By BRIDGET SCOTT
LAYNE Beachley made waves at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last week as she captured the undying attention of about 150 guests at the Casey-Cardinia Business Breakfast.
The six-time world title holder enthralled her audience on Wednesday 25 June when she gave them an insight into her career and how she made it all the way to the top.
The song Lose Yourself by Eminen played as Beachley made her way to the stage before she told the audience that it was her anthem and motivation during her career.
Originally from Manly, Sydney, the surfer paddled for the first time at only five years of age and said an enormous life changing event motivated her to end up where she is now.
When Beachley was only six years old her mother died, and she was told two years later that she was adopted.
“I felt abandoned and rejected – my own mother gave me away,” she said.
“I thought if my own mother can’t love me who can?”
She said after this she told herself she would become the best in the world at something, she just wasn’t sure what it would be yet.
As a 14-year-old she took part in her first surfing event and decided two years later it would be this career that she pursued.
Beachley told of the struggle to break into a male dominated world and how hard it was to start.
“I started in 1976 and it was not a very welcoming environment,” she said.
Beachley, determined to “prove her worth to the world”, said she has encountered her fair share of people who did not see her abilities, who she described as ‘dream thieves’.
“You can’t always control who you’re surrounded by, but you can control who you listen to,” she said.
For Beachley, it didn’t stop after her first world title and she said people believe once someone had done it once it was time to step aside, but she had a different view.
“I’m a history maker and a record maker and I am proud to be,” she said.
Throughout her career, it wasn’t at all smooth sailing for the surfer who has suffered chronic fatigue and depression.
Beachley said once she asked for help she was able to get back up on her feet, and down the track surfed one of the biggest waves of her career, a 50 foot tall wave in Hawaii.
She told how just before she was about to step forward on her board and take on this monster, she thought “don’t fall”, but quickly improved her mind set and rode the wave without a problem.
The business woman said she learnt many valuable lessons throughout her career, and urged people to ask questions.
Among her own labels, she also runs a foundation called Aim for the Stars which is designed to help young girls achieve their dreams.
This got up and running after Beachley was given $3000 by one of her bosses to send her overseas to surf.
“Now I am paying it forward,” she said.
Former Melbourne Football Club player Russell Robertson, who was master of ceremonies, was one of many awe struck listeners in the room, and thanked the guest speaker who later signed copies of her book Beneath the Waves.
The next Casey-Cardinia Business Breakfast will be at the Cranbourne Golf Club on Wednesday 17 September.
