Amy Safe
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Amy Elizabeth Gillett (; 9 January 1976 – 18 July 2005) was an Australian
track cyclist Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using purpose-designed track bicycles. History Track cycling has been around since at least 1870. When track cycling was in its infancy, it wa ...
and
rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...
who represented Australia in both sports. She was killed when a driver crashed into the Australian squad of cyclists with whom she was training in Germany. The Amy Gillett Foundation was established in order to fund road safety programs and provide scholarships for young female cyclists.


Life

Gillett was born in
Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
and was educated at
Annesley College Annesley Junior School, formerly known as Methodist Ladies' College and Annesley College, is an independent day school for girls and boys from two years old to year 6. It is located in Wayville, a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It has a co-e ...
. She was a world champion junior rower, winning a gold medal in the
coxless pair A coxless pair, abbreviated as a 2- and also known as a straight pair, is a racing shell used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars. The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each ...
in the Junior World Championships in 1993 and the women's
single scull A single scull (or a scull), abbreviated as a 1x, is a racing shell designed for a single person who propels the boat with two oars, one in each hand. Racing boats (often called "shells") are long, narrow, and broadly semi-circular in cross-se ...
in 1994. She came fifth in the single scull in the Nations Cup held in Paris the same year. At 20, she was a member of the Australian women's eight at the
Atlanta Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
. She was coached by Simon Gillett during her rowing career and later married him in January 2004, moving to Mount Helen near
Ballarat Ballarat ( ) () is a city in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. At the 2021 census, Ballarat had a population of 111,973, making it the third-largest urban inland city in Australia and the third-largest city in Victoria. Within mo ...
,
Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...
. After failing to make the Australian rowing team for the
Sydney Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...
she quit the sport but was identified as a cyclist with potential. She was an
Australian Institute of Sport The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is a high performance sports training institution in Australia. The institute's headquarters were opened in 1981 and are situated in the northern suburb of Bruce, Canberra. The AIS is a division of the ...
rowing and cycling scholarship holder. In 2002, Gillett was first in the Individual Pursuit Australian Titles, held in Victoria. From 2002 to 2005, she was a member of the
Australian Institute of Sport The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) is a high performance sports training institution in Australia. The institute's headquarters were opened in 1981 and are situated in the northern suburb of Bruce, Canberra. The AIS is a division of the ...
elite cycling squad and represented Australia in the 2002 and 2003 Cycling World Cups. While she was not a member of the Australian cycling team for the
2004 Athens Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece. The Games saw 10,625 athletes ...
, her results during 2005 were steadily improving including a third place in the 2005 Road Time Trial Australian Open Titles. She was rated as one of the top 100 women road cyclists at the time of her death and Australian cycling officials had identified her as a potential medallist in the
2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006, were an International sport, international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth held in Melbourne ...
in the
time trial In many racing sports, an sportsperson, athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial (TT) against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athle ...
. Gillett was also undertaking a doctorate at the
University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...
at the time of her death.


Death

Gillett died after a collision near
Zeulenroda Zeulenroda-Triebes () is a German town in the district of Greiz in the state of Thuringia. Zeulenroda-Triebes is situated in the south of Greiz in the mountains of the Thuringian Slate Mountains (Thüringer Schiefergebirge), on the border with S ...
,
Thuringia Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area. Er ...
, Germany, on 18 July 2005, when a young driver lost control of her car and drove head first into six members of the Australian women's cycling squad, who were preparing for the
Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen Thuringia (; officially the Free State of Thuringia, ) is one of Germany, Germany's 16 States of Germany, states. With 2.1 million people, it is 12th-largest by population, and with 16,171 square kilometers, it is 11th-largest in area. Er ...
stage race. Five of Gillett's Australian teammates suffered injuries, most very serious. Katie Brown,
Lorian Graham Lorian Graham (born 8 November 1977) is a former Australian racing cyclist Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain ...
, Kate Nichols, Alexis Rhodes, and Louise Yaxley were taken immediately to hospital, with Rhodes and Yaxley suffering major trauma. Graham and Brown had incurred fractures and Nichols had torn tendons requiring surgery. The newly-qualified driver was fined €1,440 and disqualified from driving for eight months.


Foundation

Simon Gillett and the Australian Cycling Federation subsequently established the Amy Gillett Foundation. The foundation's aims are to: * provide financial support for the rehabilitation of Gillett's five injured team members; * fund and administer a scholarship program for young women cyclists to support their sporting and academic endeavours * support and promote projects aimed at road safety awareness amongst cyclists and motorists In 2018, the way the scholarship was awarded and operated changed, as
Cycling Australia Cycling Australia (CA), the trading name of the Australian Cycling Federation Inc, was the national governing body for bicycle racing in Australia, and represented the interests of affiliated cycling clubs and State federations. It covered the d ...
pulled direct support for the Australian development teams with whom the scholarship recipient would have normally. Previously the scholarship recipient was selected by a panel from applications to the foundation, but in 2018 recipient was selected to race as a part of professional team . The Australian national development team itself had its own selection process prior to 2018. Wiggle Amy's Gran Fondo cycling event, which benefited the foundation, was held in September along the
Great Ocean Road The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage-listed stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia, between the Victorian towns of Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932, and dedica ...
, between Lorne and Skenes Creek. It is one of the only cycling events in Australia held on a fully closed road. The foundation closed, in early 2024 due to lack of funding. Gillett's mother, Mary Safe, started collaborating with the Get Home Safe Foundation on a campaign to educate drivers to use the "
Dutch Reach Dooring is the act of opening a motor vehicle door into the path of another road user. Dooring can happen when a driver has parked or stopped to exit their vehicle, or when passengers egress from cars, taxis and rideshares into the path of a cy ...
" when getting out of their vehicle, to better protect cyclists. In September 2024 the foundation was rescued from liquidation after receiving a number of large donations. Recipients of the Amy Gillett Scholarship include: * 2019
Sarah Gigante Sarah Gigante (born 6 October 2000) is an Australian racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . Career Junior and under-23 career In 2018, Gigante was national junior champion in the road race, individual time trial and cri ...
* 2018 Grace Brown * 2017 Lucy Kennedy * 2016
Louisa Lobigs Louisa may refer to: Places ;Australia * Louisa Island (Tasmania) ;Canada * Louisa or Lac-Louisa, a community in Wentworth, Quebec ;Malaysia * Louisa Reef, Sabah ;United States * Louisa, Kentucky * Louisa, Missouri * Louisa, Virginia * Louisa C ...
* 2015 Kimberley Wells * 2014
Lizzie Williams Lizzie Williams (born 15 August 1983) is an Australian former racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2014 and 2018 for the Specialized Securitor, , and teams. Career Williams originally quit the sport in 2004 and returned ten years lat ...
* 2013 Jessica Mundy * 2012 Jessica Allen * 2011 Joanne Hogan * 2010
Rachel Neylan Rachel Neylan (born 9 March 1982) is an Australian former professional road bicycle racing, road cyclist. She won a silver medal at the 2012 UCI Road World Championships, 2012 World Championships in the 2012 UCI Road World Championships – Wome ...
* 2009
Amber Halliday Amber Jae Halliday (born 13 November 1979) is a former rower and cyclist from Adelaide, South Australia. She is an Australian national champion, a dual Olympian and a three-time world-champion in lightweight rowing. She rowed for South Australia ...
* 2008
Carlee Taylor Carlee Taylor (born 15 February 1989) is an Australian racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's Continental Team . She took up cycling in 2007 after previously competing in triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race c ...
* 2007 Carla Ryan * 2006
Jessie MacLean Jessie MacLean (born 17 October 1985) is an Australian racing cyclist. She rode at the 2011, 2012 and 2014 UCI Road World Championships, where she won silver with Orica–AIS in the Team Time Trial A team time trial (TTT) is a road bicycle r ...


Rail trail

In January 2010, the
Amy Gillett Bikeway The Amy Gillett Bikeway or Amy Gillett Rail Trail or Amy Gillett Pathway is a shared path in the Adelaide Hills on part of the alignment of the former Mount Pleasant railway line. It is a sealed path suitable for recreational cycling, walking an ...
was opened at Oakbank,
South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...
. The trail follows a section of the former
Mount Pleasant railway line The Mount Pleasant railway line was a railway line on the South Australian Railways network. It was opened between Balhannah and Mount Pleasant, South Australia, Mount Pleasant in September 1918 and ran until March 1963 as a freight and passeng ...
.


References


External links

* * * *
Amy Gillett Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gillett, Amy 1976 births 2005 deaths Australian female cyclists Australian female rowers Australian expatriate sportspeople in Germany Rowers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Cycling road incident deaths Sportswomen from South Australia Sportspeople from Ballarat Road incident deaths in Germany Australian Institute of Sport cyclists Cyclists from Adelaide Olympic rowers for Australia 21st-century Australian women 20th-century Australian sportswomen