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Special Feature
SULLIVANS
meet the
by Mhairi Flay
Behind every successful talent you’ll generally find a strong
support network of friends and family. after catching up with
eamon Sullivan and his family it is not hard to see why he has
become so successful in various aspects of his life.
18 Offspring | summer 2011

Eamon Sullivan is not only an Olympic sprint
swimmer that has won medals and broken world
records, he is also the 2011 Cleo Bachelor of the Year,
Ambassador and model for Davenport underwear, an
ambassador for SIDS, winner of Celebrity Masterchef,
author of a cookbook Eamon’s Kitchen and owns a
successful café, Louis Baxters, in Subiaco Square, with his
business partner, Laki Baker – and his family are there for
him each step of the way.
With such a list of accomplishments under his belt at
just 26 years of age it wouldn’t be hard to let the ego take
over, but whilst chatting with him it is clear to see that he
remains grounded and humble, in part due to his down-toearth
roots.
Upon meeting Eamon and his family you are instantly
drawn to their welcoming energy and their genuine love
and respect for one another. Then throw in a cheeky sense
of humour and their ability to laugh at themselves and you
get a good recipe for a great family dynamic.
“(Our parents) have always
encouraged my sister and I to
enjoy life, and give 100 per cent
to everything we do. If it’s worth
doing, it’s worth doing well.”
His loving parents, Pam and John, have been happily
married for 42 years and his big sister Pia is a popular Year
Two school teacher at Loreto Primary School in Nedlands.
Another special lady in Eamon’s life that he adores is his
96 year old grandmother, Narnie (who has the spirit of a 21
year old!).
Whilst talking about Pia and Eamon, Pam started
tearing up, showing the pride and depth of love that she
has for them. John lovingly rolled his eyes at her, calling
her a big softie, and continued to finish the family stories
that she started to reminisce about. They loved the regular
family holiday trips down to a farm stay in Pemberton
when the kids were young, as they’d go fishing, milk cows,
go to the beach and spend quality family time together.
John recounts a trip to the Gloucester Tree in Pemberton
which Eamon wanted to climb when he was only five years
old. John was hoping that Eamon would get up a few metres
and realise how tall and dangerous it was and back down.
Unfortunately for John, as he then had to go up with him
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Special Feature
“My parents and sister are the
most caring, passionate and hard
working people that I have ever
met. I honestly couldn’t have
asked for a better family.”
to make sure he was ok, Eamon fearlessly climbed the 61
metres to the top. It was memorable for John as it was a
good glimpse for him into Eamon’s determination and
desire to succeed.
Eamon comments on one of the best lessons that his
parents have taught him. “They have always encouraged
my sister and I to enjoy life, and give 100 per cent to
everything we do,” he says. “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth
doing well.”
Pam recalled how both Pia and Eamon used to sit on
the kitchen benchtop as she prepared meals and baked,
which no doubt enhanced Eamon’s confidence and
passion for cooking. Eamon says if he hadn’t got seriously
involved in professional swimming when he left school
he was keen to take on a chef apprenticeship. However,
his swimming abilities took off so his love for cooking
was left to simmer for a while, that was until he was
offered a spot on Celebrity Masterchef.
Eamon’s hectic daily swimming, gym training,
sponsorship and media schedule means that he has
had to base himself in Sydney. Any free time he has left
in Sydney he generally spends with his mates and his
French bulldog Baxter, but he’d no doubt make room in
his schedule for a special girl, should the right one come
along. Traits that he looks for in a girlfriend are reflective
of the qualities he sees in his parents and his lifestyle.
Eamon describes his ideal woman as “Someone that I get
20 Offspring | summer 2011
along with really well and trust. Someone that loves eating
and also loves sport! Someone that is positive, fun and
lives a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle.”
When he’s able to return home to Perth he heads down
to City Beach, catches up with mates and his family, helps
out at his cafe and also makes sure that his mum has her
spinach pie in the oven for him.
Eamon also contributes time to being an ambassador for
SIDS as it is a cause that is dear to his heart. “A close friend
of mine lost a child to SIDS, and after seeing how much it
affected their family I wanted to help spread awareness
about SIDS and to help raise money for more research.”
Whilst chatting to his parents I was keen to know what

“Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.
Eamon’s most admirable traits were. His mum instantly
says “His sense of humour. His generosity. He also never
says an unkind word about anyone.”
His dad proudly adds that Eamon continually surprises
him with his ability to remain positive and overcome any
hurdle in his life. “He has gone through five hip operations,
shoulder problems, a broken heel, an appendectomy and
viruses that put him out of competition for a while, and
many other setbacks, but still remains positive and tells us
that ‘everything will be fine’. He’s amazing.”
Eamon shows nothing but the utmost respect and love
for his family. “My parents and sister are the most caring,
passionate and hard working people that I have ever met.
I honestly couldn’t
have asked for a
better family. I am so
proud of them all.”
When Eamon
had to return to
Sydney for training
the week his café
opened his mum,
dad and sister
all donned the
Louis Baxters shirt, alongside
Laki and her husband, and helped out serving, washing
dishes, cooking and cleaning. “They have busy lives too yet
they still took time to help me out. That’s priceless,” says
Eamon.
I asked Pam and John if they had any advice for new
parents such as myself. The values that they feel are
important for their family are: Spend time with your kids.
Listen to them. Ensure that they know that you love them
through both words and action. Don’t put pressure on
them, let them find their own way, but be there to support
and encourage them.
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