Sporting heroes
Australians who have excelled at sport have come from all walks of life. Because of this, information on individual sporting heroes may be located within many series of records. These include school admission registers, government employment records, publican licences, bankruptcy records, court records, inquests and coronial records, and deceased estate files.
Select a sporting hero below.
Les Darcy
Born James Leslie Darcy on 31 October 1895 at Stradbroke near Maitland he was a champion boxer and a folk hero. Les first made money as a boxer at 14 years of age. By September 1916 he had won 22 consecutive fights.
During 1916 Darcy was put under pressure to enlist in the army as an example for other young men to follow. Darcy was in an awkward position as a result of his Irish Catholic background. He sailed for America on 27 October 1916 (in breach of the War Precautions Act, which meant no passports were issued to young men of military age). The press had a field day, denouncing him as a shirker. On 5 April 1917 Les became a citizen of the United States.
On 27 April 1917, Darcy was admitted to hospital with septicaemia and endocarditis. While in hospital he developed pneumonia and died on 24 May 1917. Darcy's body was brought back to Australia and he received a huge funeral procession in Sydney before he was buried at East Maitland. Les stands out as one of Australia's greatest boxers, losing only four professional fights and never being knocked out.
[Les Darcy]
[Deceased Estate]
[Deceased Estate]
[Deceased Estate]
[Probate Packet]
[Probate Packet]
Fanny Durack
Born Sarah Durack on 27 October 1889 in Sydney she leaned to swim at the Coogee Baths. Fanny won her first State title in 1906 while still a schoolgirl.
The New South Wales Ladies' Amateur Swimming Association forbade women to appear in competitions when men were present. Fanny was so popular that public demand allowed her to compete in the 1912 Olympic Games held at Stockholm, and resulted in the rule being reversed. Fanny broke the world record for 100m free-style in the heats and went on to win the gold medal. Fanny broke twelve world records between 1912-18. A week before the 1920 Games, Fanny had to withdraw due to an appendectomy, typhoid fever and pneumonia, which led to her eventual retirement.
On 22 January 1921 Fanny married Bernard Gately at St Mary's Cathedral. Fanny died of cancer on 20 March 1956 and was buried at Waverley.
[Fanny Durack]
[Deceased Estate]
[Deceased Estate]
Marjorie Jackson
[School Magazine]
[School Magazine]
[School Magazine]
[School Magazine]
Victor Trumper
Born Victor Thomas Trumper probably on the 2 November 1877 in Sydney he is one of the greatest cricketers Australia has ever produced. Victor excelled at batting, bowling and fielding.
He worked as a clerk in the Treasury and resigned from the public service in 1904 while a clerk for the Probate and Intestate Office. Victor married Sarah Briggs on 7 June 1904 in Melbourne. He opened his first sports store in 1904 and another in 1909. Trumper played his testimonial match in 1913.
Trumper's first class batting figures are: 255 matches, 16939 runs with an average of 44.58. Trumper's highest score was 300 not out. Victor died of kidney disease in June 1915 and was buried at Waverley.
[Public Service]
[Public Service]
