The Australian Greyhound of the Year is selected by a media and administration panel from all over Australia. The Award was presented on special editions of the Sky Channel weekly greyhound programme, The Catching Pen, from 2002 to 2006. The 2006 Award (presented in 2007) was hosted at The Meadows by the Melbourne Greyhound Racing Association and the 2007 Award (persented in 2008) was hosted at Sandown by the Sandown Greyhound Racing Club.
The Australian Greyhound Racing Association then determined that the Greyhound Of The Year Award was to become a premier presentation night and a focal point for recognition of excellence from a National perspective.
The 2008 Australian Greyhound of the Year was presented in April 2009 at a gala function at the Sheraton on the Park in Sydney, NSW. The 2009 Australian Greyhound of the Year was hosted On March 12, 2010 by the Western Australian Greyhound Assocation (WAGRA) at Cannington and the 2010 Australian Greyhound of the Year will be hosted in 2011 by Greyhound Racing South Australia in Adelaide.
In 2012 the Greyhound of the Year was hosted by the Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club.
In a change of direction in 2013 the Meadows hosted the last of the awards to held on a calendar year and again hosted the 2012-2013 Awards in August. In 2013-2014 the Awards were hosted at the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle West Australia. In 2015-2016 the Awards Night held at the InterContinental Hotel in Adelaide South Australia. In 2016-2017 the Awards night moved to Park Royal Hotel on the banks of the Brisbane River in Queensland. With this year’s Awards night making it back to Melbourne to the Langham Hotel and hosted for the first time since 2007 by the Sandown Club. In 2018-2019 a change was made when NSW were unable to stage the Nationals Western Australia stepped forward a year and staged an outstanding event over three days in Perth. The inclusion for first time since one year in the 80’s of New Zealand made the event an international affair and the fore runner for years to come.
The inaugural Australian Greyhound of the Year was Boomeroo. His success was followed by Bombastic Shiraz 2003, Whisky Assassin 2004,Pure Octane 2005, Betty’s Angel 2006,Flashing Floods 2007, El Galo in 2008, Cindeen Shelby 2009, El Grand Senor 2010, Dyna Tron 2011, Miata 2012, Miata 2012-2013, Xylia Allen 2013-2014,Fernando Bale 2014-2015, Dyna Double One 2015-2016, Fanta Bale 2016-2017, Fanta Bale 2017-2018, Orson Allen 2018-2019, Simon Told Helen 2020 – 2021 Tommy Shelby, 2021 – 2022 She’s A Pearl, 2022 – 2023 Wow She’s Fast, 2023 – 2024, Palawa King
If you click on the links above it will give you a detailed description of the achievements of each winner in the particular year they won the award.
AUSTRALIAN HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES – GCA ANNUAL AWARDS
Greyhound of the Year
| 2002 – Boomeroo | 2013/14 – Xylia Allen |
| 2003 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2014/15 – Fernando Bale |
| 2004 – Whisky Assassin | 2015/16 – Dyna Double One |
| 2005 – Pure Octane | 2016/17 – Fanta Bale |
| 2006 – Betty’s Angel | 2017/18 – Fanta Bale |
| 2007 – Flashing Floods | 2018/19 – Orson Allen |
| 2008 – El Galo | 2019/20 – Simon Told Helen |
| 2009 – Cindeen Shelby | 2020/21 – Tommy Shelby |
| 2010 – El Grand Senor | 2021/22 – She’s A Pearl |
| 2011 – Dyna Tron | 2022/23 – Wow She’s Fast |
| 2012 – Miata | 2023/24 – Palawa King |
| 2012/13 – Miata |
Trainer of the Year
| 2007 – Jason Thompson | 2015/16 – Anthony Azzopardi |
| 2008 – Reg Kay | 2016/17 – Robert Britton |
| 2009 – Graeme Bate | 2017/18 – Tony Brett |
| 2010 – Darren McDonald | 2018/19 – Chris Halse |
