Doris Jessie Carter, (5 January 1912 – 28 July 1999) was an Australian military officer, public servant, and

athlete An athlete (also sportsman or sportswoman) is a person who competes in one or more sports that involve physical strength, speed, or endurance. Athletes may be professionals or amateurs. Most professional athletes have particularly well-dev ...

who specialised in the high jump. She was the first Australian female track and field athlete to make an

Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...

final. Carter placed 6th in the

1936 Olympics 1936 Olympics may refer to: *The 1936 Winter Olympics, which were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany *The 1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics ( German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI ...

Berlin Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...

and also competed in the

1938 British Empire Games The 1938 British Empire Games was the third British Empire Games, the event that evolved to become the Commonwealth Games. Held in Sydney, Australia from 5–12 February 1938, they were timed to coincide with Sydney's sesqui-centenary (150 yea ...

in Sydney. She won five

National Championships A national championship(s) is the top achievement for any sport or contest within a league of a particular nation or nation state. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best team, i ...

at high jump (1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940) and two at

discus throw The discus throw (), also known as disc throw, is a track and field event in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than their competitors. It is an ancient sport, as demonstrated by t ...

(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 Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literature ...

from 1945 to 1948. Carter also served twice as President of the

Australian Women's Amateur Athletic Union Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

, firstly in 1948 and again between 1952 and 1962. In 1956 Carter was the Assistant Manager to the

Australian Olympic Team Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

during the

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

. Carter was also prominent with the

Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve, as well as by the Chief of the Air Staff, who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service ov ...

during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and, on the raising of the

Women's Royal Australian Air Force The Women's Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF) was formed in 1950, after the success of women serving in the Air Forces had been demonstrated by the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF). The first recruits began training on 30 January 195 ...

in 1951, she was appointed the service's director. She retired from the post in 1960. Carter co-lead the Anzac Day Parade at

in the mid-1990s.

External links

* * * * * 1912 births 1999 deaths Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1938 British Empire Games Australian female high jumpers Australian female discus throwers Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II Australian Officers of the Order of the British Empire Commonwealth Games competitors for Australia Olympic athletes for Australia Women in the Australian military Royal Australian Air Force officers 20th-century Australian women Place of birth missing {{Australia-athletics-bio-stub

See also

External links