Hayley Searl, the 21-year-old winner of the Young Achiever of the Year at the Greyhound Racing NSW Annual Awards, says it is an empowering time to be a woman in the sport. Speaking after International Women's Day, Searl noted a surge in female participation, with women now representing the face of greyhound racing in NSW.
Searl works at the Shoalhaven Club in Nowra and serves on the Young Participant Panel, providing a younger perspective to the governing body. She observed that while only boys stuck with the sport during her childhood, now many young females are entering the industry as trainers, handlers, and track workers.
Her involvement began through family: her mother Donnaleah Carter started after helping Searl's uncle Shane with a greyhound litter. Searl started working at Nowra track as a teenager and now serves as kennel supervisor, taking over from mentor Lorraine Curry. She also worked as a starter and swabber at Dapto before its closure.
Although unable to hold a trainer's licence due to swabbing duties, Searl prepares dogs for her mother, including Ameena's Meraki, a name meaning 'putting your soul, love and passion into your work.' She plans to give up her swabbing licence to breed a litter from this dog, marking her first independent venture into racing.
Winning the Young Achiever Award left Searl in disbelief, validating her hard work at Nowra and on the youth panel. She emphasized that the award shows opportunities for young women in the industry, and she praised the 'powerhouse women' she works with, expressing pride in being part of a revolutionary shift in greyhound racing.
