Vale Penny Gillies (nee McCallum) OAM

14 September 2026

Vale Penny Gillies (nee McCallum) OAM

NSW has lost an iconic member of our athletics community with the passing of Penny Gillies OAM. After a battle with cancer, Penny passed away last week in Sydney, aged 75.

Penny’s extraordinary involvement in athletics had an impact on thousands of people across many areas of the sport. She was a two-time Olympian, Olympic coach, team coach, NSW Little Athletics employee, educator, mentor and personal coach to dozens of NSW athletes.

EMERGING ATHLETE IN HER TEENAGE YEARS

Born in Sydney in 1951, Penny attended North Ryde High School where she was already showing talent in her early teens after she had started athletics aged nine. From the start she competed successfully in multi-events (Pentathlon), hurdles, sprints and jumps. At the NSW State Championships in 1965, aged 13, Penny won the sub-junior (U15) 80m hurdles and 150 yards, and was 2nd in the 100 yards and 3rd in the long jump. In 1966 at the Schoolgirls Championships, she won the 15-years 100 yards and long jump. In her pet event, the 80m hurdles, she was 2nd to future Olympic Games champion Maureen Caird. Later that summer, in early 1967 she won the State junior long jump and Pentathlon titles, and was 2nd to Caird in the 80m hurdles. She also competed at a historic competition in September 1967 – the first combined men’s and women’s CHS (Combined High Schools) Championships. They were held on the Sydney Cricket Ground.

At her first Australian championships in 1967 she competed in the junior (U18) events claiming 2nd in the Pentathlon and 3rd in the long jump (5th in the 80m hurdles). At the 1968 and 1969 Australian Junior (U18) Championships, each year she won the Pentathlon and was 2nd in the 80m hurdles (to 1968 Olympic champion Maureen Caird). Her Pentathlon score of 4413 points was an Australian junior record.

Following 2nd place in the open 100m hurdles at the 1969 Australian Championships, at the age of 18, she was selected for her Australian debut at the Pacific Conference Games to be held in Tokyo. The meet, held in September 1969, was against USA, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Penny placed 2nd to Pam Kilborn-Ryan in the 100m hurdles in 14.0 seconds.

At the Australian championships in 1970, Penny was 2nd in the Pentathlon and 3rd in the 100m hurdles and earned selection for the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in both events where she would place 4th in the hurdles, behind teammates Pam Ryan (1st) and Maureen Caird (2nd).

A theme was emerging for Gillies, whether it was competing at school meets, NSW State Championships, or national championships, Penny was confronted with world class hurdlers from NSW’s Mexico Olympic champion Maureen Caird, whom Penny trained alongside under coach June Ferguson, or Victorian Olympic silver medallist Pam Ryan (a six-time Commonwealth Games gold medallists).

In the early ‘70s Penny married Les Gillies, and was studying Physical Education at the Kuring-Gai Teacher’s College, followed by a Bachelor of Education from Armidale. In 1972 she started a four-year teaching stint at Auburn West Primary School, where she taught Grades 3, 4, and 5.

BREAKTHOUGH 1972 SEASON

In 1972, Penny’s speed was improving with times of 11.4 (100m) and 23.5 (200m), and was the second fastest sprinter in Australia for the year. At the NSW Championships, held on grass at the Sydney Sports Ground, Penny clocked a NSW 100m hurdles record of 13.2 to win comfortable from Maureen Caird (13.5). A week later Penny clocked a season’s best of 13.1. At the season’s Grand Prix meet, Willls/Qantas Olympic Fund-Raising Meet in mid-March on the Sports Ground, Penny finished second to Pam Ryan – they recorded wind assisted times of 12.9 to 13.0, with Caird was third in 13.2. Penny also pushed Raelene Boyle in the 200m as they clocked times of 23.2 and 23.4 respectively.

In late March the Australian Championships were held on the Perry Lakes cinders track in Perth. In one of her best results of her career, running into a headwind Penny won in a time of 13.3, from Pam Ryan (13.3) and Maureen Caird (13.6). The performance guaranteed Penny would make her Olympic debut in Munich, selected for the hurdles, 200m and relay. Heading into the Olympics, Penny’s 13.1 ranked her number eight in the world.

