Irene Donnett Presentation

Transcription

1 Irene Donnett Presentation (c) Paul Michell. April 2014 [img Title Irene Donnett] Irene Donnet (1919 -?) Research into history is occasionally rewarded with serendipity. As it is with Irene Donnett. From the reporting at Northcote Baths opening it leads to multiple Australian titles with the Donnet family. International success at British Empire Games & Olympic Games. [img Northcote Pool] After many years of delays, including WW1, On Sat Dec 15, 1923 at 2:30pm the new Northcote Baths were ofxicially opened by the Mayor Cr Turner. They were located in Frederick St utilising an old brick pit. Joe Fogg began teaching swimming here at Northcote in 1928 and later became the baths keeper. Retiring when the Baths closed in March The new swimming pool complex opened at McDonnell Park for the December season of that same year. Fogg had worked at the Frederick St Baths for 41 years. Its now the site of a housing estate, with the base and some steps still there. [img Argus report of Northcote Baths Opening] As I continue the ongoing research into Joe Fogg (he began teaching swimming at Northcote in 1929, and his contribution to the Learn to Swim 1

2 campaign) it was the pool s opening article intrigued me. In 1923 as part of the opening celebrations there was an exhibition swimming by Royal Life Saving Society and two children. I ve highlighted a section - Irene Donnett (aged 4 years) and the more senior Athella Bennett (aged 7 years). Give demonstrations and are life savers. [img Athella Bennett] Athella s father Bill Benett was the manger of the Richmond Baths and Gymnasium After that her toured with his daughters giving life saving and fancy swimming demonstrations. An interesting piece of trivia is that Athella s older sister was Marjorie born in She would later become the legendary Marjorie Oke of Union of Australian Women and Aboriginal Advancement League, Peace Movement and much more. I wonder whether she (be about 12 years in 1923) was at the Northcote Baths opening? Maybe So who was this young Irene Donnett who could do swimming exhibitions at such a young age? This I shelved in my mind for further attention. [img Preston Baths] Some Xifteen years later On October 26, 1928, Northcote s northern neighbour - Preston opened its more modern and Xiltered Baths. Attending was the Mayor and the celebrations included the Royal Life Saving Society again, though this time with their Chairman. Notably fancy swimming again was on the agenda - a demonstration by the Baths keeper Mr Jim Donnett. Hmm Donnet again. I was onto something Within two months of the opening Jim Donnet had established the Preston Amateur Swimming & Lifesaving Club consisting of nine Preston locals Edna Kruse, Beryl Cull, Bobby Swan, Jack Maylan, Selma & Bell Newman and Len Greens. The members focused on life saving soon after formation four members held the Award of Merit highest possible award by Royal Life Saving Society of Australia. At the time life saving was considered important than swimming due to drowning deaths (almost weekly) in local waterways and quarries during hot summer months. 2

3 From at least 1924 Thomas Melville Donnet was caretaker for the Richmond Baths in Gleadell St. Meanwhile in Preston - by November 1932 Mr Jim Donnett was no longer the baths keeper but was still Hon Instructor for the Preston Life Saving & Swimming Club. [img Richmond Baths & diving platform before roof] The Preston Baths swimming season of 1935 opens on Sat 2 Nov with two Donnetts being successful Irene Donnett and brother Tom Donnett. Both now swimming for Richmond Swimming Club. The children of Jim Donnett. The story of Irene Donnet now shifts to Richmond. Jim and his family have relocated to Richmond and the whole family is involved with the Richmond Baths. For at least two decades the Donnets have connection with Richmond. [img Roofed Richmond Baths] In 1936 the newly roofed Richmond Swimming Pool & Gymnasium is opened. These new baths are of Olympic standard being 55 yards long and 20 yards wide. Said to be the largest and best roof topped pool in the southern hemisphere. A carnival is held to celebrate. Naturally the Donnett family was well represented. The same Irene, now a teenager, gives a demonstration of diving. Not surprising as as she was now Australian Champion woman diver. Her brother Tom, swimming in the carnival too. 3

4 [img Irene Donnet, back dive] The rise of Irene Donnett is seriously taking off At the end of 1934, she was selected for the State Team by defeating the title holder Lesley Thompson. Having previously been defeated by her by one point. It is reported that Miss Donnett after three years of being second succeeded on her Xifteenth birthday being Victoria s youngest diving champion. She has been coached by her father manager of Richmond Municipal Baths. As we have seen from an early age Irene gave exhibitions. Often with her brother (Tom). Amazingly Irene had won the girls swimming championship undefeated since she was six years old. Trivia note this was two years before the Richmond Pool was enclosed With Melbourne s weather think of the training regime. In March 1936 (March 13) Irene was one of seven nominated sportswomen for a place in the Australian Olympic Team. She was described as one of only two women in the world to be able to perform perfectly the American two and half front somersault the dive that won for American the gold at last Olympics.. She is Victorian and Australian champion diver. In Oct (1936) she was competing in the National swimming carnivals including Adelaide. Though No Australian female diver was sent to Berlin Olympics of This was the time when athletes had to pay their own way. Likely to be a big ask for the Donnets of Richmond during a depression. It appears that Irene s hopes had not been damaged as she competes successfully in Sydney at the 1938 Empire Games. Here she was extremely successful capturing 3M springboard gold and 10M Springboard Silver. Impressive. 4

