Remembering Dorothy for her service to netball

Wally Elmer with a photo of Dorothy. (Damjan Janevski) 340118_03.

Dorothy Elmer

The late Dorothy Elmer has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal.

The Bacchus Marsh woman was awarded for service to netball. Mrs Elmer got involved in netball at 16 years old with the Rovers in Glenroy.

She began managing teams for Netball Victoria in the 1960s and went on to serve many roles for the organisation, including as vice president and president, and was also heavily involved in Netball Australia, the Northern Married Ladies Association.

Mrs Elmer was a recipient of the All Australian Umpires Badge, 1973, had a netball region named in her honour, the Elmer region, received the Australian Sports Medal in 2000, and was inducted into the Netball Victoria Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mrs Elmer also a teacher at St Christopher’s in Airport West for 26 years and lived in the Melton-Bacchus Marsh region for almost 60 years until her death last year.

Her husband, Wally Elmer, said he doesn’t know who nominated Mrs Elmer but would “really like to thank them”.

“I was quite happy, disappointed she didn’t get it before she passed away but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“She certainly deserved it for the things she did in netball, I’m really happy that she has been recognised now.”