By Lawrence Machado

Julie Charlton, the Founder & CEO of JC2 Athletics, said she was overcome with emotion after receiving the Order of Australia Medal for service to sport, and to people with disability.

The Dural local, who represented Australia in para-shot-put at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, said she literally screamed with excitement when she was first notified of the big honour.

“When I received the initial email that stated the nomination, I was honestly in shock,” Julie told The Hills To Hawkesbury Community News. “I never expected someone to nominate me for such an honour.

“When it was reviewed and confirmed that I would receive the OAM, I rushed into my best friend Inkie’s room and screamed with excitement as I showed her the email. I am so honoured to have such a privilege awarded to me.
INCREDIBLE PREVILEGE

“Receiving the Order of Australia Medal is such an incredible privilege. It’s recognition of years of work that I have loved giving back to my communities and trying to make a difference in any way that I can.

 “From being an advocate, to athlete, to coach and CEO, it’s recognising that I’m doing what young always wanted older me to do: make a difference.”

Julie was born with Spina Bifida where the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly.  Like a true champion, this never stopped her from doing the things she loves.

The former Youth Ambassador for The Hills Shire Council and Ambassador, Don’t DIS My ABILITY campaign, NSW Government, said her biggest influences have been the communities she works with. She has been involved with the Disability Council NSW since 2021 and is the Ambassador for Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT.

Julie a wheelchair athlete at Cherrybrook Athletics Club, has won a swag of medals at state, national and international level.
She won the Australian National Seated Discus Champion in 2021 and captured multiple medals at the IWAS World Junior Championships, International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation Championships.
 
Awarded the Young Coach of the Year, Sport NSW in 2019, Julie also won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships. 

“In sport, it has been the athletes and coaches who have come before me and alongside me who encourage me to keep going and working towards making para sport as inclusive and accessible as possible,” Julie said.

“In advocacy it’s the young people who are standing up for what is important to them and holding systems accountable so they stop repeating the harm they have caused for generations.’

Julie wants to develop her coaching skills further and look for professional international coaching opportunities, saying she would love to expand her athletics coaching business JC2 Athletics so they can facilitate more opportunities for people to enjoy athletics.

“I’m also working towards competing again, hopefully for Australia at another international level competition whatever that may be,” Julie said.

“I am also dabbling in Para ice hockey which has been a great new experience.”

Julie is conscious of her work-life balance, being involved in different roles, besides her professional coaching responsibilities.

“I don’t answer phone calls after business hours but I do my emails at night,” she said. “I have set days for specific work commitments (Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays are for JC2 Athletics coaching).
“If there is an opportunity to speak with a decision maker, I never pass up the opportunity to work towards making a difference with someone who can action it.”