Netball Champion

Vicki Wilson represented Australia for 15 years between 1985 and 1999, the last four as captain, and was arguably the world's best goal shooter for most of that time.

Originally a defence player, she always wanted to be a goal shooter and got the chance when playing for the Queensland Under 18 team. She was so successful she never played defence again and Australian netball will be forever grateful she made the switch to shooter.

At the Under 19 championships, she was identified by the Australian Institute of Sport as a potential future Australian representative. However, still a student in the Physical Education course at the Queensland University of Technology, she decided against the move at the time.

Eventually at the AIS, Vicki excelled under the guidance of specialist goal shooting coach, Margie Caldow and was among a new generation of players who were determined and aggressive on the court. Vicki first played for Australia in 1985, when she was 20. She continued to represent Queensland as captain of the Firebirds team in the national competition, a challenging position because many of the team in the early days were young and inexperienced.

In 1996, Vicki was honoured with the captaincy of the Australian team, rewarding her for over 14 years of outstanding service to the national side. Vicki captained the first-ever gold medal winning team in the 1998 Kuala Lumper Commonwealth Games in September 1998, defeating New Zealand 42 to 39 in a thrilling match.

At the time of her retirement from representative sport, Vicki Wilson was the world's greatest goal shooter and one of Australia's most recognised sporting personalities. She was also the most capped Australian netballer having played 104 Test matches.

Vicki has always been committed to the future development of the sport she loves. She was the founder and coordinator of the Secondary Schools Netball championships. As well as her coaching activities, Vicki is a member of the board of the Queensland Academy of Sport, the Gabba Trust, the Womensport Queensland Board and the Centenary of Federation committee. She also commentates with the ABC and is the Sports Officer for the Queensland Education system.

In 1992 Vicki was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her part in the 1991 World Championship victory.