Background
She was born Amy Safe in Adelaide and was educated at Annesley College.
She was born Amy Safe in Adelaide and was educated at Annesley College.
She was killed when a driver crashed into the Australian squad of cyclists with whom she was training in Germany. Safe came fifth in the single scull in the Nations Cup held in Paris the same year. After failing to make the Australian rowing team for the Sydney Olympics she quit the sport but was identified as a cyclist with potential.
She was an Australian Institute of Sport rowing and cycling scholarship holder.
In 2002 Gillett was first in the Individual Pursuit Australian Titles, held in Victoria. She was rated as one of the top 100 women road cyclists at the time of her death and Australian cycling officials had identified her as a potential medallist in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in the time trial.
Five of Gillett"s Australian team mates suffered injuries, most very serious. Katie Brown, Lorian Graham, Kate Nichols, Alexis Rhodes and Louise Yaxley were taken immediately to hospital, with Rhodes and Yaxley suffering major trauma.
Graham and Brown had incurred fractures and Nichols had torn tendons requiring surgery.
Gillett was undertaking a Doctorate at the University of South Australia at the time of her death. The newly qualified driver was fined €1440 and disqualified from driving for eight months. Simon Gillett and the Australian Cycling Federation subsequently established the Amy Gillett ( financial report at )
The "s aims were to:
provide financial support for the rehabilitation of Amy"s five injured team members;
fund and administer a scholarship program for young women cyclists to support their sporting and academic endeavours
support and promote projects aimed at road safety awareness amongst cyclists and motorists
Amy Gillett Scholarship Recipients
2015 Kimberley Wells
2014 Lizzie Williams
2013 Jessica Mundy
2012 Jessica Allen
2011 Joanne Hogan
2010 Rachel Neylan
2009 Amber Halliday
2008 Carlee Taylor
2007 Carla Ryan
2006 Jessie MacLean
On the first anniversary of the death of Amy, the launched a television advertisement to improve understanding between cyclists and motorists on Australian roads.
In January 2010 the Amy Gillett Bikeway was opened at Oakbank, South Australia.
The trail follows a section of the former Mount Pleasant railway line.
At 20, she was a member of the Australian women"s eight at the Atlanta Olympics. From 2002 to 2005, she was a member of the Australian Institute of Sport elite cycling squad and represented Australia in the 2002 and 2003 Cycling World Cups. While she was not a member of the Australian cycling team for the 2004 Athens Olympics, her results during 2005 were steadily improving including a third place in the 2005 Road Time Trial Australian Open Titles.
Gillett died after a crash near Zeulenroda, Germany on 18 July 2005, when a young German driver lost control of her car and drove head first into six members of the Australian women"s cycling squad, who were preparing for the Thüringen Rundfahrt der Frauen stage race.