Competing with her twin sister in handicapped events at any early age, they occasionally took advantage of their similar appearances and swapped handicaps.
On the very day she and her twin sister turned 13, Brenda Pearl headed off to run with the Adelaide Harriers, and she has not stopped her involvement with athletics since.
Her parents forbade the girls to take part in athletics until age 13 and Brenda Pearl’s involvement has lasted a lifetime.
As twins running in handicapped events, sometimes they would take advantage of their similar appearances and swap handicaps. But giving up running in her late teens she discovered being involved in other ways was richly rewarding.
Even when she was an air hostess, and expecting her first child, she remained involved officiating – first in administration as a recorder, then into the exciting role of starting track events.
“It’s something I’ve always loved doing with a passion,” she said. “To me, athletics hasn’t just been a sport, it’s been my “god”. If you love something as much as I love athletics, you just want to keep doing it. With what I’ve achieved as an official, it’s been so satisfying.”
In 1985 Brenda Pearl became the first woman in the southern hemisphere to be selected on a starting panel for a World Cup or what is now known as the World Championships.
Through the late 1980s, she was Chief Starter for Athletics Australia at the National Championships, during which she started many top-class runners including world and Olympic champion, Linford Christie.
With both State and National teams, Brenda has also been appointed to Team Manager, Media Liaison Officer, Ambassador and Secretary.
She held the authoritative role of Meet Manager for Officials for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, which took her off the field but turned out to be a gratifying experience anyway.
Of her awards for a lifetime of service to athletics, she says, “I received the OAM (Order of Australia Medal) in 1991 for services to sport and administration. I have also been awarded with the Centenary Medal and the Australian Sport Medal.
“They are lovely awards to get but it is the Life Memberships that I really treasure. As well as the League Life Membership, I have also been fortunate enough to become a Life Member of Athletics Australia, Athletics South Australia and the Olympic Council.
“They are really important to me because you don’t get Life Membership unless you really give the time and effort to the sport.”
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