The Australian BMX Hall of Fame has welcomed Blair Shepherd, Steve Meadows, Shaun Jarvis, Peter Wort and Tanya Bailey to its star-studded inductee list at their annual awards night on the Gold Coast.
Meadows, Jarvis, Wort and Bailey were on hand to accept their inductions, with Blair's son Scott accepting his father's posthumous recognition.
The quintet are the 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st icons of Australian BMX to join the honour roll.
Josh Jolly was crowned the 2025 Sam Willougby Medallist, while Evie Simpson and Felix Stokes were announced as the newest Cassap Australian BMX Freestyle Scholarship winners.
Evie Simpson and Felix Stokes.
Testimonials
Written by Australian BMX Hall of Fame
Blair Shepherd
If you were a young kid growing up in south-east Queensland in the late 70s or the early 80s, the chances are you were about to be consumed by Blair Shepherd’s BMX revolution!
Blair, a former world speedway champion had travelled to the United States with his son Scott, where they witnessed firsthand the explosive potential of BMX. Inspired, Blair returned home and—within a year—built Australia’s first purpose-built BMX facility: the Windsor BMX Youth Cycle Centre. But he didn’t stop there. Blair also began importing specialist BMX bike parts from the U.S.A, kickstarting what was to become Australia's longest-running wholesale BMX business—BMX International Pty Ltd.
Sadly, earlier this year, at the age of 91, Blair passed away. Thankfully however, the Australian BMX Hall of Fame had already contacted Blair to announce his pending induction, and so it is, that with a blend of reverence, appreciation, loss and love, we celebrate the incredible contribution of the late Blair Shepherd to Australian BMX.
Blair Sheperd was a visionary. He was one of the very first people to actively promote the growth of BMX in Australia. Along with his son, Scott, Blair constructing a race venue that boasted innovations decades ahead of its time. Blair, tapping into his vast experience as a competitive speedway driver, new the benefits of including floodlights, electronic lap timing, a mechanised start gate, grandstands, race officials, and all the trimmings of extreme adventure sports. He built a coliseum for both the local kids and the fastest riders in the country.
Blair always understood the power of promotion. Whether it was calling the Courier Mail to run a front-page story about BMX, or securing corporate sponsorship and council support, Blair was instrumental in shaping the identity of BMX in Australia.
But perhaps more importantly, he created a safe, healthy space where thousands of kids could come together to ride, race, and be together in an inclusive, family environment.
Blair’s determination was awe inspiring. As BMX in southeast Queensland exploded in the late ‘70s, he forged relationships with the biggest industry names in America; Linn Kastan from Redline, Chuck Raudman from Skyway, Skip Hess from Mongoose, and Howie Cohen from Everything Cycles, enabling him to bring world-class product to Australian shores. Blair recognised the star power of the American professional riders, organising what many people to this day consider to be one of the most memorable events in Australian BMX history - the 1980 American Tour Down Under. Blair made sure the biggest names in BMX came to Australia. The top pros, Stompin’ Stu Thomson, John Crews, Kenny Nachman, Jeff ‘Kos’ Kosmala, Scot Breithaupt, and Denny Davidow were there – along with industry leaders, and the editors from BMX Plus and BMX Action Magazine to experience the magic of racing under lights at the Windsor BMX Track.
Blair Shepherd, is arguably the single most influential BMX promoter and industry pioneer in Australian BMX history. Thanks largely to Blair Shepherd, a brand new and exciting cultural, social, and sporting phenomenon took root and flourished in Australia.
Ladies and gentlemen, as we know, Blair Shepherd is no longer with us. However, Blair’s legacy lives on today through his BMX import business, and through the cherished memories of literally thousands of Australians who were privileged to have experienced the magic and the excitement of racing or spectating at the ancestorial home of Queensland bicycle motocross.
Steve Meadows
In the storied history of Australian BMX racing, a history that stretches way back to 1977, there is only one ‘first day’. This is the day when Steve Meadows, an enterprising young engineer, originally hailing from the United States, decided to run a bicycle motocross race in Sydney, Australia. The date was May 22nd, 1977.
Steve, with some friends from the local Eastwood Bike Shop, cleared some overgrown land at the end of Busaco Road, North Ryde with a tractor and built a few dirt jumps and set up a simple start and finish line. Flyers promoting the event were sent out to bike shops and stuck on power poles. About thirty kids turned up. The Eastwood BMX Club was quickly established, and regular race meets were run with ribbons and trophies being awarded to age champions. Thanks to Steve, and his mates, BMX racing in Australia, had begun.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Steve is credited with another ‘first’ in the history of Australian BMX. As an importer of motorcycle accessories, Steve took the opportunity to travel back to California in 1976. It was then that he was introduced to Skip Hess, the founder of BMX Products Incorporated, the company behind the iconic BMX brand, Mongoose. Skip had suggested that Steve have a go at importing some of his products and, in no time at all, Steve’s import company, Competition Developments was shifting more BMX, than motorbike parts; and the BMX revolution in Australia was under way!
