Elizabeth Frances Martin

1925-2011

Elder daughter of Reginald Dares Knight and his wife Doris Isabell, Elizabeth, then known as Betty, spent her childhood running free on the family property Minenooka near Mingenew. She first met adversity in August 1941 when her mother died prematurely. By then a boarder at Perth College, during the bleakest period of World War 2, Elizabeth's life changed. An independent streak was to emerge in 1943 when she enlisted in the WAAF, but she was haunted by her father’s sad farewell, when she waved from a packed train en route to Melbourne. She was subsequently posted to Townsville. After the war, she lived with relations in Peppermint Grove and worked as a Dental nurse.

One balmy summer evening at the Sunken Garden, with a certain glint in his eye, my friend Terry Martin introduced me to Elizabeth; it was the beginning of a long friendship. Married on 14 April 1950 at Christ Church, Claremont, the Martins lived for about six years in Geraldton (Terry was an industrial chemist with CSBP) before moving into their house in Minora Road, Dalkeith. With three growing sons Richard, Simon and Peter, and a home open to expatriate students (Terry's nephew Tim and some lads from Singapore) Elizabeth was seldom idle. Because of Simon's prowess, swimming was high on her agenda and after fifteen years her commitment to the Claremont Swimming Club was recognised by a Life Membership.

Winner of Lady Forrest's Cup in 1980, Elizabeth had joined the Cottesloe Golf Club in 1964. Over the next thirty years, at both Club and State level, she demonstrated her innate administrative talent. Elected to the Club committee in 1972, she later served as vice captain and captain, Cottesloe delegate to the WAGLU (1977-8), co-opted to State Council (1978- 1994) and State selector (1989-1994). Perhaps her most shining years were (1979-1994) as Chair of the Junior Committee of the WALGU. Her inspiration for young Western Australian women golfers was incomparable. In 2000 she was awarded the Australian Sports Medal.

Elizabeth enjoyed watching football, playing tennis or bridge and entertaining; hers was a bountiful table. She worked assiduously, sometimes as Chair, for the Claremont Branch of the Save the Children Fund and was a well known figure at fund raising events. Together, she and Terry travelled extensively in Asia and in Europe; they also shared mutual interests in music opera having particular appeal for her. After Terry 's sudden death in October 1991, Elizabeth continued to live in their retirement house in Swanbourne. As her health declined, she became less active though wonderfully supported by her immediate and extended families, friends, neighbours and, latterly by her young house guest Dane. Even as illness ravaged her body necessitating frequent sojourns in hospital and, last year, a reluctant move to the Alfred Carson Lodge, she remained stalwart. For Elizabeth, bridge and all that the West Australian Bridge Club offers were mainstays. She is remembered with much affection and profound admiration.

Wendy Birman

Sources: Conversations with Elizabeth and Simon Martin; Catherine May, Built on Faith, Perth, 2002; Graham McEachran and Phil Ryan; Cottestoe Golf Club: a Centenary History 1908.2008, Perth, 2008; Tee Talk, Cottesloe, Feb 1993, Jan 1995; Western Mail, 20 April1950

March 2011 edition of Trumps Plus

Laura Coutts

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