Sue Fieldhouse Memorial Boat Ramp

Sue Fieldhouse Memorial Boat Ramp – Barmera

Honouring a Champion on and off the Water

Located at Lake Bonney in Barmera, the Sue Fieldhouse Memorial Boat Ramp commemorates the outstanding life and sporting achievements of Sue Fieldhouse, a pioneer in Australian water skiing and one of South Australia’s most decorated athletes.

Sue was an early member of the Barmera Water Ski Club, where her passion for the sport first took flight. Her legacy is deeply tied to Lake Bonney, the very waters where she trained, competed, and inspired others.

Sporting Achievements

Sue Fieldhouse's career was nothing short of extraordinary:

• 🥇 13-time Australian Open Women’s Champion

  • 9 Slalom Titles

  • 2 Trick Titles

  • 2 Overall Titles

• 🌏 Represented Australia at five World Championships

  • Winning 1 Silver Medal and 2 Bronze Medals

• 🌟 World Record Holder

  • In 1981, set a World Slalom Record: 1.5 buoys @ 11.25m

• 🎖️ Moomba Masters Champion (1977–1982)

  • Won the Women’s Slalom Title six times, leading to a trophy named in her honour

• 🌍 Asia Pacific Championships

  • Represented Australia four times

  • Won 4 Gold, 9 Silver, and 3 Bronze Medals

• 🏆 State & National Recognition

  • Held the Australian Women’s Slalom Record from 1974 to 1990

  • Represented South Australia 15 times at national level

  • 11-time Women’s State Champion

  • Named South Australian Sportswoman of the Year in 1971

• 🏅 Hall of Fame Inductee

  • Inducted into the Australian Waterski & Wakeboard Federation Hall of Fame on 12 March 2011

Tragic Loss, Lasting Legacy

Tragically, Sue's life was cut short in 1982 when she was killed in a car accident while returning home from a tournament at Lake Moodemere, near Albury. She was just 31 years old.

Her death was a profound loss to the water skiing community, but her memory lives on—celebrated through the boat ramp that bears her name, the annual Sue Fieldhouse Trophy, and the many young athletes she continues to inspire.

📍 Location

Sue Fieldhouse Memorial Boat Ramp
Lake Bonney, Barmera SA 5345
(Photos supplied by Mike Fuller, Berri Barmera Council)

This boat ramp stands not only as a tribute to an elite athlete but also as a reminder of the close ties between community, sport, and legacy in Barmera.

References

1. Photographs and text via Mike Fuller, Berri Barmera Council (02 August 2012)

2. Australian Waterski & Wakeboard Federation – Hall of Fame Inductees
   https://awwf.com.au

3. Barmera Water Ski Club – Local History Archives (accessed via Berri Barmera Council)

4. Weekend Notes – Barmera Attractions
   https://www.weekendnotes.com/barmera-south-australia