For six weeks in the lead-up to the Games Penny changed her routine, training and raced in Europe on Tartan tracks. Unfortunately, she developed a mysterious soreness in her foot. At the Games she would miss qualification for the semifinal by 0.04 seconds, clocking 13.82 second in her heat. Pam Ryan, who Penny had matched all summer season, went on to place 4th in the final. Penny unfortunately sustained a bone fracture and returning to Australia on crutches.

For the next four years, Penny would only run occasionally 14.7 in 1973 and 14.8/14.4w in 1976. The foot would not heal, and she eventually required a bone graft from her hip.

In 1977, now under the coaching of Nancy Atterton, Penny returned, winning the NSW title in 13.6. The media wrote:

“What a joy for the purist hurdling buffs to see Penny Gillies run a beautiful 13.6 100m hurdles...after four very frustrating years, a bone graft to her injured foot, and a delightful event the birth of her son Andrew.”

She went on to win the 1977 National title in 13.3 seconds. Selected for the inaugural World Cup in Athletics in Germany, she headed to Europe to compete. While in a race in Holland, at the 70-metre mark she snaped her Achilles. She was operated on in Europe, ahead of travelling home to Australia on crutches.

During this time, between 1975 and 1980, Penny was now casual teaching.

SECOND OLYMPICS

During the summer of 1978/79 Penny was back dominating the Australian women’s sprint hurdles scene, and now running for a new club Ryde Women’s. In March 1979 she won her third Australian 100m hurdles title, ran a season’s best of 13.62 in the heats, and was selected for the World Cup in Athletics to be held in Montreal, where she placed 6th in a time of 13.88.

The solid return to running seemed to set her up for a tilt at a second Olympics. During an impressive 1979/80 summer season, she ran sprint times of 11.5 (100m) and 23.44 (200m). In December she clocked13.0 to equal the Australian record held by Pam Ryan. In March at the Australian Championships, on the newly laid track at E.S. Marks Field, she won her fourth Australian 100m hurdles title in the blistering time of 13.10 seconds. She was selected on her second Australian Olympic team and named captain of the athletics team. In the heats in Moscow, Penny placed 6th, missing qualification for the semifinal by one place and 0.02 seconds.

Penny’s time of 13.10 ranked her 20th in the world for 1980 and remained the NSW record for 22 years. 35-years later (in 2015) her performance remained number seven Australian All-time.

Away from the track, early in 1980 Penny joined the staff of NSW Little Athletics as the Metropolitan Education Officer, combining this with a part-time role as track and field lecturer at ACPE. At Little Athletics, Penny worked alongside Olympic Modern Pentathlete Alex Watson and distance runner David Brennan.

Penny produced another strong campaign in 1981, winning her third consecutive national title, clocking a season’s best of 13.48, and racing in Europe ahead of competing in the 1981 World Cup in Athletics in Rome where she placed 5th in a time of 13.59. After injury during the 1982 season, Penny athletics career wound down, winning a final NSW 100m hurdles title in 1983 in 14.59 seconds.

Away from the track, there were some big changes for Penny. In 1982, she started an 8-year stretch as a PE teacher at Pymble Ladies College. She was head teacher at the Preparatory School, then Primary and Years 7-12. She coached athletics, XC and cricket while at PLC.

TRANSITION TO COACHING

A few things aligned as Penny launched into coaching in 1982. She was injured and unable to try for selection for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games, her coach Nancy Atterton asked her to coach her daughter Stacey Atterton for the 400m hurdles. Penny started to coach a few athletes from her own squad and NSW Athletics asked her to run a monthly school for hurdler. “And my interest grew from there”, said Penny.

It started a more than four-decade dedication to coaching at all levels in the sport.

What satisfaction did Penny draw from coaching over the decades?

“I really enjoy helping athlete reach their full potential. It’s very satisfying seeing someone reap the rewards of their hard work on the training track and watching them transfer that into personal bests. Knowing that I have been part of the development and change of raw talent into an elite athlete is also very rewarding for me as a coach.”

COACHING IN THE 1990S

In 1991 Penny’s teaching career shifted to St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill. For the next two plus decades she taught English for Years 7-10, PE for Year 7 and was an athletics and XC coach.

She completed a Master of Education in Health at Sydney University, making the Dean’s list for Scholars in 1997. With the Sydney Olympics approaching, she was a member Athletics Technical Committee for the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Committee (SOCOG) and was also a Member of the NSW Sports Advisory Council.

