COVER STOPY -COURTNEY HANCOCK

title at 21. Denis Cotterell worked with me on my swimming while Pat was a tough taskmaster. He never promised anything or gave me a compliment. Real old school coaching which I didn’t mind because it suited me and made me work harder. He did say something when I was 18 which I still carry with me. He said I was the only person he had ever trained who reminded him of Karla Gilbert. He was everything I could have wanted in a coach. His mantra was that if anyone said anything mean about you it was because they were worried about you. I never cried, got upset or missed a session – I simply wanted to be as good as I could be.”

It’s difficult to get Courtney to give herself any praise for her multiple accomplishments but, when pushed, she gives a thoughtful answer about what makes her such an extraordinary athlete. “Dedication and training hard of course but lots of people have that although I do feel that I have a real connection to the ocean. The biggest thing besides that is I am so grateful for everything – catching a bomb wave, hard training sessions, competing – in essence it is living in the moment.”

Away from the water she loves dressing up and going out. “I don’t have much time for shopping in stores but I’m a demon on-line. Any opportunity to wear heels and I’m there,” she laughed. “I tell my coaches that high heels are good for my calves. Whatever the occasion I want to be the best version of myself.” That philosophy will also apply to life after competing. “I have quite a few things in mind which I don’t want to reveal as yet but if everything goes to plan I will have a wide variety of interests to keep me occupied. That includes mentoring and training future athletes and helping anyone I can to be a better version of themselves. Ironwoman racing has been a long, beautiful chapter in my life but I know it has to end at some point so there are things being put in place now.”

Which brings us to her fiancé Nick Buchanan. “We have been together for six years now and just before Christmas he proposed on the beach (where else) and I of course said ‘Yes!’ He is such a beautiful man – tall, dark and handsome – with a great soul. We first met at the Noosa Triathlon Festival and he approached me but I, and every other woman in the room, had already noticed him. He is so humble and has no idea how good looking he is but Nick is my forever. I truly think we were fated to be together and lots of my friends have said the same thing which is lovely to hear.” Wedding plans are still to be finalised but they have found each other and will live happily ever after.

How do you sum up Courtney? Tall, beautiful and with a physical presence, aura and mega-watt smile that fills a room. A supreme athlete competing in one of the toughest endurance sports on the planet who has never lost her connection to those around her. An uncompromising competitor who gave her all during every race and training session but once the race was done simply wants to be one of the girls and get out there and have fun. She is that rarest of people – a throwback to an era when competition was fierce but friends were made for life through that same competition.

My Favourites

Movie – “How to Lose a Guy in 10 days” – I saw it when I was single and remembered it all.

TV – Sex and the City – I want to have my Carrie Bradshaw moment in a shoe shop.

Drink – Amaretto Sour – Amaretto, aromatic bitters, egg white for the froth and fresh lemon juice.

Meal – Chicken Parmy - I am a good Aussie girl.

Coffee shop – This will surprise people but I don’t drink it. I would order a banana smoothie instead.

Dream destination – New York

skool DAZE

Attending school and getting an education is an all-important part of shaping us for life’s journey. We asked some prominent women for their memories from their time in class during those formative years.

Deb Kells-Roach

Where did you go to school? For my early education it was Harristown State School and then for my senior years it was Harristown State High School – both of them in Toowoomba.

Favourite subject? A bit of diversity here because I loved Home Economics and Physical Education Favourite teacher? Mrs. Caldwell

Best memory at school? Those sport days when you could pick what you wanted to do and my choice was always roller skating as I used to skate every weekend and loved it.

Academic or sporting achievement? I was not the smartest or fastest but I always tried What did you want to be when you grew up? Hairdresser Is your life now what you expected it to be? I never dreamed of how my life would turn out. I have an amazing career and have just celebrated 25 years in radio with Southern Cross Austereo.

