Denise Spencer

Summary

Denise Dowling Henderson (née Spencer;[1][2] 9 September 1929 – 6 September 1998) was an Australian freestyle swimmer. She competed in two events at the 1948 Summer Olympics.[3]

Denise Spencer
Personal information
Birth nameDenise Dowling Spencer
Full nameDenise Dowling Henderson
NationalityAustralian
Born(1929-09-09)9 September 1929
Roma, Queensland, Australia
Died6 September 1998(1998-09-06) (aged 68)
Tugun, Queensland, Australia
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle
Medal record
Representing  Australia
British Empire and Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place 1950 Auckland 4x110yd freestyle relay

Henderson was born in the Queensland town of Roma in 1929, and until the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro was the only Olympic athlete from the town.[4] In 1948, Roma Town Council named a street Spencer Street in her honour, being the location of the swimming baths where she learned to swim.[5] In September 1950, she married stock manager and auctioneer George Henderson.[6]

Henderson died on 6 September 1998 at John Flynn Hospital in Tugun on the Gold Coast.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "DENISE NOW MRS". The Courier-mail. No. 4305. Queensland, Australia. 13 September 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Maranoa Sporting Wall of Fame". Maranoa Regional Council. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Denise Spencer Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  4. ^ Gillespie, Tom (4 August 2016). "Remembering Roma's first Olympian, Denise Spencer". Northern Star. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. ^ "FOUR ROMA STREETS RENAMED". Western Star And Roma Advertiser. No. 6281. Queensland, Australia. 29 October 1948. p. 1. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "RECORD CROWD WATCHES DENISE WED GEORGE". Western Star. No. 82. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 2 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Death Notice: Henderson, Denise Dowling, Gold Coast Bulletin, 9 September 1998.

External links edit