But it would be her personal coaching and team coaching roles that would increase significantly in the ‘90s. Her first team coach role was in 1996 on the Australian junior team to New Zealand. Later in 1996 she was sprints/relay coach for the World Juniors in Sydney. The next year she was sprints/relays coach for the 1997 World Championships in Athens. Some of the major teams she coached on were: 2000, 2004 & 2012 World Juniors, 2002, 2006 & 2022 Commonwealth Games, 2010 Commonwealth Youth, 2009 & 2022 World Championships, 2003 & 2005 World Youth and 2020 Olympic Games.

Penny progressed to level 5 – the highest for a coach.

In recent years, Penny has also worked with the Australian Athletics coach mentor program.

THE ATHLETES

Some of the athlete’s Penny coached during her career (note, for some not during their entire career):

Nicole Gale – 1996 WJ team; Gareth Watkins – 1996 WJ team; Jacquie Munro – 2002 CG, 1998/2000 WJ; Molly Blakey – 2013 WY; Hayley Butler – 2020 CG, 2011 WC; AUS U18 champion; Madison Gipson (NZL) – 2011 CYG; Olivia Tauro – 2010 CG, 2005 WY, 2008 WJ; Abbie Taddeo – 2012 WJ; Joel Milburn 2008/12 OG, 2009 WC, 2010 CG; Jamee-Lee Starr (nee Hoebergen) – 2005 WY, 2006 CG; Tristan Garrett -2005 WY, 2006 WJ; Charlie Jeffreson – 2022 WJ; Tara Holt – 2006 WJ; Bella O’Grady – 2016 WJ, 2019 WC; Charlotte Yates – 2005 WY; Steve Solomon – Olympian; Lora Storey – 2017 WC & WR; Carley Thomas – 2018 WJ, 2019 WC; Stacey Atterton, Kylie Strong, Tavleen Singh, Alicia Kier, Maddie Powell, Jack Hiscox, Danielle Senior, Jackie Bezuidenhout, Jessica Knox, James Gurr, Tara Millgate, Matilda Ryan, Lara Nicod, John Gikas and many more.

Following her own successful athletics career, Penny Gillies had dedicated herself to giving back through coaching dozens of athletes. The positive impact on these athletes is immeasurable. Ever present at the track, with that stopwatch around her neck, she was always willing to offer support and advice to members of the athletics community

The athletics community sends its sincere condolences to husband Leslie Gillies, son Andrew, and Penny’s extended family, friends and athletes.

R.I.P. Penny

FUNERAL DETAILS - Wednesday 16 September 2026 at 11.30am at St Anthony’s Church, 54 Agincourt Road, Marsfield

David Tarbotton for NSW Athletics

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Awarded Order of Australia in 2024

Australian Sports Medal

Life Member with Australian Athletics, NSW Athletics and UTS Norths Club

CLUBS

Cumberland Women’s 1965-1978; Ryde 1978-‘90s; UTS Norths ‘90s-2026

PERSONAL BESTS

100m Hurdles – 13.10 (23/3/80), 13.0 (16/12/79)

80m Hurdles – 10.9 (1/3/69)

200m Hurdles – 26.4 (25/11/72)

100m – 11.4 (25/1/72), 11.3 windy (9/2/80) & 11.2 windy (1967)

200m - 23.44 (23/3/80), 23.0 (24/2/80)

400m - 54.4 (19/1/80)

Long Jump – 5.77m 13/3/69)

Pentathlon – 4443 (12/3/70)

COACHES

June Ferguson, Nancy Atterton and Betty Moore

AUSTRALIAN/OCEANIA TEAMS

Olympic Games - 1972 & 1980

Commonwealth Games - 1970

Pacific Conference Games - 1969

World Cup 1977 (withdrew injured), 1979, 1981

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS (medals)

1967 (U18/junior) 2nd Pentathlon, 3rd Long Jump

1968 (U18/Junior) 1st Pentathlon, 2nd 80m hurdles

1969 (U18/Junior) 1st Pentathlon, 2nd 80m hurdles

1969 2nd 100m hurdles

1970 2nd Pentathlon, 3rd 100m hurdles

1972 1st 100m hurdles

1977 1st 100m hurdles

1979 1st 100m hurdles

1980 1st 100m hurdles

1981 1st 100m hurdles

Five Australian 100m hurdles titles is the equal third most.

NSW STATE TITLES

100 metres – 1972

200 metres – 1972

100m Hurdles – 1972, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983

200m Hurdles - 1972