Pamela Pogue

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

As one drives around Shepparton you often notice sports fanatics running along the roads or walking tracks.

One such runner Pam Pogue has been one of those athletes who have run, ridden or swum thousands of kilometres in training for events. In later life she excelled in triathlons, but that was after a stellar sporting career when she was younger.

Pam Pogue grew up at Katandra as part of a great sporting family, the Teague’s. She chose hockey as her winter sport and played tennis in the summer, playing hockey with both Garnets and Strikers and representing the Goulburn Valley in the Country Championships. Pam not only played the game at the highest level in the Goulburn Valley, but encouraged and trained many juniors to play the sport. She was awarded Life Membership of the Strikers Hockey Club and the Shepparton Women’s Hockey Association. Pam also represented the Goulburn Valley in Tennis and she took on executive rolls in all her chosen sports.

However it was in Triathlons, the event that brings the sports of swimming, cycling and distance running together that Pam really performed well in and she was one of the earliest successful female competitors in the Goulburn Valley.

From 45 years of age, Pam competed in her age group. In1992 she was Victorian Olympic distance event champion and won the Sun Smart series. She then moved into the 50 – 55 year age group. In 1994 and 95 she was successful in the Olympic distance event, and the Sun Smart series. She was Olympic Distance champion again in 1996 and represented Australia in the World Olympic Distance Triathlon in Cleveland USA.

Pam continued winning Sunsmart series and Olympic distance Triathlons through 1997, 98 and 99 and in the year 2000 she represented her country again in the World Olympic Distance Triathlon in Perth. W.A.in the 55 – 59 age group. Also in 2000 Pam was honoured with carrying the Olympic Torch into Tatura. She continued to compete and won the Olympic Distant Victorian title again in 2001.

From 2002 Pam competed in 5 Triathlons each year and added other local events to her calendar.

In 2010 – 11 Pam still competed in the 60 – 64 age group in events like the Shepparton Hexman.

She was awarded Life Membership of the Shepparton Triathlon Club in 2012.

Pam Pogue has been a leader in women’s triathlon events and has been a role model for girls to emulate. She has been an amazing competitor and is now recognised by the Roll of Honour in the City of Greater Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame.