Doris Carter

Doris Jessie Carter, OBE (5 January 1912 – 28 July 1999) was an Australian military officer, public servant, and athlete who specialised in the high jump. She was ranked as one of the top 3 Women's high jumpers from 1934 to 1936. She was the first Australian female track and field athlete to compete in an Olympic Games final. She was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame in 2022.

Carter placed 6th in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and also competed in the 1938 British Empire Games in Sydney. She won six National Championships at high jump (1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1940) and two at discus throw (1936, 1940) in her career.

Carter served as president of the Victorian Women's Amateur Athletic Association (1945–48) and Australian Women's Amateur Athletic Union (1948) and (1952–61). In 1956, Carter was the Assistant Manager to the Australian Olympic Team during the Melbourne Olympic Games.

Carter was also prominent with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force during the Second World War and, on the raising of the Women's Royal Australian Air Force in 1951, she was appointed the service's director. She retired from the post in 1960. Carter co-led the Anzac Day Parade at Melbourne in the mid-1990s.

Early life and education Carter was born and raised in North Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, the first child of Jessie Christina Carter (née Marshall) from Tasmania and Edward William Carter, a boilermaker and cabinet maker born in Victoria.

In 1937, Carter played for Victoria's women's hockey team and in 1939 was selected to tour England, although the education department did not grant her leave. She went on to play baseball, cricket, golf, and bowls, and to enjoy gardening and fishing.

Sports career statistics

Australian Athletics Championships High jump. Discus throw. 90 yard Hurdles. Year Team Place Height Place Distance Place Time 1929–30 Vic 2nd 1.47m — — — — 1932–33 Vic 1st — — 3rd Not recorded 1934–35 Vic 1st 3rd 2nd 13.1 (est) 1935–36 Vic 1st 1st 3rd Not recorded 1937–38 Vic 1st 2nd — — 1939–40 Vic 1st 1st 2nd Not recorded

International High Jump competitions Qualifiers.Games Year Games. Held Representing Result Height Place Height 1934 British Empire Games London Australia Ranked 3rd Globally No Australian women selected 1936 Olympic Games Berlin Australia Selected 1.615m 6th 1.55m 1938 British Empire Games Sydney Australia Selected 5th 1.55m 1939 International Hockey tour United Kingdom Australia Selected, but withdrew due to work commitments