Faith’s special place in history

THERE are not many Bendigo sporting venues which carry the name of a legend.

But Faith Leech Aquatic Centre in Barnard Street, next door to Queen Elizabeth Oval, is one that honours a Bendigo swimming great.

At the age of 15, Leech won gold and bronze at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

She teamed with Dawn Fraser, Sandra Morgan and Lorraine Crapp to win the 4 x 100-metre freestyle in what was a world record time of 4:17.1.

Another high for Leech was in the 100-metre freestyle, where she clocked a time of 65.1 seconds as the legendary Dawn Fraser marked the first of an Olympics hat-trick in the event by winning in a world record 62 seconds as Lorraine Crapp swam 62.3 to take silver.

Many other greats from Bendigo have competed at the Olympics, but Leech is the only athlete from the city to have won gold.

A series of illnesses led to her taking up swimming to increase her strength.

In 1955, Leech won what was then known as the Australian 100-yard (now 100-metre) freestyle at the age of 13.

Illness meant she was sidelined for the Australian Championships in 1956, but she recovered to earn her place in Australia’s team for the Games.

Remarkably, after her success in Melbourne, Leech decided to retire from competitive swimming.

She worked as a model in Melbourne before returning to Bendigo to work in the family’s jewellery business.

Family, and Leech Jewellers, became a major focus for the retired athlete.

The Olympic movement was still important to Leech, who also became a key figure with Special Olympics and the Paralympics.

She taught swimming to children with a disability and several of those went on to swim at Special Olympics meets.

Her fighting qualities came to the fore after a tumour was discovered in her neck in 2001.

After a lengthy operation and six weeks of radiotherapy, Leech became a volunteer for the Cancer Council.

Putting others before herself was a trait which endeared her too so many.

In 1993-94, she was among the first inductees to the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year Hall of Fame.

The swimming champion was joined by legendary football coach Bob McCaskill and gun lawn bowler Don Sherman in the elite club.

In 2013, Faith passed away at the age of 73.