Winifred Lawrence

Winifred Tweedie Lawrence MNZM (née Dunn, 6 January 1920 − 22 December 2006) was a New Zealand breaststroke swimmer, who, as Winnie Dunn, represented her country at the 1938 British Empire Games.

Winifred Lawrence
MNZM
Personal information
Birth nameWinifred Tweedie Dunn
Born(1920-01-06)6 January 1920
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died22 December 2006(2006-12-22) (aged 86)
Auckland, New Zealand
Spouse(s)
Clynton John Christie Lawrence
​
​
(m. 1946; died 2001)​
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportSwimming
Achievements and titles
National finals100 yards breaststroke champion (1939, 1940, 1941)
220 yds breaststroke champion (1938, 1939, 1940, 1941)
Personal best(s)100 m breaststroke – 1:31.4

Early life and family

Born in Dunedin on 6 January 1920, Lawrence was the daughter of Edward Hanratty Dunn and Ellen Clarke Dunn (née Ferguson). In 1946 she married Clynton John Christie Lawrence in Dunedin.[1]

Swimming career

Dunn first came to national attention in 1935, when she broke the New Zealand 100 metres breaststroke record, previously held by Gladys Pidgeon, with a time of 1:39.6.[2] The record was later broken by Judith Webster of Auckland, but Dunn regained the record in December 1937 with a time of 1:33.0.[3] She also broke the national 220 yard breaststroke record, swimming 3:22.6, and was subsequently selected to represent New Zealand in the 220 yards breaststroke at the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney.[4][5][6] She went on to finish seventh in that event.[7] She was also a member of the New Zealand 3 x 110 yard medley relay team at the Sydney games, alongside Mona Leydon and Joyce Macdonald, that finished in fifth place with a time of 4:22.3.[8]

Dunn was the New Zealand 220 yards breaststroke champion every year from 1938 to 1941, and the 100 yards breastroke champion from 1939 to 1941.[9]

In 1939, Dunn broke the New Zealand 400 metres breaststroke record by 45.2 seconds, recording a time of 7 minutes 11 seconds.[10] She also held the New Zealand 100 metres breaststroke record, with a time of 1:31.4, for 14 years, until it was broken by Rae Currie in 1954.[11]

As Winifred Lawrence, she became a well-known swimming coach in Auckland over many decades, retiring in 2002.[12]

Honours

In the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours, Lawrence was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to swimming.[13] In 2001 she was made a life member of the Auckland Swimming Association.[14]

Death

Lawrence was widowed by the death of her husband in 2001.[15] She died on 22 December 2006, and her ashes were buried in Waikumete Cemetery.[16]

References
  1. "Winifred Tweedie Dunn". Ancestry.com.au. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  2. "A swimming record". Evening Post. 5 June 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  3. "Swimming: several records lowered". New Zealand Herald. 15 December 1937. p. 22. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  4. "Swimming records: official recognition". New Zealand Herald. 31 December 1937. p. 19. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  5. "Empire Games: N.Z. swimmers team". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 December 1937. p. 11. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  6. "Empire Games: swimmers chosen". Evening Post. 17 December 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  7. "Winifred Dunn". New Zealand Olympic Committee. 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  8. "Results for the 1938 British Empire Games: swimming – 330 yard medley relay – women". Commonwealth Games Federation. 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  9. McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Swimming – national championships". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Wellington: Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  10. "Matheson's record". The Advocate. 20 January 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  11. "Two records to girl swimmer". The Sun. 3 March 1954. p. 45. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  12. "Report of the mayor" (PDF). Waitakere City Council. 28 February 2007. p. 6. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  13. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2000 (including special list for East Timor)". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2000. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  14. "Life members". Auckland Swimming Association. 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  15. "Cemetery search: Clynton Lawrence". Auckland Council. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  16. "Cemetery search: Winifred Lawrence". Auckland Council. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
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