Monday 10 July 2000
By eBroadcast Staff and agencies.

This week on SBS, ICAM profiles the life and career of Australian sporting great Evonne Goolagong Cawley.

Born in 1952 in the wheatbelt town of Barellau, Evonne developed her tennis skills early on in age using a homemade paddle to whack a tennis ball against a wall.

By the age of 11, Evonne's commitment to tennis was unquestionable and she moved to Sydney for intensive training. However, as a young Aboriginal woman, Evonne was treated more as a side show attraction rather than the brilliant sportswoman that she was.

Regardless, Evonne went on to win countless tournaments including the French Open (1971), Wimbledon (1971 and 1980) and the Australian Open (1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977). Constant injuries finally forced Evonne into retirement in 1985. She has since been working closely with young indigenous sportspeople.

ICAM profiling Evonne Goolagon Cawley premiers on SBS on Thursday July 13 at 8.00pm.