Vale: Myrtle Green
31 Dec 2008
Athletics Tasmania records with sadness the passing today of its distinguished LIfe Member, Mrs Myrtle Green.
Mrs Green was a dedicated contributor to the sport of athletics in Tasmania over more than four decades. She was a meticulous administrator and a fine technical official.
As Secretary of the Newstead Women's Harrier Club Mrs Green oversaw the development of the largest female athletic club in the State, one sufficiently strong to run its own quality twilight competitions on a weekly basis for many years.
In a similar role with the Northern Women's Combined Clubs, she ensured that women's athletics in the northern part of the state became strong and always delivered a significant proportion of state champions and team representatives, including her own daughter Fay (Denholm).
She was a forceful voice for Northern athletics as one of its voices within the Tasmanian Women's Amateur Athletics Association, which in turn she represented as a delegate at National Conference.
Mrs Green was never afraid of progress and was at the forefront of the amalgamation of men's and women's athletics both regionally and on a state basis, and readily adapted to the new environment, quickly earning a reputation amongst the male athletes and officials as a starter of high quality.
Mrs Green was a stickler for the rules, but was never unreasonable - qualities that drew lasting respect from colleagues in administration, officials and athletes alike.
Upon her retirement from active involvement, she retained a keen interest in the sport, attending competitions and awards nights on a regular basis until her health began to decline. Thereafter she remained a keen student of events and athlete progress through newspapers and sport reports.
Mrs Green who was 90, was recognised for her extensive contribution to sport through life memberships of Athletics Tasmania, its Northern Branch and her Club.
The Board of Athletics Tasmania, on behalf of all members of the Tasmanian athletics family extends its condolences to Fay, also an Athletics Tasmania Life Member and to Mrs Green's son-in-law, Rex and her grandsons Grant and Todd.
Brian Roe
President - Athletics Tasmania