Doris Carter
Doris Jessie Carter, OBE (5 January 1912 – 28 July 1999) was an Australian military officer, public servant, and athlete who specialised in the high jump. She was the first Australian female track and field athlete to make an Olympic Games final.
Doris Carter | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 January 1912 |
| Died | 28 July 1999 (aged 87) |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/ | Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Women's Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 1951–1960 |
| Rank | Wing Officer |
| Commands held | Women's Royal Australian Air Force (1951–60) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
Carter placed 6th in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and also competed in the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney. She won five National Championships at high jump (1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940) and two at discus throw (1936, 1940) in her career.
Following her competitive career, Carter became involved in the administration of women's athletics both at State and National levels. She was President of the Victorian Womens Amateur Athletic Association from 1945 to 1948. Carter also served twice as President of the Australian Women's Amateur Athletic Union, firstly in 1948 and again between 1952 and 1962.
In 1956 Carter was the Assistant Manager to the Australian Olympic Team during the Melbourne Olympic Games.
Carter was also prominent with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force during the Second World War and, on the raising of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force in 1951, she was appointed the service's director. She retired from the post in 1960. Carter co-lead the Anzac Day Parade at Melbourne in the mid-1990s.
See also
- Australian athletics champions (Women)
References
- Athletics Australia Profile
- Athletics Gold Profile at the Wayback Machine (archived 27 October 2009)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Director of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force 1951–1960 |
Succeeded by Group Officer Lois Pitman |
