Dive, Mollie (1913 - 1997)

When Mollie Dive was a Sydney schoolgirl, a teacher one day told her 'Mollie, you spend too much time on the oval.' Mollie's reply was a straightforward declaration of love for an activity that would remain a life-long passion. 'I love sport,' she said. 'I just can't help myself.'

An all-round sportswoman (she tried her hand at netball, squash, golf, tennis and lawn bowls) Mollie was known for her excellence on the cricket oval and the hockey field. She stayed involved with these sports as a coach and administrator long after her playing days were over. She was a New South Wales and Australian selector, President ot the New South Wales Women's Cricket Association and a member of the executive of the Australian Women's Cricket Association. She was associated with the Sydney University Women's Sports Association for fifty years

Her achievements and contribution to sport were recognised in 1987 when, as well as being awarded an Order of Australia medal for her services to sport, she was honoured by the naming of a grandstand after her at North Sydney Oval, a ground at which she never played!

Mollie played cricket with her family at home (her father played once for the New South Wales state team) but it was not a game she played formally until she went to Sydney University in 1932. She left university with Blues in cricket and hockey, a science degree and a cricketing reputation that evenutally saw her obtain employment at the CSIRO, where she worked for most of her life, and captaincy of the Australian team that had the first ever Ashes win over England in 1948-49.

• Dive, Mary (birth name)

Events

1933	Awarded University Blues in Cricket and Hockey
1933	Made the New South Wales State Hockey team
1933 - 1951	Made the New South Wales State Cricket Team almost continually during this period
1938	Appointed captain of the New South Wales Cricket Team
1946 - 1949	Made the New South Wales State Hockey team
1948 - 1951	Captained the Australian Test Team
1987	The Grandstand at the North Sydney Oval was named the Mollie Dive Stand in her honour
1987	Awarded an Order of Australia Medal

Membership

• Women's Cricket Australia (1995 - 2003)

  Mollie Dive was a life member of Women's Cricket Australia

Presided

• Sydney University Women's Sports Association (1910 - )

  Mollie Dive was president of the Sydney University Women's Sport Association in the 1960s, after being a member since the eatly 1930s. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Association.

  [1963 - 1974]

SUSWA Blue

• Sydney University Women's Sports Association (1910 - )

  Mollie Dive received 'blues' (the highest level of sporting achievement recogisned by the Sydney University Women's Sports Assocation) in both hockey and cricket.

  [1933]

Australian Women Exhibitions

• She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2007, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/sg/sport-home.html. [ Details... ]

Books

• Cashman, Richard and Weaver, Amanda, Wicket Women: Cricket and Women in Australia, With research assistance by Sandra Glass, University of New South Wales Press, Kensington, Australia, 1991. [ Details... ]

See also

• Lilienthal, Sonja, Newtown Tarts: A history of the Sydney University Women's Sports Association 1910-1995, Allen and Unwin, St Leonards, NSW, 1997. [ Details... ]