Old Michaelian Olympians St Michael’s has a long history of Old Michaelians going on to achieve greatness on the world sporting stage. This year, we had Year 12 student Col competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in various swimming events and Tess Coady (OM 2018) has her eyes set firmly on the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. To celebrate the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, we pay tribute to those Old Michaelians who have competed in the Games.
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Marjorie McQuade SWIMMING | OLD MICHAELIAN 1950 | HUGHES Thirteen-year-old student Marjorie McQuade did not take long to rise to Olympic fame, quickly becoming dubbed as “Australia’s Olympic Baby” in the lead up to the 1948 Olympic Games. However, Marjorie was more than a swimmer to her St Michael’s peers – she was a long-standing member of the athletics, basketball and softball teams. Prior to her departure for London, Head Prefect Nance Meldrum presented Marjorie with a special gift on behalf of the School, including a leather writing case with her name stamped on it, a small gold cross, and a “prayer for Athletics”, written and illustrated by fellow student Anne Jolliffe; as well as a photograph album presented by staff. In London, Marjorie swam in the 100 metres freestyle producing solid times, however, did not progress beyond the semi-final. Marjorie recounted her Olympic experience as 40 | The Crest Issue 6 2021
thrilling with the Opening Ceremony a particular highlight, describing a phrase that was displayed on the scoreboard, reading “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning, but taking part, for the essential thing in life is not so much conquering as fighting well.” Marjorie went on to secure three gold medals at the 1950 British Empire Games (now known as the Commonwealth Games) in the freestyle, freestyle relay and medley relay. She followed this up with another stellar performance at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, again narrowly missing a place in the final of the 100-metre freestyle. Marjorie’s accomplishments are honoured by the naming of two senior Speech Night Prizes: the Marjorie McQuade Prize for Unobtrusive and Unselfish Service; and the Marjorie McQuade Memorial Trophy for the Best All Round Year 10 Girl at Sport.
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Marjorie McQuade in her formal 1948 Olympic uniform Pictorial article of Marjorie’s life, in The Australasian Post, 15 July 1948
