Sixteen-year-old Sale athlete, Zali Gallagher, has been named the March Junior Gippstar Award Winner.
Gallagher was recognised for her achievements as a Surf Life Saving athlete, with the year 11 Catholic College Sale student also a talented footballer player, representing Gippsland Power and Sale City in the Under 18 Girls side.
Earlier this year, Gallagher represented Seaspray Surf Life Saving Club in the 2023 Life Saving Victoria Summer of Surf State Carnival and 2023 Life Saving Victoria Senior Lifesaving State Championships.
Despite missing the 2021/22 season following a knee reconstruction, Gallagher Zali Gallagher came home from the Life Saving Victoria Senior Lifesaving State Championships with two gold medals, winning the Under 17 Women’s Beach Sprint and the Under 17 Women’s Beach Flags, a silver medal in the Open Women’s Beach Relay, and a bronze medal in the Mixed Open Beach Relay.
At the 2023 Life Saving Victoria Summer of Surf State Carnival, Gallagher placed first in the U17 Beach Flags and second in the Under 17 Beach Sprint as well as winning three events in the lead-up to the 2023 Life Saving Victoria Senior Lifesaving State Championships.
Like many Sale locals, the Gallagher family, Zali, her parents Ash and Jayde and her older brother Owen formed a Seaspray summer camping tradition.
It was through her family’s summer camping trips to the coastal town of Seaspray that Gallagher was introduced to Surf Life Saving, with the young athlete joining Seaspray SLSC Nippers about six years ago.
Since then, Gallagher has become a notably accomplished Seaspray SLSC junior athlete and is currently preparing for Life Saving Victoria’s Elite Athletes Camp in Lorne across the King’s Birthday long weekend.
“[Surf Life Saving] is fun,” Gallagher said.
“It’s different, like it’s not your generic normal sport.
“I really like the social side of it because you get to meet people from everywhere, and it’s just a lot of fun.”
Gallagher also plays for Gippsland Power in the Talent League, the top statewide under 18 competition for young football stars in Victoria.
“Because footy is in winter and Surf Life Saving is in summer, it kind of just works well,” Gallagher said.
“I don’t know [which one I prefer]; they’re both as good as each other.”
While Gallagher remained particularly tight-lipped about being named the March Junior Gippstar Award Winner for her achievements in Surf Life Saving, there was one thing she was quick to acknowledge.
“[Owen] my brother used to do Surf Life Saving,” she said.
“He wasn’t as good as me though, just thought I would point that out.”
Gallagher’s supportive parents, Jayde and Ash, couldn’t be prouder of their daughter’s achievements, especially since having overcome the physical challenges of rehabilitation after knee surgery.
“Yeah, we are proud,” Ash said.
“For what she went through, through all of the rehab to then get back to that level and come away with a couple of medals was good.”
The sixteen-year-old Gippsland Power and Seaspray SLSC athlete has no plans to slow down, with Gallagher remaining open to all potential sporting opportunities, whether that be AFLW or competing in the Ironwoman Series.
