Childhood:
Dawn Fraser: Dawn Fraser was born on September 4th 1937 to a working-class family in Balmain, Sydney. She was the youngest of eight children. Dawn had 3 brothers (Ken, John Hugh and Donald) and 5 Sisters (Rose, Joyce, Heather and Alick). One name that was always mentioned in interviews with Dawn was the name Donny. Donny was Dawn’s older brother; Dawn had stated that her childhood hero and her inspiration still to this day is her elder brother Donny.
“Donny was and still is my hero, back then there wasn’t much likes him. He was the sort of boy, who would offer to help someone and never expect anything in return. I remember if we did something bad, our father who was Scottish, would give us lashings on the backside with his leather belt. Donny would’ve taken then for me, like he would say “no Dad, I was the one smoking on the couch, not Dawn” and then taken the lashings. He would’ve never expected anything back. Donny died of Leukaemia when I was eleven. I remember crawling through the hospital ward window just to meet him, that day that he died, the last thing he said to me was: “Dawn, never stop swimming, you have a gift.” I was only eleven when Donny died.”- Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Going down to the Balmain Baths to swim when she was only 3. Her brother Donny used to take her. She began swimming because it was good for her asthma and also it was a cheap sport. Back then, her brothers use to take her, however when she was a little bit older, she went by herself. The manager and staff that ran the bath knew her quite well and thought she had talent too. However, there was an entry fee to the Balmain Baths, which Dawns family could not afford (Dawn went so often) so Dawn would crawl under the fence to go to the baths, but then the staff and manager would say, “Dawnie, I know you’re there, don’t worry, it’s okay you don’t have to pay, come on out.”
Dawn Fraser attended Birchgrove Primary, with her siblings. Later, she attended Leichardt Home Science School. She would go to the Balmain Baths so regularly; she was a familiar face there.
Dawn Fraser recalls about the day of Brother Donny’s funeral:
“I wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral because in those days young people were not allowed to attend funerals. And I can remember standing up opposite the Balmain Leagues Blub, which is still in Victoria Road, and I hid behind the school gate there. And you know, he had a police escort and all the old footballers stood on the middle of Victoria and they stopped the traffic. And it was about an hour and a half by the time the front hearse came to the end of the can and I think every car in Australia came to my brother’s funeral. He was one of the first people in Australia to die of Leukaemia. It was the biggest funeral I’ve ever seen in my life, and I just remember, you know, sort of, his jersey….on the coffin and……just saying well, Goodbye.” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser knew when she was 10 that she wanted to become a swimmer, although she originally planned to be a doctor presumably because of her older brother Donny’s condition. However, many people, didn’t believe she could be an Olympic Swimmer like she wanted to be because she was from Balmain. Dawn recalls:
“There was, well there was an official by the name of Bill Berge Phillips, who has now passed on, and I can remember at 12 years of age I was called into the New South Wales Swimming Office, and I went in there with my first coach, who was my cousin, Chuck Miranda, and Berge Phillips said behind his big, leather desk that, and slapped the desk and said, you know, "you will never swim for Australia because you come from Balmain". And I think that's where I started being very rebellious towards officialdom. And I got up and I slapped the desk and said, "Yes I will". And ...And I, you know, even a couple of years later I went up to thank, you know, to shake hands with Bill Berge Phillips and say, "thank you for making me the swimmer that I am today, because you put it there, you put the fire in my belly".” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
At age 15, Dawn Fraser beat famous swimmer Lorraine Crapp in a swimming meet. However this meant Dawn broke the rules of amateur swimming and was therefore banned from swimming for eighteen months. Because of this incident, Dawn made it onto front headlines of newspapers, Harry Gallagher; swimming coach saw potential in Dawn and therefore offered to train Dawn free of charge. Harry Gallagher remained as Dawn Fraser’s coach for many years.
In 1953, when Dawn was 16 she raced in the Australian Championships aiming for a spot on the Australia team for the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver. She did not make it however she didn’t give up. Dawn and her coach Harry moved to Adelaide and began training at the local pool.
Dawn Fraser was so determined and very driven, this led her to training with the men at the pools. Harry played a huge part in helping Dawn and broke the swimming record which remained unbroken for 21 years in the National Selection for Olympics. This undoubtedly qualified her for the Olympics in 1956 which was held in Melbourne, Australia. This was the beginning of a lifelong career for Dawn Lorraine Fraser.
Personal Information:
Full Name: Dawn Lorraine Fraser
D.O.B: September 4th 1937 (Age 76)
Place of Residence: Balmain, Sydney
Parents: Kenneth & Rose Fraser (Both Dec.)
