Spend a few minutes with Sharon Gray and you'll probably find yourself laughing.
Read this interview and you'll discover another side of her—a fiercely committed competitor who believes in hard work, continual improvement and helping others along the way.
Those qualities have taken her from representing Australia in touch football to becoming one of South Australia's leading auctioneers and an important member of Sturt's premier women's pennant team.
Before discovering bowls, you represented Australia in touch football. How did you first become involved in the sport, and what do you remember most about reaching that elite level?
I lived in Townsville between 1987–1998 and started playing touch football at the age of 23 and just loved it.
I also lived in Wagga Wagga 1998–2001 where I continued playing touch footy before moving back to Adelaide to discover there was a great Women’s over 30s team that I could compete at national tournaments with.
I have represented Queensland’s Women’s over 40s, NSW Women’s over 30s, SA Women’s Opens and over 30s, 35s and 40s and Australia over 30s Women’s in 2005 – winning the World Cup against New Zealand.
The most memorable thing about those teams are the amazing players I got to line up with and against.
I also got to face off opposite the NZ Women’s Haka - it was incredible.
Looking back, what lessons from elite sport have stayed with you throughout your life—and do any of them still help your bowls today?
Consistent and purposeful training is ultimately the most important thing.
Playing at the highest level possible will always improve your own game as will competing against better players.
Having competed at a relatively high level, the most important lesson I’ve drawn on is that in sport, anything can happen, and if you are not winning, it’s about keeping your head, focus on the basics and take one step at a time to get back into the game.
Hard trainings, easy games.
I understand that, before returning to Adelaide and embarking on your real estate career, you spent about ten years living in North Queensland. What stands out most when you look back on that chapter of your life?
Incredible friends that I still have today, touch footy, too much Bundaberg Rum and working at the ANZ Bank where we had the BEST lip sync competitions.
What first attracted you to lawn bowls?
Touch Footy was no longer an option for me physically but I still wanted something to get my “fix” of competition.
I thought bowls was a great option that I would be able to play for many years.
Having never picked up a bowl before the Sturt Ladies Come ‘n’ Try day, it was also a great opportunity to learn something new.
You cannot believe how excited I was when there was a glass of wine or two at the end of it – What a sport!
You’ve made rapid improvements and played in the Sturt I women’s team that won the Division 2 grand final earlier this year. What do you think has been the biggest factor in your improvement?
Definitely the excellent coaching I have received since my very first day.
I was lucky to not have any existing habits, having never previously played, so I learnt the best way that suited me from the very beginning.
The dedication of Peter Hughes to get the Ladies competition up and running and then Noal Mullins and Alan Catterall at our training sessions too.
More experienced players like Janet Mullins and Joylene Koch who are so generous with their time to help us all improve.
The camaraderie of all the women learning at the same time was also invaluable and we all learnt together so we didn’t feel so hopeless when we made inevitable mistakes.
The experienced women were always so supportive.
People know you as one of the funniest and most outgoing members of the club, yet you take your bowls very seriously. How do those two sides of your personality fit together?
I think it’s important to not take yourself too seriously, and you should be able to laugh at yourself.
In the big scheme of things, there’s not much that is truly important and I try not to sweat the small stuff.
I have always just naturally had a competitive nature and really hate losing. Especially in a team sport where you have to show up for your teammates, not just yourself.
I absolutely love winning and get almost as excited about winning a raffle at Night Owls as I do a match – I think it’s the surprise of a good raffle win that gets me!
I understand your father had a profound influence on your professional life. What are the most important lessons you learnt from him?
To try and be fair to all parties while looking after my clients’ best interests.
To be transparent – luckily, I skipped the “bullshit” gene.
Dad encouraged me to be an auctioneer 22 years ago when there was only one other female auctioneer practicing in SA.
Buying or selling a home can be one of life's most emotional experiences. What have you learnt over the years about helping people through that process?
Listen more than you talk.
Understanding the motivation behind a sale or a purchase is most often the driver of price.
Having over 24 years’ experience in the industry gives my clients confidence in my recommendations and I’m proud of the trust I am able to build with them.
I love helping people into the next chapter of their lives through the property process.
Auctioneering has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. What was it like establishing yourself in that environment?
Initially it was a little daunting always being the only female in the room for competitions, or industry events, but again, my competitive nature held me in good stead, and I just always believed I could do it well.
The guys soon learned I could hold my own professionally and in the banter stakes.
I was the first female to be elected President of the Society of Auctioneers and Appraisers and I have earned respect from my peers and the “old guard” of which I am very proud.
I was a drama student through high school and I think it’s fairly obvious that I’m not the shy retiring type. An auction is a bit like street theatre and I love every minute of it.
Auctioneering looks effortless when it's done well. How much preparation goes into a successful auction?
Every property that goes to auction has its own pros and cons. Every auction has its own script with legalities and selling points.
There’s also separate meetings with the vendors to keep them up to date with what to expect and how each situation that may arise will be handled.
Whether I’m personally selling the property or acting as the auctioneer for another agent, I always take the time to meet with the owners and make sure they are comfortable with what to expect on the day.
An auction with competitive bidding is wonderful, but the true test of an auctioneer are the days that are not so easy, when strategy and negotiation play a big part.
When you can bring it altogether, get a great price for your vendor, have an excited buyer and it’s all under auction conditions, it’s really satisfying.
You were a finalist in the auctioneers’ Golden Gavel competition. What does competing against other top auctioneers teach you about your craft?
It’s been a few years since I competed in this competition, but competing against other auctioneers highlights what you do well personally and where you can improve.
It’s a very high-pressure environment - not to mention blokey - and it plays into my mindset of hard trainings, easy games.
The competitions put you in unfamiliar scenarios and you are judged by peers.
An auction in the field would rarely be as difficult as these competitions.
If you can succeed in that space, then professionally you will be so much better.
Your professional life and your bowls both seem to involve continual improvement. Are you someone who simply enjoys getting better at things?
I always strive to be the best I can be at whatever I decide to have a go at.
My competitive nature means I’m not happy with average, but it also means I have to learn where I can improve and accept there will always be someone better.
That’s how you improve, I think.
If I was the best player on the team, I’d probably look for a better team.
You've devoted a great deal of time to community work and are also a major sponsor of Sturt Bowling Club. Why is giving back so important to you?
Growing up, my mum was always involved in fundraising for charities, so it’s almost in my DNA.
For many years I’ve been a part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Hutt St Walk a Mile, Share the Dignity and many other charities.
I am the Chairperson of the OC Community Committee and feel like it’s an amazing platform to be able to bring our work team mates together while doing something worthwhile.
I think it’s also important to not just raise money but try and live these values by truly caring about other people in the community that might need a hand, a blanket, something warm to eat – even just a conversation.
Being involved with these organisations highlights what is really important as a human.
What is it about Sturt that has become such an important part of your life?
When I went to the Ladies Come ‘n’ Try day, I thought it would be a bit of fun and present a new challenge.
I enjoyed the game straight away - now I love it - but what I hadn’t counted on, was how much I would love the women that I met.
It has been amazing getting to know ladies, who ordinarily, our paths would not have crossed.
Then I went on to play Night Owls and Winter Bowls where I got to meet many of the male members too.
Sturt is such an incredible club, welcoming and inclusive.
I was excited when the then President, Jim Trenerry, told me the Real Estate sponsor at that time was not renewing and offered me the opportunity to sponsor the club and be a part of the growing culture.
The fact that our club is growing while many others struggle for numbers, is a testament to the hard work done by the Board and everyone working behind the scenes.
What’s not to love!