Shirley Strickland
Encyclopedia
Shirley Barbara Strickland AO
, MBE
(18 July 1925 – 11 February 2004), later Shirley de la Hunty, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.
.
Her father, Dave Strickland, had been a worker at Kalgoorlie in the goldfields of Western Australia, Australia and also an athlete. He was unable to compete in the 1900 Summer Olympics
because he lacked the money for a trip to Paris. Instead, in 1900, he directed his efforts to the Stawell Gift
130-yard (120-m) foot-race, winning in 12 seconds off a handicap of 10 yards. His performance was considered to be as good as Stan Rowley's times, which won the Australian amateur sprint titles that season. (Rowley went on to win three bronze medal
s in the sprints at the 1900 Paris Olympics
). Dave Strickland subsequently went on to play one senior game of Australian Rules football
with Melbourne-based VFL team St Kilda in 1900.
Her mother, Violet Edith Merry, was American-born with a British mining engineer father and a Norwegian mother.
High School, where, in 1939, she won 47 out of 49 events as a schoolgirl athlete. After high school she entered the University of Western Australia
where she graduated as a Bachelor of Science in 1946 with honors in physics. In her spare time, she lectured mathematics and physics to returned servicemen at Perth Technical College, played wing in the university hockey team and gained a reputation as an extremely gifted sprinter and hurdler. While teaching at Perth Technical College, she was coached by Austin Robertson, a former world professional sprint champion and South Melbourne
footballer. She improved her 100 m yards time from 11.8 to 11.0 flat. At the 1947 Western Australia state titles, she won the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, the 90 m yards hurdles and the shot put
.
was disruptive to women's athletics in Australia. Some runners, including Strickland, joined up to help the war effort.
The following year, she took up running seriously, with great success. She won the national title in the 80 m hurdles
in 1948 and was part of the Australian delegation for the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London. There, Strickland finished third in both the 100 m and 80 m hurdles and won a silver medal in the 4x100 m relay.
After winning three gold medals in the 1950 British Empire Games, she won her first Olympic title at the 1952 Games
in Helsinki
; she won the 80 m hurdles in world record
time (10.9 s). A baton mix-up cost her a second gold in the 4x100 m relay. In the 100 m, she again won the bronze.
She set a new world record of 11.3 s for the 100 m in Poland in 1955, and in the 1956 Olympics
, she won again in the 80 m hurdles and with the Australian 4x100 m relay team.
and 1976 Olympics
in Mexico City and Montreal
.
Shirley de la Hunty stood several times without success as a candidate for the Australian Democrats
in the 1980s, resigning from the party to contest the 1989 WA Legislative Council election as an independent, again without success. She later served as a local government councillor for the City of Melville.
She was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, New South Wales
. She carried the Olympic Torch as one of the runners for the final segment in the stadium, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
.
In 2001 Shirley attracted media attention by auctioning all of her sporting memorabilia including her Olympic gold medals. She was criticised by some for that but asserted she had a right to do so and the income generated would help pay for her grandchildren's education and allow a sizable donation to assist in securing old-growth forests from use by developers. Her memorabilia was eventually acquired for the MCG Museum in Melbourne by a group of anonymous businessmen who shared her wish that the memorabilia would stay in Australia.
Lawrence Edmund de la Hunty, who had been one of her students in physics lectures. She had four children: Phillip (born 1953), Barbara (1957), Matthew (1960) and David (1963). Matthew was the lead singer in Australian rock band Tall Tales and True
. Lawrence died of a heart attack in 1980.
Her body was found on 16 February 2004 on her kitchen floor, but the coroner determined that she died on the evening of 11 February. There was no full autopsy and the coroner said the cause of death was "unascertainable", though "not inconsistent with natural causes".
She was honoured with a state funeral.
In 2005, some members of her family approached the coroner regarding the circumstances of her death. In 2006 an investigation was conducted by detectives from the major crime squad. In 2008 probate was granted after a dispute over her will was resolved in the Supreme Court.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(18 July 1925 – 11 February 2004), later Shirley de la Hunty, was an Australian athlete. She won more Olympic medals than any other Australian in running sports.
Family
Shirley was the only daughter, the second of five children. She grew up on the family farm east of the wheatbelt town of Pithara, Western AustraliaPithara, Western Australia
Pithara is a small town in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia. It is located about 240 km north of Perth, in the Shire of Dalwallinu. At the 2006 census, Pithara had a population of 341....
.
Her father, Dave Strickland, had been a worker at Kalgoorlie in the goldfields of Western Australia, Australia and also an athlete. He was unable to compete in the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
because he lacked the money for a trip to Paris. Instead, in 1900, he directed his efforts to the Stawell Gift
Stawell Gift
The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest and richest short distance running race. It is run over every Easter weekend by the Stawell Athletic Club, with the main race finals on the holiday Monday, at Central Park, Stawell in the Grampian Mountains district of western Victoria.The race is run on grass...