Heritage: Father was Scottish
Occupation: Former: Olympian/Swimmer
Current: Charity Worker, Mentor, Grandmother
Family Class: Working-Class
Religious: Non
Marriage Status: Divorced (Gary Ware: 1964-1968)
Hero/Influence: Older Brother Donny (dec.)
Siblings (Youngest Of 8): Rose Fraser, Joyce Fraser, Ken Fraser, John Hugh Fraser, Heather Fraser, Donald Fraser (dec.), Alick Fraser
Hobbies: Walking her Dogs, Taking Grandson Jackson swimming, spending time in her motorhome.
Adult:
Dawn Fraser’s first Olympics were the Melbourne 1956. She won 3 medals, 2 gold and one silver. Her events were the woman’s 100m freestyle, where she received fold, woman 4x100m freestyle relay where she also won fold with her team which consisted of her and three other Australia Female Swimmers. Finally, she received Silver for the woman’s four hundred metres freestyle. After receiving medals for all the events she participated in, Dawn only twenty at the time, travelled back to Sydney, after being declared victorious in representing Australia. She soon settled down and began training again in preparation for the next Olympics with winning in mind.
In 1958, Dawn Fraser competed in the 1958 6th Commonwealth Games which was held in Cardiff, Wales. Once again, she won 3 medals, 2 gold and one silver, her first gold medal was for the 110 yd (100m) freestyle. Her second gold medal was for the 4x 110 yd freestyle relay where she won with the Australia Women’s Relay Team. Her silver medal was from the 440yd (400m) freestyle which she received silver.
Dawn Fraser competed after two years of hard work, dedication and training in the 1960 Rome Olympics. She was given the nickname “Our (Australia’s) Golden Girl” because she broke world records and won medals. In this Olympics in particular, Dawn Fraser won once again, Gold for the 100 m freestyle, Silver with her team, for the 4x100 Relay Freestyle, and silver once again, for the 4x100m relay medley with her team.
Also, as well as winning gold for the 100m Freestyle, Dawn Fraser broke three world records in under an hour, this was big news. Because of her success, after when Dawn Fraser got back to Australia, she was invited by the Queen of England for lunch on the royal yacht “Britannia”. Dawn recalls:
“Oh, well, you know...it was just beautiful because I can remember, you know, walking up the gangplank of the 'Britannia' and just saying, "Wow!" You know, pinching myself, saying, "This is the kid from Balmain. Look where you've come to." And I always never forget those thoughts because the people of Balmain were absolutely fantastic to me. And I remember sort of being shown...into this beautiful room on the boat and thinking, "Oh!" And there was this baby grand piano and a lovely little library, and I happened to be looking at the books in the library and this person came over and said, "Are you interested in books?" And they were all history books and I've always loved history. And I turned around and I said, "Oh, yes..." (Gasps) "..Ma'am!" (Laughs) It was the Queen and she came over to me and she said, oh, you know, "What sort of books do you like?" I said, "I'm just looking at these very old books. They're beautiful and it must be beautiful to have them in your library." She said, "Do you play the piano?" and I said, "No. My mother played the piano but I...never got taught." And she asked me lots of questions. I spent probably about 10 minutes with her, talking, and it was a very interesting talk. And then after that, she went and met everyone else and Dame Pattie Menzies came up to me and she said, "I hope you know how to act in front of the Queen." And I just looked at her, I thought, "Oh, what can I say to you? You're the Prime Minister's wife." And I'm thinking, "Mmm. No, I'll keep my mouth shut." But then I did say, you know, "I do have a lovely mother and father and they've taught me how to..." She said, "Do you know how to use a knife and fork?" And I said, "No, but I'll just watch the Queen 'cause I'm sitting on her right-hand side." But...I mean, I was scared but, you know...I just thought, "Well, I'll just watch what they're doing." Then Prince Philip said, "If you don't know what to do, just start from the outside and if you miss a course - but you won't - leave those knives and forks out." I mean, Philip was quite lovely and he, I mean... She amazed me, and so did Philip, is the fact that they knew so much about us as the athletes that they had on board. They knew about our background, could talk to us and... You know...it was quite nice to sit down at the table and have the Queen on one side of you and the Duke on the other side, and just keep on saying "How's your mother and father?" and, you know, "Your father was a shipwright." And you're thinking, "Oh. You're well-versed up, old mate."” – Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
It was also this year, that Dawn’s father Kenneth, died of Leukaemia. He was the second member of Dawn’s family, who had their lives taken from them because of Leukaemia. Dawn Recalls:
“Well, that was something with Dad - we were never, ever allowed to say goodbye 'cause we were always going to return back to the house...to our home. And you'd say, "I'll see you later, Dad." You know, I always called him 'Pop'. And my mother looked after my father for 13 and a half years on the first floor of our house. He was bedridden for six or seven of those years. And he had...leukaemia that we didn't know anything about. And, you know, to see your father, who was a six foot two, 48-inch chest with forearms that thick, to waste down to... I could pick him up in my arms, and I did pick him up... And for a man that had a lot of pride to be lying in bed and changed with nappies, because he had no control over either urine or his... And it was just...so sad to see. And, you know, you'd sort of rub his back and wash him and, you know, my mother was such a fantastic nurse. You'd never walk into the room and smell sickness because she was just so clean with him. And, you know...I can still see Pops lying in bed and I...have his bedroom at home so...it's something. He's in the house with me. And people...you know, I don't tell this story very much, and I'm...you've given me enough rope to sell myself. “– Dawn Fraser
“When I was sick with glandular fever and was home, I had to get my sister to take my baby - she was only about two and a half at the time - I felt that I was really going to die. And I had my bedroom curtains undone and I saw the profile of my father on the wardrobe, saying, "Get out of bed, Dawny." And if I...I don't know what it was. I got out of bed that day and I came back the next morning and I saw his profile again, with, "Get out of bed, Dawny." And I got up and if, I don't think, I had of seen that profile, I think I would have died, because it was there. And it was only recently when my daughter had her son and I was waiting at home and I was sitting in the lounge room waiting to get the call to go to the hospital, and I saw my father's image walk...top...across of the stairs and he said, "It's soon." And my grandson was born...an hour and a half after that.” – Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
In 1962, Dawn Fraser competed in the 1962 7th Commonwealth Games which was held in Perth, Australia. She won 4 Gold Medals for the 110yd (100m) freestyle, 440yd (400m) freestyle, 4x110yd freestyle relay, and the 4x110yd medley relay. Also during the 110 yd freestyle, she broke the one minute barrier for this event finishing at 58.9 seconds, she became the first ever person to do this.
This record remained until 1973, which was eight years after Dawn Fraser’s retire that it was broken.
In 1964, three months before the Tokyo Olympics which Fraser was competing in, another one of her family members died, however this time not to Leukaemia. Her mother Rose Fraser, died in a car accident. Dawn recalls:
“What had happened is we came to Sydney from Melbourne - I was living in Victoria at the time - and we had the Australasian Championships here in North Sydney Pool. And the people of Balmain, and the football club mainly, because that's where everyone used to go, they said they wanted to give me a dinner and to raise money for Mum to come over to Tokyo for the Games. And I thought that was absolutely fantastic. My whole family was there. And my sister who lives out at Brighton-Le-Sands said, "I can't get a taxi this late at night." In those days you couldn't get taxis that late at night. I think it was about 1:00, 1:30 or so. And I said, "Well, don't worry about it. Johnny's lent me his car and I'll drive you home." And I had a girlfriend up from Melbourne and also my mum in the back of the car, my sister in the front of the car and I drove them home. As I was driving home, we were on General Holmes Drive at the time, being the freeway, and there was a parked truck. I just happened to see it at the last moment because I couldn't...it had no lights on the back and being a pig truck, it had all slush over the back tail lights. And I had this car which was the first car I'd ever driven that had power steering and as I pulled the car to swerve it, I rolled the car. The car got hit in the back and it flipped the car over. And I remember going by ambulance to the hospital and waking up in hospital and hearing, "Three injured and one DOA." And I thought... And I said... I can remember looking up and seeing my eldest brother. And I said, "Kenny, what's DOA mean?" He said, "Don't worry about it yet, sis." I said, "Is Mum alright?" And he said, "We'll talk about it later." And then it wasn't... I think, about three days later, then, I realised that...you know, I was in the same room as my girlfriend and my sister but my mother wasn't around. And I had to ask the doctor. I said, "Where is my mother?" And he said, "She was DOA." I said, "What does that mean?" He said, "Dead on arrival." And I said, "Oh." You know, I sort of, you know, broke down. And when my brother picked me up to take me out of the hospital, he made me drive the car. I said, "I'm not driving the car anymore. I don't ever want to drive the car." He said, "Don't worry about it. Mum had a heart attack." And I was led to believe by my family for many, many years, up until three years ago, that my mother had died prior to the accident. And it wasn't until I was doing my book and Debbie, who you know, who was my agent at the time and still is, she got the police report. She said, "Do you want this book to be honest?" I said, "As honest as the day." She said, "You ready?" I said, "Yes." She said, "I don't want to tell you this," she said, "but your mother died in the accident." I said, "Thank you, Debbie." And now it has made me feel not good inside but I know I've wiped away that question mark in my mind. I know now how my mother died. She didn't have a heart attack, she...I killed her, I drove the car that killed her, yeah. “ –Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
Dawn Fraser decided to compete in the Tokyo Olympics even after this accident because she said her “mother would’ve wanted to.”