| 2011 – Graeme Bate | 2019/20 – Anthony Azzopardi |
| 2012 – Jason Thompson | 2020/21 – Steve Withers |
| 2013 – Graeme Bate | 2021/22 – David Geall |
| 2013/14 – Darren McDonald | 2022/23 – Jeff Britton / Angela Langton |
| 2014/15 – Andrea Dailly | 2023/24 – Jason Thompson |
Stud Dog of the Year
| 2007 – Token Prince & Brett Lee | 2015/16 – Kinloch Brae |
| 2008 – Token Prince & Bombastic Shiraz | 2016/17 – Barcia Bale |
| 2009 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2017/18 – Barcia Bale |
| 2010 – Surf Lorian | 2018/19 – Fernando Bale |
| 2011 – Collision | 2019/20 – Fernando Bale |
| 2012 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2020/21 – Fernando Bale |
| 2013 – Bombastic Shiraz | 2021/22 – Fernando Bale |
| 2013/14 – Where’s Pedro | 2022/23 – Fernando Bale |
| 2014/15 – Bekim Bale | 2023/24 – Fernando Bale |
Brood Bitch of the Year
| 2007 – Floodfawn | 2015/16 – Chloe Allen |
| 2008 – Chinatown Babe | 2016/17 – Ucme Typhoon |
| 2009 – Thai Again | 2017/18 – Aston Elle |
| 2010 – Rosemary Bale | 2018/19 – Chica Destacada |
| 2011 – Abbadale Gold | 2019/20 – Ready Riot |
| 2012 – Winsome Bluebird | 2020/21 – Serena Fly High |
| 2013 – It’s A She | 2021/22 – Mepunga Rosie |
| 2013/14 – Tayah Bale | 2022/23 – Victa Polly |
| 2014/15 – Maple Bale | 2023/24 – Maximum Dos |
Run of the Year
| 2007 – Miss Grub | 2015/16 – Bourbski Fever |
| 2008 – Chinatown Lad | 2016/17 – Burn One Down |
| 2009 – Turanza Bale | 2017/18 – Rockoon |
| 2010 – Satanic Cash | 2018/19 – Zipping Bailey |
| 2011 – He Knows Uno | 2019/20 – Hooked On Scotch |
| 2012 – Bizarre Barbie | 2020/21 – Stanley Road |
| 2013 – Xylia Allen | 2021/22 – Extra Malt |
| 2013/14 – Sweet It Is | 2022/23 – Kelsey Bale |
| 2014/15 – Fernando Bale | 2023/24 – Hector Fawley |
Denise Fysh Award
In April 2019, the Australian greyhound industry lost a true icon with the passing of Denise Fysh after succumbing to cancer. Her passion and selfless devotion to the Hobart Club and to her home state Tasmania had a profound influence that will benefit generations to come.
2018-2019 Jade McKenzie (WA), 2019-2020 Frank and Tracey Hurst (NSW), 2020-2021 Ron Hawswell (VIC), 2021-2022 Stevie White (NSW). 2022 – 2023 Amanda Grice (TAS), 2023 – 2024 Kevin “KD” Douglas (SA).
Hall of Fame Inductees in Categories
Greyhound Based on Racing Performance.
1999 Tenthill Doll, Flying Amy & Rapid Journey, 2000 Chief Havoc, Zoom Top, 2001 Macareena, Rookie Rebel, & Sandi’s Me Mum, 2002 Brett Lee & Bold Trease, 2003 National Lass & Winifred Bale, 2004 Lizrene, 2005 Bogie Leigh, 2006 Temlee & Black Top, 2007 Paua To Burn, 2016 Miata.
Male Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Temlee, 2009 Black Top, 2013 Byamee (Coursing) & Brother Fox, 2014 Tell You Why, 2016 Tumble Bug,2019 Keen Jet, 2022 Barcia Bale.
Female Greyhound Based on Breeding Performance.
2008 Osti Too, 2009 Wee Sal, 2018 Francis Colleen, 2021 Strand Belle.
Trainers
2007 Sam Bladon, 2008 Ray Herbert & Jim Coleman, 2009 Ned Bryant & Stan Cleverley, 2010 Vivian James Beresford & Doug Payne, 2011 Paul Cauchi & Tony Zammit.
Breeders
2008 Rod Deakin & Allen Wheeler, 2016 Paul Wheeler, 2022 Martin Hallinan, 2024 Jan Wheeler
Administrators
2008 Arthur Morgan, Roy Maidment & Howard Ashton, 2009 J.G. (Jack) Nelson, Vic Peters & Henry Harrison, 2010 Brian Johnstone & Noel Banks, 2011 Albert Bunny Hewton & Ken Carr, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor, 2023 Neil Brown, 2023 Geoff “Smokey” Dawson, 2023 Eddie Caruana, 2024 Marg Long, 2024 Brenton Scott
Associates
2008 Bill Pearson & Paul Ambrosoli, 2009 Dr Jim Gannon & Frank Kennedy 2011 Dr John Murray, 2015 George Schofield, 2013 Ray Foley, 2018 Ron Nestor, 2021 Jeff Collerson, 2024 Judi Hurley