Competed in three summer Olympics from 1956 to 1964 as a swimmer,
winning a total of four gold and four silver medals for Australia.
After the Australian Swimming Union banned her for 10 years, she
retired from swimming in 1965. She was accused of climbing a flagpole
at 'Emperor Hirohito''s palace and taking the Olympic flag during the 1964 Olympic
Games in Tokio, which later proved false.
Has one daughter, Dawn Lorraine.
She was awarded the A.O. (Officer of the Order of Australia) on June 8, 1988 for service to the community, particularly as a sports consultant and administrator, and through organizations for people with disabilities, and to the environment.
She was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1967 Queen's New Years Honors List for her services to the sport of swimming.