AUSTRALIA’S sporting ranga ranks will greatly miss the contribution of retiring Geelong captain Cameron Ling.

Ling has worn his red hair like a badge of honour for all of his 12 years at the top level, even letting his flowing locks reach shoulder length over the journey.

So who are our most famous home-grown ranga?

When you view the list you will note we have produced an extremely talented bevy of red-headed achievers 1: ROD LAVER

Impossible to go past the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Red-headed with freckles, Laver was known as the Rockhampton Rocket which could just as easily been the Rockhampton redhead.

2: STEVE HOOKER

Like Ling, wears his red locks with pride.

An Olympic gold medallist, world champion and Commonwealth gold medallist, Hooker can mount a case for being the second best pole vaulter of all-time behind Sergei Bubka.

read more http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/redheads/story-e6frf9if-1226158909444

Schulek, a former European Athletics Vice President, has passed away on Sunday (2) after a short illness. He was 68.

Schulek served the European Athletics as a Vice President from 1995 to 2007. In recognition of his years of dedicated service to athletics, Schulek was named an Honorary Member of the European Athletics Council in 2008.

Schulek was born into a family of eight children in 1943, and acquired a love for athletics early in life. As an athlete he excelled in the Pole Vault, winning three national titles and breaking the Hungarian record in the event on seven occasions. He represented Hungary 15 times and in 1970 he ninth at the European Indoor Championships.