Beatrice Kerr

Beatrice Maude Williams (née Kerr; 30 November 1887 – 3 August 1971), known professionally as Beatrice Kerr, was an Australian swimmer, diver, and aquatic performer. Born in Melbourne, Kerr learnt to swim at Albert Park Lake, and won medals at both the Victorian and Australasian championships in 1905, at the age of 17. Early the following year, she toured South Australia and Western Australia, winning every race she entered. From there, Kerr went to England, giving swimming exhibitions in Bradford, Liverpool, London, and Manchester, being billed as "Australia's Champion Lady Swimmer and Diver". She returned to Australia in October 1911, living the rest of her life in Sydney, New South Wales. Although often compared to Annette Kellerman, another Australian swimmer, Kerr's repeated challenges to Kellerman to race went unanswered.

From Perth, Kerr journeyed to England aboard the Commonwealth. At a stopover in Durban, Natal, she gave a performance billed as "Australia's Champion Lady Swimmer and Diver", which she would use for the remainder of the tour. Kerr's best time in the 100 yards was 1 minute, 21.4 seconds, and in the mile, 27.5 minutes. She returned to Australia in October 1911, and continued touring for a period of time before marrying Griffith Ellis Williams in Redfern, Sydney, on 3 April 1912.

Death The couple lived in Bondi, with Kerr dying on 3 August 1971 aged 83. She was buried at Waverley Cemetery, survived by her only son.