Rowing badge awarded to Elsie Ellen Hawkins

Date1926

Object number00036123

NameBadge

MediumCloth

DimensionsOverall: 138 x 144 mm, 0.02 kg

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Zeila Ellen Hawkins

Terms

DescriptionThis square shaped black cloth rowing badge was awarded to Elsie Ellen Hawkins on 1 January 1926. Despite never having learned to swim Elsie took up competitive sculling as soon as she arrived in Sydney in 1920. She combined her work as a hotel publican and boarding house manager with a successful career in sculling. Using her four year old daughter Bonnie as coxswain, Elsie won the New South Wales Women's Heavy Boat Sculling Championship Race in 1925. Her career also included a sculling victory in the 1927 Pittwater Regatta. Her skill and prowess in the strenuous sport of rowing was unusual considering her diminutive size.HistoryElsie Ellen Hawkins nee Hicks emigrated with her husband from England to Australia in 1920. Born in London on October 7 1892, she lived to be 100 years old. Her colourful working life included stints as a hotel publican, boarding house and corner store manageress and brothel keeper. Her large amount of vim and vigour also extended itself to sports and hobbies.SignificanceThis badge relates to the sporting life of Australian women in the 1920s.