The Amy Gillett Foundation today announced former Olympic rower turned cycling sensation Amber Halliday as its 2009 Cycling Scholarship recipient.

The announcement took place at Monash University’s Wind Tunnel training facility – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere – in the presence of some of Australia’s most talented elite female cyclists, incumbent scholarship recipient Carlee Taylor and Amy Gillett’s husband, Simon Gillett.



The Amy Gillett Foundation Cycling Scholarship, now in its fourth consecutive year, is a partnership between the Amy Gillett Foundation and Cycling Australia/Australian Institute of Sport High Performance Program and is supported by Bianchi Bikes and Oakley. 

Sharing some striking parallels to Amy Gillett’s professional sporting career, World Rowing Championships gold medallist and record holder 29 year old Halliday was overwhelmed to be named this year’s scholarship holder.

“To be awarded the AGF Scholarship is not only such an honour because of the opportunity it affords and the success of the previous AGF scholarship holders, but because of the name behind it. I knew Amy as a young rower and certainly looked up to her as a role model. Her tenacity was famous in rowing and she took that with her into cycling. Now, having done the same switch of sports, I can only hope to emulate her work ethic and determination,” said Halliday.

Halliday was today joined by members of the Australian Institute of Sports Women’s Cycling Team, with whom she will now train over the following twelve months as part of her scholarship.

Additional benefits include:

• Medical and support services from the Australian Institute of Sport
• Bike and other cycling equipment provided by Bikesportz and Bianchi
• Oakley sporting accessories
• International licence and insurance provided by Cycling Australia
• Travel and ancillary costs assumed by the Amy Gillett Foundation

In return, Halliday will act as an Amy Gillett Foundation Ambassador and advocate the safe cycling message, as CEO Tony Fox explains.

“This scholarship is designed to not only recognise and award outstanding emerging female cycling talent in Australia, but to also promote safe cycling.  Our previous three scholarship recipients, Jessie MacLean, Carla Ryan and Carlee Taylor, have demonstrated what a valuable stepping stone this scholarship can be towards their sporting career, which is a point of pride for the Foundation. In turn it encourages aspiring cyclists who look up to these riders to heed their safe cycling practice and message,” said Fox.  

“The Amy Gillett Foundation has every confidence that Amber is an extremely worthy recipient of this scholarship and we look forward to seeing her achieve every success over the coming twelve months,” he said.

Following today’s wind training, Halliday plans to discuss with Amy Gillett Foundation and coaches her plans for the following twelve months, which include a UCI Time Trial and Stage Race, the Tour of Chongming Island, to be held next month in China.