Riely Saville

Where Did You Attend School? I moved around a few times but the primary school I spent the most time at was Saint Francis Xavier in Runaway Bay. In high school I went to Trinity Lutheran College for the ballet programme until achieving my dream of being accepted into the prestigious Australian Ballet School at the age of 15. I then packed up and moved to Melbourne to train six days a week. Favourite subject? English and Drama - I was a real bookworm as a kid and also loved creative writing. And of course always loved being on stage. Favourite teacher? Mrs. Western - she was an older woman, and very kind. She really believed in me and really wanted me to become a writer but I was too obsessed with ballet. Did you get any awards? High Distinctions in my Ballet Exams and two scholarships while I was at The Australian Ballet School. Sports or academic? NO! I just wanted to dance! What was your friendship group like? In primary school I seemed to stick more to having just one or two close friends but in high school I hung out with a larger group of girls who were all really lovely. Ballet school was a different beast entirely. I was very good so I was often given better roles than my classmates and even those older than me, which resulted in being bullied terribly. Tall poppy syndrome is a very serious and unfortunate issue in Australia. What did you want to be when you left school? A ballerina. Is life how you thought it would be or better? Better!! As a child, I really had the blinkers on and I was incredibly disciplined. All I wanted was to be a ballerina and I did it! But what I didn't know was that the world of entertainment is HUGE! And I would go on to have a successful, international career working for companies like Disney, Warner Bros., Universal Studios, Kanye West, Royal Caribbean International, Dracula's Cabaret, Pink Flamingo and much, much more. I got to play all the characters I fantasised about being as a child and now I even get to boss my friends around and create my own shows - just like I used to do in the lounge room but with much bigger audiences.

Kath Rose

Where did you go to school? I went to Bingara Central School to year 10, and then Warialda High School for years 11 and 12. Love, loved it. I had a special licence to drive a battered up VW to and from school – I lived about 50 minutes away. Man if that VW could tell stories! This is in north western NSW. Bingara is a teeny tiny town of 1000. Warialda is slightly bigger and has the senior high school. It’s also home to Crusher Cleal (famous ‘80s footy player) and the Warialda Wombats – the local footie team. Favourite subject? English and Geography. Favourite teacher? My all-time favourite teacher is Mrs Wilson who was my kindy teacher. I can’t remember what I did last week, but I can vividly remember Mrs Wilson being the most wondrous human in my world when I was five years old. Best memory at school? That battered up VW! Also, in Grade 12 I snuck away to watch a Violent Femmes cover band play in a town two hours away, and was underage. Midway through a set, the lead singer called my name out and I thought BAM, this is my Courtney Cox/Bruce Springfield moment as I pushed my way through the crowd to the stage. Alas, my Dad had called the club and told them to kick me out. It was a spectacular fail on my behalf. Academic or sporting achievement? Mmmm, I won a national public speaking competition in Grade 12 – at the national finals we had to run to an op shop to find a blazer at the last minute, our uniform didn’t have one!!! I was pretty nerdy at school, studied my butt off, and always got better than solid marks. I was utterly tragic on the school sporting field and swam like a rock, but I rode horses competitively and have a few grand champion ribbons I still dig out to relive my glory days. What did you want to be when you grew up? A vet and I was accepted into Veterinary Science at University but realised I couldn’t put an animal down, even when it was needed, so switched to Communications. Oh, and PS, I still haven’t grown up, so the world remains my shelled prawn! Is your life now what you expected it to be? Wow – what a question! I really don’t know what I expected life to be like. I know that I am eternally thankful for the life I have – a current husband (Ha! Ha!) who I adore, two incredible kids, three dogs and a circle of bloody stoic brilliant people to call friends. I love what I do, and get to work with truly inspiring and interesting people and places. I also get to help people, raise money when I can, and when possible, stop and let the sun shine on my face. I work super hard, and don’t expect to finish doing so any time soon.

Elizabeth Austin

Where did you go to school for primary and senior? Korowa Anglician Girls School, Melbourne, Victoria. Favourite subject and why? Sport because I was always good at all sport except netball. Favourite teacher? The Principal as I spent a lot of time in her office.

Best memory at school? Being with my friends. Did you get any awards at school? Yes Sports Captain. Did you love school and why? Neither loved nor hated it. Best friend? Had several. At school we had a close group of 6. What did you want to be when you left school? Flight Attendant. Is life how you thought it would be or better? Life is great. I have never spent my life wondering what if. I always achieved what I set out to do.

Kim Bourke

Where did you go to school for primary and senior? St Hilda's School, Southport. Favourite subject? Accounting. Favourite teacher? Miss Jolly who was my Science Teacher. Best memory at school? The friends I made. Academic or sporting achievement? Sporting - I started the first Equestrian Team at St Hilda's School. What did you want to be when you left school? My mother tells me when I was little I wanted to be a princess, a mother or a shopkeeper. Is life how you thought it would be or better? Yes because life is great.