Only Ever Evonne

About the Author

Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE is a Wiradjuri woman and former professional tennis player. She won her first Wimbledon singles tournament in 1971 and played for over a decade at the top level of international competition until her retirement in 1983. During that time, she was a finalist in eighteen grand slam singles events and won 92 pro tournaments, ranking as the number one women's singles player in the world in 1971 and 1976. She was also a talented doubles player, winning seven grand slam doubles titles. Her second Wimbledon win, in 1980, was as a mother, a feat not achieved since 1914.

Evonne won the Australian Open four times, and represented Australia seven times in the Federation Cup, winning three times. She was the Federation Cup Captain from 2002 to 2004.

Evonne was named Australian of the Year in 1971. She was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1972 and as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1982. She was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985, the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1988, and the Aboriginal Sporting Hall of Fame in 1989. In the 2018 Australia Day Honours, Evonne was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia's highest honour.

In 1997, the Federal Government appointed Evonne as a consultant in Indigenous Sport. As part of her Evonne Goolagong Foundation, she developed the Goolagong State and National Development Camps to provide mentoring opportunities in tennis for Indigenous boys and girls.

Evonne has two children and three grandchildren, and lives with her husband Roger at Noosa Heads, Queensland.