming lessons at Kings Swimming Club in Mornington as part of her rehabilitation. Ellie made her debut on the world stage at the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) World Swimming Championships in 2006 winning silver in the 100 metre backstroke.

Ellie moved to Frankston at a young age. After battling cancer her right leg was amputated and she began swimming for rehabilitation. She is now a triple Paralympian in the sport, with 15 Paralympic medals, including six gold, four silver and five bronze.

Ellie has since competed in the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, and after competing in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, has her sights set on the London Olympics in 2012. In her short career she has competed in many world-class events and has broken numerous age and national records, as well as three world records. Ellie is currently based at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra studying Exercise Science at University, is Captain of the Australian Paralympic Team and mentors other young up and coming athletes.

In recognition of her achievements and dedication to swimming at an elite level, Ellie Cole was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 29 September 2010.

Rick Amor
Rick Amor was born in Frankston in March 1948, he attended Frankston Primary School and later Frankston Technical School. Rick was first exhibited at the Joseph Brown Gallery, South Yarra in 1974, and has since exhibited regularly in both city and regional galleries throughout Australia. In 1990, a major survey exhibition of Rick’s paintings was curated by McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park in Langwarrin and toured various regional galleries throughout Victoria.

In 1999, Rick was appointed the first Australian War Artist to East Timor, the first war artist since the Vietnam War. His paintings are on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

In 2005, a comprehensive survey of Rick’s paintings titled “Standing in the Shadows” was mounted at McClelland Gallery, and in 2007 Rick won the prestigious $100,000 McClelland Sculpture Award, for his haunting work “Relic”. With permanent collections at the National Gallery of Australia, The National Portrait Gallery, the Heide Gallery and the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, Rick is known as one of Australia’s most significant contemporary artists.

In recognition of his achievements in art and sculpture, Rick Amor was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 29 September 2010.

Graeme Miller MBBS FRACS
Graeme Miller was born in Frankston in 1935 and spent the first 20 years of his life in the rural town as it was in those days. Graeme studied Medicine at the University of Melbourne from1952 to 1959 and became a Resident and Registrar at Prince Henry’s Hospital in Melbourne in 1960. In 1963 he was a demonstrator in Anatomy at the University of Melbourne. For the next three years, he worked at the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg and obtained his Fellowship of the royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1966.

From 1967 to 1969 he trained in plastic and reconstructive from 1967 to 1969 in the UK. Living and practising in Melbourne Graeme specialised in hand and reconstructive surgery. He led a number of significant surgeries, the first of their kind anywhere in the world, including the world’s first scalp replantation. Graeme is recognised as one of Australia’s pioneers in microsurgery. Graeme owned a practice in Frankston from 1971 until his retirement in 2003. In his time he was the longest-serving doctor at Frankston Hospital.

In recognition of his dedication and commitment in the field of microsurgery, Graeme Miller MBBS FRACS was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 29 September 2010.

Debbie Flintoff-King OAM
Born in Kew in 1960, Debbie moved to Frankston with her family at the age of 12 attending Frankston High School. Debbie joined the Frankston Athletics Club, and by the age of 17 she had won five gold medals at state level, silver at the nationals and had won the Australian titles in the heptathlon.

Debbie made her international debut at the 1982 Commonwealth Games winning the 400 metre hurdles in the record time of 55.89 seconds.

In recognition of her dedication and commitment to sport at an elite level Debbie Flintoff-King OAM was inducted into Frankston City’s Hall of Fame on 29 September 2010.