Latest news with #JoanHarrison
The South African
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Will Swimming SA's crushing court loss spark change across SA sport?
This was because of the humiliating loss the ruling body of SA aquatic sport took in the Western Cape High Court, where a judge ruled that the breakaway South African Water Polo (SAWP) organisation has the legal right to exist. SSA's bid to interdict the upstarts was a massive embarrassment in keeping with the general state of dysfunction that abounds. According to Clinton van der Berg, writing on his 'Got Game' website, the court found SSA does not have an exclusive, perpetual right to govern water polo in South Africa. It also upheld SA Water Polo's constitutional right to freedom of association. SAWP was formed by disillusioned coaches, players, and officials aiming to improve the sport's governance and performance. They had simply had enough. While SSA remains the officially recognised federation, the ruling opens the door for SAWP to potentially become the national governing body in the future. This is the same SSA which last month failed to acknowledge the death of Joan Harrison, South Africa's first Olympic swimming champion. This is the same SSA which failed to mention Tatjana Schoenmaker on its social platforms when she was winning gold at the Olympic Games. This is the same SSA which revels in controversy. In recent years there have been governance and leadership challenges with the federation's executive, including president Alan Fritz, serving beyond the constitutional three-term limit, raising legal and ethical questions. Additionally, elite artistic swimmers Jessica Hayes-Hill and Laura Strugnell successfully challenged SSA's disciplinary actions after being controversially sent home from the 2024 World Championships, leading to a R7.2 million lawsuit. 'Deceitful actioning of training protocol without management approval,' was cited by SSA, a vague charge that has raised eyebrows. SSA also admitted to an unconstitutional clause in its constitution forbidding members from suing the federation, promising amendments. Allegations of poor leadership, inadequate communication, and insufficient support for non-swimming aquatic sports persist, fuelling calls for urgent reform and greater transparency. The court ruling sets an important precedent: dissatisfaction with poor governance can lead to the rise of alternative structures, challenging entrenched federations. Given South Africa's widespread sports administration crises, including financial mismanagement and weak accountability, this could inspire similar breakaways, underscoring the urgent need for reform to restore trust and stability. The ruling is a wake-up call. Will the powers that be answer it? And will other sports pay heed? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
17-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
South Africa's first Olympic swimming gold medallist Joan Harrison dies
Joan Harrison, South Africa's first Olympic swimming gold medallist, has died at the age of 89. Born on 29 November 1935 in East London, Harrison rose to international prominence as a teenage swimming prodigy, earning her place in history at just 16 years old. At the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games, Harrison won gold in the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:14.3, making her the first South African swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal. It would be another 44 years before another South African woman – Penny Heyns – would replicate that feat. Harrison entered the Helsinki Games as an underdog. 'I did not put too much pressure on myself. I was not the favourite, the girl from Holland (Geertje Wielema) was,' Joan Harrison recalled in a recent interview. 'Team South Africa was made up of more than 80 people and I was the only female swimmer.' She added that although the gold medal stirred public celebration, her life remained grounded. 'People made a fuss about it. But my life did not really change. I was still an ordinary girl from East London. When we arrived back in the city there were thousands of people waiting for me at the city hall.' Joan Harrison's talent was evident early: at 13, she already held three South African junior and two senior national records, and had won national titles in the 220- and 500-yard freestyle events. In 1950, at age 14, she competed in the British Empire Games in Auckland, New Zealand, where she won gold in the 440-yard freestyle, breaking the Games record by 13 seconds. She was named the Outstanding Woman Swimmer of the Games. She returned to the international stage at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, collecting two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Despite retiring from international competition at just 17, Harrison returned in 1956 to win national titles in both the 100m backstroke and 300m individual medley. In recognition of her achievements, Harrison was awarded the Helms Foundation Award in 1952 for the best athletic performance by an African athlete. In 1982, Harrison was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer. She joined a distinguished class that included swimming legends from around the globe. At the ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, she was honoured with a commemorative display and left her footprints in cement – a lasting tribute to a trailblazing career. Post your condolences below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'It was all men. It got a bit boisterous': Britain's oldest female WWII veteran, 107, reveals how war ravaged nation celebrated VE Day
