Bronwyn Roberts, the daughter of Dulcie, became the fourth family member to represent Australia.
Three sisters being selected in an All-Australian team of any sport is a remarkable coup for any sport-loving family.
The genes for athleticism and disposition were dominant in the Rankin family, in sisters Dulcie and Gwen Rankin first, followed by younger sibling Margaret.
It took seven years after the earliest national carnival, for the first All-Australian team to be named – in 1934, an honorary team which did not play international matches.
SA’s Dulcie and Gwen Rankin, the latter as captain of the SA State team, were named in that AA team.
More than a decade later, Margaret Rankin – an attacking goaler – was first selected in an All-Australian team in 1948, then again in 1950, 1951, and 1952.
They were the daughters of Clara Rankin who in 1946 became only the third person to receive Netball SA’s Life Membership award, having served as the association’s secretary, managed the State team and been an A-grade umpire and coach.
Bronwyn Roberts – the daughter of Dulcie, played for the SA senior State team for more than a decade, and became the fourth and final member of her family’s netball dynasty to play for Australia.
Bronwyn also successfully coached SA and managed the Australian team. In 2003 she was bestowed the highest honour afforded by Netball Australia, given the Netball Australia Service Award, at the time only the 40th person over the sport’s entire history to receive such an award.
