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Chapter Four - The War and BeyondDuring World War II many sporting associations, at the behest of the coalition government, cancelled sporting activities. This was so as not to distract from the war effort. Queensland and Western Australian associations did not stage any events once the Pacific War escalated, but NSW and Victoria continued to conduct interclub and championship activities. The South Australian association, which had disbanded in the late thirties, reformed in 1941 and conducted its first real state championships during the war. The Australian Championships were not held between 1940 and 1948. The closest thing to an interstate competition were meetings held in 1941 and 1942 at Swan Hill. Champions from NSW, Victoria and SA were invited to take part in the annual fund-raising event and in 1941 Joyce Walker won the 220y in a reputed World Record time of 24.1. Despite the time being recorded on four watches, the performance was never ratified as a National or World mark. In 1942 Field events were conducted and Enid Soult won the High Jump and Long Jump while Charlotte McGibbon took out the throwing events. A number of promising athletes competed during the war years but
few were able to achieve national or international honours.
Joy Quist of NSW, Margaret Dowell of Victoria and Betty Judge of WA were just some of Australia's best track stars in the early 1940s.
They had all retired before the resumption of national and international championships. A 22 year old Western Australian woman had proved the dominant performer in Perth interclub and championship meets since the resumption of competition. Shirley Strickland had been outstanding in 100y, 220y, 440y and 90y Hurdles events and was considered a chance to challenge the best Sydney sprinters Joyce King and Betty McKinnon.
The judges decision was contentious as many
spectators thought Strickland had won. King also won the 220y in 24.9 by a whisker from Strickland, with McKinnon again third. 1948
Australian 100y Final
Betty
McKinnon, behind Strickland, takes third place. All three
represented Australia at the 1948 Olympic Games, winning a silver
medal in the 4x100m relay.
Strickland was accorded the honour of being ranked #1 athlete for the combined athletics team and Joyce King, Betty McKinnon, June Maston and Judy Canty were also named as representatives for the London Olympiad. Although
1948 Olympic Silver Medal 4x100m relay team
(June Maston-Ferguson, Betty McKinnon, Joyce King, Shirley Strickland. At the final change Joyce King had a significant lead but she could not hold off the mighty Blankers-Koen who pipped her at the line by 0.1 seconds to take her record fourth Gold medal.
Australia's tally of three medals in women's athletics showed the strength of women's athletics downunder and set the scene for the Golden Era of the next decade.
Strickland was unable to best the Dutch star in the hurdles events but she and her state team-mate Verna Johnston both beat Blankers-Koen over 100y in Perth. These great efforts showed that Australian athletes were likely to dominate the 1950 Empire Games to be held in Auckland. They were joined in Australia's sprint team by Verna Johnston and South Australian Anne Shanley (who was also the national Shot Putt Champion) and between them won 5 Gold, 2 Silver and a Bronze medal in Auckland.
In addition Charlotte McGibbon-Weekes took out the javelin event; the first Australian to win an international throwing medal. Australian Best Performances as at 1 January, 1950.
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