The June Bevan Trophy stands at the center of the National U13/U17 Championships in Tasmania, representing a junior badminton title that has captured players’ attention for years. Behind the prestigious U17 Team Title is June Bevan, a New South Wales representative for 33 years who won 12 national titles, represented Australia in the Uber Cup, and earned both the Medal of the Order of Australia and the Australian Sports Medal.
Early Beginnings on the School Bus
June Bevan’s lifelong passion for badminton began unexpectedly on a school bus when she overheard students discussing a badminton club for boys. As a competitive netball and hockey player, she challenged the exclusion. “I turned around and asked, ‘Why is it always for boys? Why can’t girls play too?’” she recalled. After a brief pause, one of the boys replied, “I suppose they could.” That exchange introduced her to the sport at age 17.
Without formal facilities nearby, players walked about a mile and a half to the hall and ran home late at night. The venue featured a very low ceiling, which forced players to adapt quickly by keeping the shuttle low and playing at a high speed. Bevan immediately fell in love with the fast, exciting, and competitive nature of the game, noting that she particularly enjoyed beating the boys at a sport they had started. Within two years, in 1950, she earned selection for the New South Wales Team, launching a representative career spanning over three decades.
Representing Australia and Building Lifelong Friendships
In 1955, Bevan received her first call-up for the Australian National Team to compete for the Whyte Trophy against New Zealand. “When I was representing Australia for the first time, I thought, ‘Wow,’” she said. Those tours forged enduring bonds; many teammates became lifelong friends who attended each other’s weddings and maintained contact for years through letters and phone calls.
Her international career later expanded to the Uber Cup. Facing an opposing player from Indonesia who stood roughly six feet tall, Bevan admitted she initially felt intimidated. Despite the height disadvantage, Bevan and her partner, Amy Pincott, secured two victories over their Indonesian opponents. Reflecting on her gameplay, Bevan credited her success to physical strength and quickness. Yet, despite her impressive record, self-doubt persisted. Raised in an era that discouraged self-promotion, she maintained a humble demeanor that manifested as persistent self-doubt during matches. Leading 10-1 in a singles game, she would often think she needed to hurry and win before opponents started playing properly, a psychological hurdle she later recognized as imposter syndrome.
Transition to Coaching and Mentorship
Bevan never had a formal coach. Instead, she cultivated an analytical approach to sport by observing other players, understanding their mechanics, and practicing independently—frequently by hitting shuttles against a wall. While still competing, she naturally gravitated toward guiding younger athletes. Although financial constraints prevented her from attending university to become a schoolteacher, she channeled her passion for education into coaching.
Her coaching career spanned three decades and eventually brought her back to the Uber Cup stage, this time serving as a team manager and coach. Even after stepping back from official duties in 1984, Bevan continued mentoring young athletes, driven by a desire to provide the guidance she never received during her own formative years as an athlete.
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