Elaine MacFarlane’s time in the 1969 SA Marathon wasn’t recorded because “women were incapable of running the distance.”
In a way, Elaine MacFarlane was a quiet revolutionary, waging silent war against old rules and unnecessary traditions.
It has never been her way to be loud but rather to make her point by ‘getting on with it’ and quietly demonstrating a woman’s capability.
In 1969, she competed in an all-male marathon in SA. However, her finish time was not recorded because she was female, told by officials that women were incapable of running the distance. Fortunately, she was strongly supported by male competitors.
It was déjà vu nine years later. Elaine entered the 20-Mile Road Walk in Canberra.
On arrival, she was told not to compete as the race was for men only.
When the male competitors supported her entry, she raced and finished in 3hours 52minutes 31 seconds. The result was recorded, ultimately paving the way for women to race over more significant distances.
When the male competitors supported her entry, she raced and finished in 3hours 52minutes 31 seconds. The result was recorded, ultimately paving the way for women to race over more significant distances.
In the late 1960s, Elaine MacFarlane broke the Australian record for the 1500m walk, having won silver at the same championships the year before.
She was born as one of triplets on 5 March 1942. Eighty-plus years later, she was still competing in South Australian Veteran’s Athletics. After turning 35, she competed for 45 years in Race Walking, Track and Road, Running Cross Country and finished one marathon in Adelaide.
But for all her accomplishments, Elaine MacFarlane’s finest moments came when awarded Australian Day Honours (OAM) in 1988 for services to intellectually disabled young people as a teacher of Physical Education and Recreation.
Her lifetime involvement and contributions are vast, reflected in her being awarded Life Membership of Athletics SA, an Australian Medal for sporting achievements, and being chosen as a Torch Relay participant for the 2000 Olympic Relay and Commonwealth Games Torch Relay.
Footnotes:
