If there's one stereotype Karen Murphy wants to shatter it's that lawn bowls is for old people.
According to the recently-retired 46-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medallist, lawn bowls could be the pinnacle of inclusivity in Australian sport.
Few are more qualified to make the statement given she has represented Australia at five Commonwealth Games and in 668 Tests for the country.
And now that Murphy has been appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for services to her beloved sport, it's the message she wants to spruik.
"Years gone by the stereotype for bowls has been skewed as an older person's sport, but that's certainly not the case now," she told AAP.
"It's one of the most inclusive sports in terms of disability or age.
"If you look at the average age of the Australian team, and this has been the case for the last seven or eight years, it's around 25 to 28.
"It's a stereotype that has loosened up a bit and people are starting to see it as a sport that anyone can play.
"That really used to bug me, that even ads on TV always showed older people playing it and it was always associated with older people, but that has certainly changed and keeps changing."
Like most juniors, Murphy took up lawn bowls as a kid to spend more time with her dad, so his emotional response to her latest accomplishment was a full-circle moment.
After getting the call that she was to be awarded an AM, the first two people she told were her mum and dad, Frank and Lorraine.
She calls the two after every event to debrief on the day of play, and they are the biggest supporters of her 22-year representative career.
"They had tears in their eyes when I told them, they were so happy" she said.
"It's a lovely thing for them.
"My dad coached me and encouraged me and it was something that father and daughter could do together.
"Mum and dad have been along with me for the ride for all these years, they've seen the highs and the lows, but this is definitely one of the highs."
Australian Associated Press
