Margaret Downs (nee Dowell) attended Ivanhoe Girls’ from 1932 until graduating from Year 12 in the Class of 1940. She was an outstanding athlete, who perhaps missed the opportunity to achieve wider recognition for her achievements due to the outbreak of World War II.
Margaret excelled as a sprinter. She also did well in field events including Long Jump, High Jump and Discus. She competed from 1942 until 1945 for the University of Melbourne. Her time of 10.9 seconds for 100 yards in 1945 was the fastest time ever recorded by an Australian woman and faster than the listed world record.
Margaret was State Champion for Discus, Long Jump and 100 Yards during an outstanding period of achievement in 1944 and 1945. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to compete in the National Championships which, due to World War II, were not held between 1940 and 1948.
Margaret married Corporal Ronald Downs in 1946, and had five children. Shortly after celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary in 2016, Margaret passed away at the age of 92 in Bundaberg, Queensland.
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