Brian Lara's vanquisher among athletes honoured

The fast-bowling allrounder is probably the only environmental scientist, and certainly the only woman, to claim the notable distinction of having dismissed the great West Indian batter Brian Lara.

"It's so amazing," she remembers of that moment in 1994.

"I can still feel the hairs on the back of my neck."

At that time Lara was arguably the world's most feared cricketer, having set the record for highest score in a Test (375 v England) and first class (501* v Durham) innings.

Though she had an extensive career spanning 12 tests and 65 one-day internationals, it was Goss' appearance in the Bradman Foundation charity match in November 1994 for which she is best known.

But she doesn't begrudge the outsized attention given to that fabled day.

"It ended up being a pivotal moment," she told AAP.

"It was like a slow-burning catalyst. The social impact and the exposure to women's cricket for the general public was pretty wonderful for the sport."

Goss, 55, was on Thursday awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia for her contributions to women's cricket.

She is among a clutch of former athletes and administrators who have been recognised for their contribution to sport in the Australia Day Honours List.

There are also plans to raise a statue to Goss outside the WACA, where she used to ply her trade for WA and as an assistant coach for the Perth Scorchers in the early days of the WBBL.

Having played through the professionalisation of the game, the level of interest in women's cricket today comes as no surprise to Goss, but it's no less pleasing to witness.

"It's such a wonderful opportunity and the girls are getting definitely what they deserve," she said.

"You know, they work hard and it's just fantastic that it's now a profession, a real professional where they get decent money."

Also awarded OAMs were dual Olympian and Hockeyroo Rachael Lynch and former VFL player and coach Cyril McMaster.

Ellie Cole, a six-time Paralympic champion swimmer, was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia, alongside Geelong Cats vice-president Diana Taylor and Australia's most capped female Test cricketer, Christina Matthews.

Cole, who was also awarded an OAM in 2014, lost her right leg at the age of two after being diagnosed with a rare form of tumour.

She has remained involved with Paralympic sports since her retirement from competition in 2022 and in August led Team Australia to the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.

Australian Associated Press