With a mixture of pride and sombre memories of wartime sacrifice, Britain's oldest surviving Second World War servicewoman today commemorates the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Joan Harrison, 107, is deaf and nearly blind, yet she clearly recalls the moment that the war came to an end, as she sat at the wheel of her Auxiliary Territorial Service ambulance. Newcastle-born Joan Brown, as she was then, had volunteered for war work at the outbreak of hostilities and quickly picked up the nickname, 'Brownie'. As news of Victory in Europe broke in the early evening, a serviceman came rushing towards the 22-year-old to tell her of the momentous good news. She recalled: 'Everything was still. Then, all of a sudden, he came running down the concrete path to the ambulance and said, "Brownie! The war is over!" 'I said he must be kidding. And he said, "No, the war's over!" 'I jumped out - I don't think I even locked it, which was a crime, and ran with him to the NAAFI [Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes] where everyone was gathering. 'Hats were flying in the air. It was all men. It got a bit boisterous, and some officers came down and called "order". 'The men calmed down. The officers were saying, you're still in the Army, you know, get to your beds. But they couldn't do much about the sheer joy of the moment.' Born in Portsmouth, Joan moved with her parents to Hong Kong at age 13. Her father, a Royal Navy admiralty engineer overseer, managed the harbour there. His work then took them north to Newcastle-upon-Tyne. When war broke out, Joan joined up with the women's regiment, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), initially spending two years in civil defence before being sent to Camberley, in North-West Surrey. There, she trained for 18 months to become an ambulance driver and driving instructor for the ATS, including maintaining the vehicles, a role that would place her at the heart of the war effort. 'It was heavy work. We didn't have a choice. We had to be drivers because the men were needed elsewhere,' she added. At one point they were stationed in barracks in Edinburgh that were deemed unsuitable for the men because of the terrible conditions. She recalls: 'It was so awful, cold, wet and horrible. We slept in our great coats.' Joan is proud to have driven ATS ambulances, just like the late Queen Elizabeth. Reflecting on this period, Joan considers her time in the army as 'the best time of her life.' She was later stationed at Boyce Barracks, in Aldershot, a training centre for the Royal Army Medical Corps and it was there that she met Charlie Harrison, the man who would become her husband. After the war, they settled in the Midlands and although they tried to start a family, they were never able to have children. Instead, they formed a close bond with their nephew. Joan's vivid recollections of her time in the ATS have been recorded by two charities - the Women's Royal Army Corps Association and Legasee. The latter helps the public understand the impact of military activity and preserving the stories of veterans. Joan is confirmed as being four months older than Ena Collymore-Woodstock, OD, MBE, who is also 107 and lives in Barbados. The Jamaican was previously thought to be the oldest surviving female army veteran. Now residing at Posandane Nursing Home, near Penzance, in Cornwall, Joan, like all ATS women, was later supported by the ATS Old Comrades Association, which evolved into the WRAC Association. This servicewomen's charity continues to provide invaluable camaraderie and sisterhood to Joan and her fellow veterans to this day. Paula Rogers, CEO of the WRAC Association, said: 'It was wonderful to be invited to meet Joan and hear her wartime stories. We are privileged to count many ATS veterans within our Association, alongside women of all ages who have or are currently serving in any of His Majesty's Armed Forces. 'As we remember the sacrifices made during two world wars, other conflicts and in peacekeeping, we are hugely proud of the contribution women made to bringing about the end of WWII.'
BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Oldest servicewoman reflects on 'sheer joy' of VE Day
Oldest servicewoman, 107, on 'sheer joy' of VE Day 14 minutes ago Share Save Archie Farmer BBC News, South West Share Save WRAC Joan Harrison has been recognised as the oldest Auxiliary Territorial Servicewoman As the country prepares to celebrate VE Day, the nation's oldest servicewoman has shared her memories. Joan Harrison, born in Portsmouth but now living in Cornwall, joined the women's regiment the Auxiliary Territorial Service when war broke out. The now 107-year-old then trained to become an ambulance driver, a role she described as "the best time of her life". Now living at a care home, she is frail and nearly blind and deaf - yet she retains a remarkably sharp mind and continues to follow current affairs, according to the Women's Royal Army Corps Association. 'The war's over' Eighty years ago, "Brownie", as she was known, was serving as an ambulance driver and was on duty when victory in Europe was declared. "I was sitting quietly in the driver's seat at around six o'clock in the evening and everything was still," she recalled. "Then, all of a sudden, he came running down the concrete path to the ambulance and said, 'Brownie, the war's over!' "I said, 'You're kidding?' and he said, 'No, the war's over'. "I jumped out – I don't think I even locked it, which was a crime, and ran with him into the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes where everyone was gathering." 'Hats were flying' She said the celebrations "got a bit boisterous" as they got swept up in the emotion. "Hats were flying in the air, it was all men," she said. "It got a bit boisterous, and some officers came down and called order. "The men calmed down, saying, 'You're still in the army, you know, get to your beds' "But they couldn't do much about the sheer joy of the moment." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@