But Steve quickly worked out that, with his skills and expertise as an engineer, he could create his own, state of the art racing frames, and by October 1978, the first batch of Quicksilver BMX frames had hit the market. Steve, and his small team, working out of a tin shed, were proud to say they were manufacturing the very first BMX frames made in Australia.
The Quicksilver bicycle, and the brand, were an instant hit. In addition to using top grade 41-30 chrome moly, imported from the US, the brands’ attention to detail, the frame’s quality powder-coated finish in blue, red or chrome, the use of bold graphics and giant ‘Q’ logo rapidly became the bike every kid wanted. The best riders in the country were all riding Quicksilver bikes, including ‘Magic’ Mick Wiltshire, ‘The Professor’ – Alistair Johnson, Glen Cox, Jamie Hales, and Wayne McIntosh.
The legendary Quicksilver Grand Nationals, held at Ryde Eastwood and then Metro-West between 1980 and 1982 were some of the biggest race meetings on the fledgling Australian racing calendar, drawing riders from across the nation to race for trophies, pro money, and the glory.
Into the mid 80’s Steve Meadows continued to push the limits of frame design and innovation, with the introduction of the Quicksilver 26” Cruiser, the prototype Quicksilver Mountain Bike, and the almost mythological, and much sort after, Quicksilver Helium!
The Quicksilver brand is truly iconic within the Australian BMX landscape. Steve’s legacy is his bike frames, and his unique Australian brand.
Who would have dreamt that from these humble beginnings in 1977, inspired by visionaries like Steve Meadows, would spring an entire sporting and social phenomenon, and a community knitted together by our love of BMX?
Shaun Jarvis
Tonight, we honour a true pioneer, a lifelong ambassador of Freestyle BMX, and an absolute BMX tragic – Mr Shaun Jarvis. This bloke literally lives his best life, riding, competing, putting on Freestyle BMX demonstrations and competitions, getting rad, and spreading the gospel of Freestyle BMX to anyone who will listen. And he’s been doing it for over 40 years!
Shaun started racing in Western Australia in the early ‘80’s, but it wasn’t until the 1984 Australian BMX Titles came to Perth, that Shaun saw his future. Australia’s finest BMX freestyle exponent, Steve Cassap had teamed up with American superstar Bob Haro for a series of freestyle shows at the track. This was all that Shaun needed to jumpstart his lifelong journey into the high-octane world of Freestyle BMX.
By 1986, Shaun had founded Freestyle Now, a Perth-based stunt team that would go on to become a cornerstone of BMX culture in Western Australia. Still active today, Freestyle Now has performed over 1,500 shows and organised more than 320 competitions across Australia, supporting riders from beginner to pro level.
As a flatland specialist, Shaun has competed for decades — a testament to his enduring skill and passion. His results span from his early win at the 1988 WA Freestyle Association comp to more recent podiums in the Over 35s and Over 45s categories at the Western Australian BMX Freestyle State Championships, including a 1st place in 2020. In 2023, he finished 2nd in the Open class at the Benalla Skatepark competition, proving he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
But Shaun’s impact extends far beyond just freestyle competition. He has championed the cultural growth of freestyle BMX for 40 years. From founding one of Australia's first freestyle zines in the late '80s to creating the community TV series Behind the Bars, Shaun has tirelessly promoted the sport through media and public outreach. His coaching resume includes over 900 sessions across Australia, and his BMX for Schools Engagement Program continues to inspire and educate young riders nationwide.
In 2011, he brought the entire freestyle community together for BMX for Floods, a national fundraising effort supporting Queensland flood relief — just one example of Shaun’s ability to unite the sport for a greater cause. He’s also served as a brand distributor, event commentator, technical advisor, and coach, earning his BMX Freestyle Development Coach Certificate from AusCycling in 2023.
Shaun has advocated for better skateparks, mentored emerging talent, and contributed to BMX literature and education — including the Freestyle BMX Tricks book, which remains a staple for riders worldwide.
The impact Shaun has had on literally thousands of young riders is immeasurable. Just as Steve Cassap and Bob Haro inspired Shaun back in 1984, Shaun has paid it forward to so many Australians over the years.
Shaun Jarvis hasn’t just been part of the Australian Freestyle BMX story — he’s helped write it. His dedication, creativity, and community spirit have shaped freestyle BMX in Australia like no one else. Tonight, we proudly welcome Shaun Jarvis into the Australian BMX Hall of Fame, recognising a lifetime of service, innovation, and passion for Freestyle BMX.
Peter Wort
Peter Wort is Queensland’s first BMX Champion. His name is etched into the annals of Australian BMX history as a true pioneer—and arguably the most stylish and naturally gifted rider of his generation.
