Happy 100th Birthday Noella Greenham OAM

The South Australian athletics community wishes Athletics SA, Athletics Australia and Western Athletics Club Life Member Noella Greenham OAM a very happy 100th Birthday today.

Noella's contribution to the sport of athletics has spanned many decades as an athlete, administrator, patron, coach and official.

Western Athletics Club Life Member since 1957

Athletics SA Life Member since 1962

Athletics Australia Honourary Life Member since 1973

She joined the Western District Women’s Club in 1942, where she competed in every event that she could gain points for her club, and eventually became club Secretary in 1945.

Known as a "brilliant all-rounder", Noella was named Club Champion in across sprint, hurdles, Long Jump and High Jump disciplines for several years.

Across the following years Noella held every executive position within the Women's Club, including that of President, Club Selector, and later Patroness from 1969 to the present day, remaining as the Patroness when the club amalgamated with the Men's Club to become the Western District Athletics Club.

The Club bestowed Life Membership on her in 1957.

In her first Summer season with Western in 1943, she competed in the State Championships, winning the 440 yards, before going on to win the inaugural 90m Hurdle State Title the following year.

It wasn't just the Track and Field where Noella shone, playing A-Grade hockey in the winter where she was selected to represent SA.

Noella took on her long-standing officiating role for the first time in 1943 and held administrative positions in the SA Women’s Amateur Athletics Association, including as President from 1954 to 1956 and again in 1961 to 1967.

After serving in a variety of other positions including Team Manageress (five interstate teams), State Selector, Olympic Council Delegate, and Assistant Recorder, she was awarded Life Membership in 1962 of the South Australian Amateur Athletics Association (now known as Athletics SA).

Noella was acknowledged with Honorary Life Membership of Athletics Australia in 1973, as someone who had rendered distinguished and lengthy service to the sport, and was awarded the Platinum Service Award in 2003 for her 40-plus years of service.

As an official, Noella carried out roles at State and National Track and Field Championships, as well as Adelaide Games, Masters Games, World Veteran Games, Police Olympics, Disabled and Para-Olympics and School competitions.

For many years she has carried out duties as a Finishing Judge and Track Referee, as well as in the drug testing area at the National and International events. 

In 1997, while still serving as an official for Athletics SA, Noella was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for Services to amateur Athletics in South Australia as an administrator and official in the Queen’s Birthday list.

Noella was a teacher by profession and appointed for many years to Flinders Park and West Beach Primary Schools.

Her special interests were children with "Specific Learning Difficulties" and, of course, children's sport.

She coached school athletics, netball and hockey and recruited children into these sports.

Noella is the donor of both a cup and a trophy in the Schools Competition as well as the club trophy for the "most outstanding women's interclub competitor".

She was also one of the donors of the Western Shield which is contested at the Athletics SA Suhard event each year.

Another passion of hers is horse racing, and she has been a long-time member of SA Jockey Club where she attended race meetings whenever possible.

In 2013 she had the Race 9 Morphettville named in her honour - the “Noella Greenham OAM Handicap” over 1000m, with a first prize of $25,000.

Again on her 95^th birthday, she was further honoured with a race named “Happy 95th Birthday Noella Greenham Handicap” over 1600m with total prize money of $30,000.

Noella has lived by the Western’s club moto “ a winner never quits and a quitter never wins”.

She is still winning.