5 [img Irene - Swan dive] Two things are signixicant. Four years earlier in the 1934 Empire Games it was Lesley Thompson who won Silver for 3m springboard. The second signixicant person was a Margaret Dovey who competed in Breaststroke swimming in the 1938 Empire Games. This is the same Margaret who became Gough Whitlam s wife Must add not the only political connection to swimming. Tom Uren was a competitive swimmer around this time too. In February 1939 Irene was described as Victoria s Graceful Flying Fish. Hopeful for the 1940 Olympics scheduled for London. But there are nil results in the Adelaide National championships in Feb 1940 for her. She did not compete. [img Irene with children] Just over a month after WWII was declared Irene Xlys to Darwin in October 1939 to marry Sgt David Ellerton. Will live in Darwin for next two years. Had met before the 1938 Empire Games, but did not marry until she was 21 when her father gave permission. don t know when or where I ll do any diving in Darwin. The thought of crocodiles will probably keep me out of the water. This marriage had been delayed until she was 21 years of age by her father. The timing was good as the both 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled as were Empire games. Irene duly becomes a mother. This picture from 5

6 January 1947 shows Irene with her three children - David, Geoffrey and Margaret. In February, 1946 Irene is back in the water. Mother of Three wins Dive. Impressive comeback whilst husband watches at Richmond Baths. Won Women s National Springboard event. Recently won Victorian titles. Fairly impressive as she Had not competed until recently. A year later, in 1947, Irene contests the diving team for the Olympics. The Age reported her impressive win at Victorian championships. Australian championships to be held in Adelaide in February. Amazingly it was only in November 1946, just two months before, when she began diving board training with her father Tom Donnett at the Richmond Baths. Irene competing under married name - Ellerton came second to Cath Likiard competing on a Friday morning 7 Feb 1947 in Adelaide. The diving was less than perfect as the pool had not been booked for the diving championships and the dives were taking place whilst children were in shallow part of the pool This time destiny steps in and Irene s dives don t score high enough. One might thing that had there been no war Irene s career might have taken a different trajectory. [img Donnett Family March 26, 1968] A family picture taken in Showing Tom Donnet (snr) on the left, his sister - Irene Ellerton, mother Josie Ellerton and her two children Julie (two years) and David (four years). David is the same age as Irene was when she Xirst swam at Northcote in 1923 some 45 years before this photograph was taken. The story of the Donnetts now shifts from Irene s side to her brother s side of the family. Tom Snr has been coaching for 47 years. Dozens of champions including late John Marshall. Father of Tom (Jnr) former NSW diving champion and one of the most successful diving coaches in Australia. He d developed unique diving entry the Donnet Hop. Giving his alumni the edge allowing peak performance. 6

7 In 1948 there was controversy at the Olympic Games in London. Only ofxicial trainers to be used. John Marshall wanted Tom. It worked Marshall achieved - 2nd 1500m, 3 rd 400m. In 1949 Marshall won every Australian freestyle championship 110 to 1650 yds. Later going to the USA (though without Donnet). By mid 1951 set 171 records including 38 world records. In 1970 Don Wagstaff competing at Empire Games in Edinburgh was the Xirst Australian male to win both diving events springboard and high diving. Tom Donnet was his trainer and there of course. Tom Snr duly has a son and is named Tom Jnr. He is based in NSW. Like his forbears he is a champion - winning NSW titles. He and his father become major diving coaches training many successful athletes. [img - Barbara McAulay & Pamela Thickenesee] Tom Snr had been coaching Barbara McAualy of Hawthorn for sometime. Here In a 1954 picture from the Australian Women s Weekly we see McAulay instructing another young swimmer Pamela Thickenesee. Ironically Pamela is the daughter of Lesley Thompson who Irene Donnet was trying to best in the 1930s. McAulay is now both Victorian and National champion diver. She duly competes in the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver gaining gold. In 1956 McAulay rejects a proposal to join Sam Snyder s Water Follies in the USA. This was the period when Olympics were for amateurs only. Little or no income was allowed from the sport. Competes in Melbourne 1956 Olympics. McAulay inevitably becomes part of the Donnet dynasty and has four children with Tom Donnet Jnr. Tom III, Beverly (born around 1951), Jenny and Barbi. The swimming DNA is extremely dominant and all become divers and champions / trainers in their own right. 7

8 [img Jenny Donnet] Despite stiff competition from family members Jenny Donnet becomes a very successful champion. She is the only Australian diver to have competed in four Olympic Games. Her Olympic debut was in 1980 at the Moscow Olympic Games. Went on to represent Australia in the 1984 Los Angeles, the 1988 Seoul and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. She was the Xlag bearer for Australia at the Opening Ceremony in Barcelona, only the third Australian woman to have had the honour. She won gold medals in 3m springboard diving in two Commonwealth Games 1982, [img Jenny & mother] This is a picture of Jenny with her mother Barbara Donnet (nee McAulay) Currently Jenny Donnet is Head Coach at Whitehorse Diving club in Melbourne. Been coaching there since In 1987 took her Xirst team to National; Age Championships where they won a gold and a bronze. She has trained many state, national and international champions. Last year she was named Coach of the Year. Past president of the Australian Masters Association. She has coached 2 World Masters medallists; 9 national championship medalists; 41 national level divers; and 20 Victorian championship medalists. 8

9 [img Barbi Carver] Her sister Barbi Carver (Donnet) Carver is a three- time World Masters champion in diving. Here s a picture with her mother Barbara too. Barbi runs Donnet Diving in Queensland, of course. In conclusion its hard to think of continuing Australian diving success here and around the world without the Donnet extended family expert guidance and inevitable success. Its sobering to think that in 9 years in 2023 it will be 100 years since 4 year old Irene Donnett swam at the Northcote Baths