From the very beginning, Peter Wort was the people’s champion—the rider everyone wanted to be. Lightning quick out of the gate, with a smooth and effortless style, he made winning look easy. And he did it often.
From the very beginning, in 1977, Peter was there with his schoolmate Scott Shepherd, clearing the land at the end of Earle Street, Windsor. Together, they mapped out what would become one of Australia’s first and most iconic BMX tracks. In January of 1978, Peter was there when the gate dropped for Queensland’s first officially organised BMX race.
Peter, along with riders Scott Shepherd, the Wilkinson brothers, Shane Norton, Brian Learmonth, Roy Austin, and a host of others, honed their riding skills and battled for supremacy at the Windsor BMX Track. Intercity clashes between the best open riders from Sydney and Brisbane were a feature on the race calendar that year at Windsor and Ryde Eastwood.
By the end of 1978, Peter had made his mark as Queensland’s fastest Open-class rider. He won the prestigious Windsor Challenger Series, held over three consecutive weekends, and earned the right to represent Australia at the inaugural Jag BMX World Championships in Indianapolis, USA. Alongside teammate Steve Wilkinson, they became the first Australian riders to compete on the international BMX stage.
In 1979, if you are featuring in the two biggest BMX magazines on the planet—Bicycle Motocross Action and BMX Plus – as Peter was, you knew you’d made the big time in our sport.
By 1980, BMX in Australia had reached fever-pitch, and the Americans were coming. The best pro riders in the world—Stu Thomsen, John Crews, Scott Breithaupt, Bobby Encinas, Jeff Kosmala, Kenny Nachman, and Denny Davidow – were touring down under. When the Open Men’s Final lined up on the start gate at the Windsor BMX Track, only two Aussies were left standing; Peter Wort and Jamie Hales. Peter’s achievements that day were recognised with selection for the All-Australian Team to take on the Yanks in the International Challenge Series.
That same year, Peter stamped his authority on the best riders in the country, winning the Open Men’s Final in Round 3 of the inaugural Australian Age Championships. He’d beaten the best in the country - including Hall of Famers Jamie Hales, Wayne McIntosh, and Mick Wiltshire.
Between 1978 and 1982, Peter dominated Queensland BMX. He won countless Open Expert, Cruiser, and Pro Finals—along with many of the legendary Trophy Dash events.
In 1982, Peter again toured the U.S., this time riding with SE Racing and staying with team boss Scott Breithaupt and BMX legends Perry Kramer and Rod Beckering. Throughout his riding career, Peter Wort’s bike setup included his trademark Skyway Tuff Wheels. His loyalty to the Skyway brand was rewarded with a full factory ride for Team Skyway.
Peter Wort always let his riding do the talking. His humility, his graciousness, and his speed and style set the benchmark for a generation of Australian BMXers to come.
Tanya Bailey
Australian Tanya Bailey is a four-time Elite Women’s National Champion, a two-time Pacific Oceanic Champion, and an Olympian, representing Australia in BMX for the very first time at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
She is also a senior figure amongst a proud lineage of elite female athletes from Australia who have graced both the national and international arena with incredible success for so many years.
As an outstanding junior rider, Tanya won multiple Australian age titles before imposing herself on the Junior and Elite Women's classes. She has the rare distinction of claiming the number one plate in the elite women's class for three consecutive years between 2001 and 2003. For a decade she fought for supremacy alongside the finest elite female riders in the country; superstars including Natarsha Williams, Renee Junga, Chloe MacPherson, Nicole Callisto and Melissa Mankowski.
Taking her racing to the next level, she was a finalist at the 2022 and 2023 World Championships. In 2023 she finished as the Number 2 ranked female rider after multiple rounds of the UCI Elite Women's World Series. With a wry smile and a touch of regret, Tanya says she could have won the UCI World Title that year, had she attended just one more round. In 2008, at the pinnacle of her racing career, Tanya was selected to represent Australia at the Olympic Games, where she finished as a semi-finalist, in a creditable 16th place.
When Tanya reflects on her proudest moment in BMX, she will tell you that it wasn't winning on the national or international stage or even representing her country at the Beijing Olympics. Back in 1998, Tanya was preparing for the Australian titles in Knox, Victoria as a 17-year-old when she learned that her mother had been diagnosed with cancer, and wasn't able to be with her, as she usually was. After progressing seamlessly to the final, Tanya missed her start and was in last place over the first jump. Determined to do her mother proud, Tanya carved up the field, hitting the lead with an audacious swoop in the last turn to claim the Australian title for herself, but more importantly, for her mum.
Having retired from BMX racing after fulfilling her Olympic dreams, Tanya returned to The West and a quieter pace of life. However, like so many of Australia's BMX Hall of Famers, the thrill of competitive cycling is never completely sated. Earlier this year, Tanya competed at her first Masters Downhill Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns where she was crowned World Champion
Feature picture: Australian BMX Hall of Fame