15 June 2011 - Gretel Ann DABOVICH awarded 'OAM' title for service to archery

Gretel Ann DABOVICH awarded 'OAM' title for service to archery Adelaide (AUS) – 15 June 2011  Gretel Ann DABOVICH, immediate past President and current Vice-President of Archery South Australia (Archery SA), has been awarded a 'Medal of the Order of Australia' (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. She is Australia's first female recipient of an Australian Honour for service to the sport of archery.   Gretel Ann DABOVICH (née Besemeres) began in archery in 1955 aged 18, at Adelaide Archery Club and then Eden Field Archers in 1956. She has been actively shooting or in an administrative role ever since.   Her first official duty was as "Lady Captain" at the Archery Australia National Championships in 1958.   In the 1970s and 1980s she was a prominent shooter in South Australia and nationally, representing Australia at the New Zealand National Archery Championships in 1974.   Other significant achievements include:   Ø First woman in Australia to gain a FITA Star – 1973 Ø National compound bow champion (target) in 1981 and 1982 Ø National compound bow champion (field) in 1981, 1982 and 1983 Ø Represented Australia at the IFAA Championships in 1988 and 1994 Ø Las Vegas World Indoor Tournament, 1982 (2nd), 1983 (1st) (non-US archers) Ø New Zealand National Indoor Championships, 1988 (1st) Ø Holder of numerous records (recurve and compound) for several years   In the administration of the sport, she has been a significant contributor.   Read the complete press release from Archery SA   FITA/World Archery joins with Archery Australia in congratulating Gretel DABOVICH on this honour.   Source: Archery Australia Edited by World Archery Communication