130-yard (120-m) foot-race, winning in 12 seconds off a handicap of 10 yards. His performance was considered to be as good as Stan Rowley's times, which won the Australian amateur sprint titles that season. (Rowley went on to win three bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
s in the sprints at the 1900 Paris Olympics
Athletics at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, twenty-three athletics events were contested. 117 athletes from 15 nations competed. In many countries, due in part to the conflagration of the Olympic Games and the World's Fair in Paris, the media discussed only the athletics events under the "Olympic" name while...
). Dave Strickland subsequently went on to play one senior game of Australian Rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
with Melbourne-based VFL team St Kilda in 1900.
Her mother, Violet Edith Merry, was American-born with a British mining engineer father and a Norwegian mother.
Education
Shirley Strickland's early education was by correspondence. From 1934 to 1937 she attended the newly established local East Pithara School, winning a scholarship to attend NorthamNortham, Western Australia
Northam is a town in Western Australia, situated at the confluence of the Avon and Mortlock Rivers, about north-east of Perth in the Avon Valley. At the 2006 census, Northam had a population of 6,009. Northam is the largest town in the Avon region...
High School, where, in 1939, she won 47 out of 49 events as a schoolgirl athlete. After high school she entered the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
where she graduated as a Bachelor of Science in 1946 with honors in physics. In her spare time, she lectured mathematics and physics to returned servicemen at Perth Technical College, played wing in the university hockey team and gained a reputation as an extremely gifted sprinter and hurdler. While teaching at Perth Technical College, she was coached by Austin Robertson, a former world professional sprint champion and South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
footballer. She improved her 100 m yards time from 11.8 to 11.0 flat. At the 1947 Western Australia state titles, she won the 100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, the 90 m yards hurdles and the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
.
Athletic career
The second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was disruptive to women's athletics in Australia. Some runners, including Strickland, joined up to help the war effort.
The following year, she took up running seriously, with great success. She won the national title in the 80 m hurdles
Hurdling
Hurdling is a type of track and field race.- Distances :There are sprint hurdle races and long hurdle races. The standard sprint hurdle race is 110 meters for men and 100 meters for women. The standard long hurdle race is 400 meters for both men and women...
in 1948 and was part of the Australian delegation for the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London. There, Strickland finished third in both the 100 m and 80 m hurdles and won a silver medal in the 4x100 m relay.
After winning three gold medals in the 1950 British Empire Games, she won her first Olympic title at the 1952 Games
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
; she won the 80 m hurdles in world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time (10.9 s). A baton mix-up cost her a second gold in the 4x100 m relay. In the 100 m, she again won the bronze.
She set a new world record of 11.3 s for the 100 m in Poland in 1955, and in the 1956 Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
, she won again in the 80 m hurdles and with the Australian 4x100 m relay team.
Post-athletics
She maintained her Olympic involvement, in athlete administration, with the Australian teams during the 19681968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and 1976 Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Mexico City and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Shirley de la Hunty stood several times without success as a candidate for the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
in the 1980s, resigning from the party to contest the 1989 WA Legislative Council election as an independent, again without success. She later served as a local government councillor for the City of Melville.
She was one of the bearers of the Olympic Torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
in Sydney, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. She carried the Olympic Torch as one of the runners for the final segment in the stadium, before the lighting of the Olympic Flame
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame or Olympic Torch is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The fire was reintroduced at the 1928...
.
In 2001 Shirley attracted media attention by auctioning all of her sporting memorabilia including her Olympic gold medals. She was criticised by some for that but asserted she had a right to do so and the income generated would help pay for her grandchildren's education and allow a sizable donation to assist in securing old-growth forests from use by developers. Her memorabilia was eventually acquired for the MCG Museum in Melbourne by a group of anonymous businessmen who shared her wish that the memorabilia would stay in Australia.
Personal life
In 1950, she married geologistGeologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
Lawrence Edmund de la Hunty, who had been one of her students in physics lectures. She had four children: Phillip (born 1953), Barbara (1957), Matthew (1960) and David (1963). Matthew was the lead singer in Australian rock band Tall Tales and True
Tall Tales and True
Tall Tales and True were a three piece band from Sydney formed in the early 1980s by Perth born musician, Matthew de la Hunty.-Biography:Matthew de la Hunty travelled to Sydney in 1983 and formed a group with Paul Miskin and Willie Mc Cracken . This unnamed outfit played only one gig at French's...
. Lawrence died of a heart attack in 1980.
Her body was found on 16 February 2004 on her kitchen floor, but the coroner determined that she died on the evening of 11 February. There was no full autopsy and the coroner said the cause of death was "unascertainable", though "not inconsistent with natural causes".
She was honoured with a state funeral.
In 2005, some members of her family approached the coroner regarding the circumstances of her death. In 2006 an investigation was conducted by detectives from the major crime squad. In 2008 probate was granted after a dispute over her will was resolved in the Supreme Court.
External links
- Film Australia: Oral biography with video clips