Olympian Smith to share her story with Shire

Published on 28 October 2024

Local Olympic hero Penny Smith will be the keynote speaker at Corangamite Shire’s 2025 Australia Day activities.

Ms Smith will talk about her journey as an athlete growing up and how she got into shooting; the highs and lows of sport and what it takes to be at the top.

“Representing Australia is something that is very special to me,” she said.

“It a time to reflect on all the hard work I have put into my sport and reflecting on the success. Wearing the green and gold gives me great pride, doing myself proud but also my home town, community and Australia.

“There are always going to be obstacles living in the country - you are a lot further away from better training facilities and competition but I certainly wouldn't change it for the world. Growing up in a small community is really special. The community really get behind me.

“Never give up on following your dreams - it doesn't have to be sport it can be anything but just get out there and give it a crack - you never know where it will take you in life.

“It great to see more ladies and girls getting involved in sport and having the opportunity to compete with the men, even in male dominated sports. Don’t be afraid to be different. I encourage more ladies and girls to get out there and show the world what you are made of.”

Council Chief Executive Officer David Rae said Ms Smith was an inspiration to all Shire residents.

“It’s exciting to see someone from our local community performing at the top level of their sport internationally,” Mr Rae said.

“Ms Smith is a tremendous role model for Shire residents, not just in the sporting arena.

“Her success illustrates what can be achieved through dedication and a passion for your chosen field.”

The Camperdown resident won bronze in the women's trap shooting at the Paris Olympics in July.

Ms Smith began shooting in 2009 after “falling into the sport” through her brother, Andrew. Starting out at Victoria’s Noorat Gun Club, she quickly climbed the ranks to national level before moving on to senior competition at Colac Clay Target Club

She experienced international success as a junior, winning trap silver at the 2013 Oceania Championships.

As a senior, she won her first World Cup gold medal in Delhi in 2017.

In 2019 she won gold at the Lahti World Cup in Finland and mixed trap team bronze at the world championships with Thomas Grice.

In 2020, Ms Smith won all four Australian selection trial nomination events for the Tokyo Olympics where she came sixth in both the women’s event mixed trap with Mr Grice in Italy.

In 2022 she won an ISSF World Cup mixed trap gold medal with James Willett in Korea and two women’s trap team gold medals in Italy with Laetisha Scanlan and in Cyprus with Catherine Skinner.

She placed second in the ISSF Changwon World Cup women’s trap in South Korea and third in ISSF Grand Prix in Spain.

Ms Smith continued her great form in 2023, winning the ISSF World Cup gold medal in Qatar and third in the ISSF World Cup in Cyprus.

Early in 2024 she equalled the Australian ISSF (Olympic) Trap record with a perfect qualifying score of 125 targets out of 125 at the Yarra Valley Grand Prix at Melbourne Gun Club.

The Shire’s Australia Day event will be at the Theatre Royal in Camperdown on Sunday 26 January 2025, from 10 am.

It will feature presentation of the Community Volunteers of the Year, Young Community Volunteer of the Year, Community Event of the Year and Community Achievement Awards, with a barbecue and entertainment to follow.