Dawn Fraser was chosen to march representing Australia in the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo. She decided to rebel against the Australian Sponsors and wear a swimming costume which was from an unofficial source because she thought it was “more comfortable” than the sponsor supplied official one. This upset the sponsors very much. Also, Dawn Fraser was caught for “stealing” a flag, from the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Dawn recalls and explains what happens:
“Well, the story was that I'd finished with my swimming and I was doing a film for Bonds, we were doing a film for children to go to schools, and my producer, Lee Robinson, who has now passed on. We got an exemption from the team, from the village, and we went in to stay in the Imperial Palace Hotel in town. We finished doing the film, and that night, which was a Friday, we finished doing the film about four o'clock, and our men's hockey team had just won a bronze medal for the first time in Olympic history, and Lee said, "Why don't you ring up the manager and ask the boys if they'd like to come into the hotel, we'd like to give them a drink". And they'd finished their competition. So I rang Charlie Morris and I said, "Hey, Charles, Lee Robinson's invited you and the boys to come in and have a drink, a few drinks at the Imperial Palace Hotel". And they did, the team came in and we had a few drinks together, and the doctor of the team, who was with the hockey team at the time, said, "Fraser, are you interested in getting a flag?" And I said, "Of course I am". Howard Toyne, and Des Piper said, "Yes, let's go out and get some". So we said, "Righto-o". And as we walked out the hotel it was the big avenue leading up to the Imperial Palace, and if you've been to Tokyo you know that you can't get into the Imperial Palace. And outside of there was an avenue of Olympic flags, and we got two flags down. We put Des Piper on our shoulders. And, I mean, if you know, the size of a flagpole, I mean, I was fit, but not that fit.Yeah, we hoicked ... both Doc and I hoicked him up there and he got the rope down and got the couple of flags down, and we got two flags down, and the next thing there were whistles blowing everywhere, the police had seen us, we'd been spotted, and they started to chase us. So we ran ...we bolted, we ran into the bushes and, you know, they were hitting in the bushes with their batons, and it was hurting ...I jumped down off the garden, and I didn't realise it was about seven feet tall, the garden, and 'cause where we'd run it was very dark and I couldn't see, and I jumped down onto this, on the footpath, I thought I'd get away. But unfortunately I didn't, and that's when I tore all the tendons in my ankle.
And, you know, I sat in the park for a little while, and Doc and Des got caught, and the next minute a couple of policemen found me in the park, I was sitting on the bench, and they asked me what I was doing, and I said I was waiting for some friends, and they said no, and I had the flag stuck up underneath my tracksuit, 'cause I'd had the flag, I got one flag. And with that, when they stood up the flag rope fell out of my tracksuit pocket, underneath my tracksuit, and they pulled the flag out and they took me to the Marunouchi Police Station, and they were going to charge me, and they got in an interpreter who was the lieutenant of the police station, and he couldn't believe that it was Dawn Fraser, that I was Dawn Fraser, 'cause we had no ID on it, we'd left our dog tags back at the hotel.
I actually phoned Lee Robinson, who was my producer, still at the hotel, and this was about, oh, maybe one o'clock in the morning, and he said what have I done, and I said, "Just bring my dog tags in my room and my gold medals underneath my pillow, and I'm at the Marunouchi Police Station, which is just about two blocks down from the hotel". And he said, "What have you done?" And I said, "Look, I'll tell you when you get here".
And fortunately for Lee, he got into my room and he came down to the Marunouchi Police Station, and after showing them my gold medal and my dog tags, you know, they were still very disgusted that I'd ... that it was me, but they couldn't believe that I would do that. And then when he explained to me that it was a stealing offence, it could mean a jail term, and they decided then because of who I was, Dawn Fraser, and they let us off.And, you know, I sat in the park for a little while, and Doc and Des got caught, and the next minute a couple of policemen found me in the park, I was sitting on the bench, and they asked me what I was doing, and I said I was waiting for some friends, and they said no, and I had the flag stuck up underneath my tracksuit, 'cause I'd had the flag, I got one flag. And with that, when they stood up the flag rope fell out of my tracksuit pocket, underneath my tracksuit, and they pulled the flag out and they took me to the Marunouchi Police Station, and they were going to charge me, and they got in an interpreter who was the lieutenant of the police station, and he couldn't believe that it was Dawn Fraser, that I was Dawn Fraser, 'cause we had no ID on it, we'd left our dog tags back at the hotel. Next day I got the flag. The lieutenant gave it to me. He let us go.
That morning, about six o'clock in the morning there was a knock on my door, the doctor came in, and I said, "Oh, look, I've hurt my ankle, can you strap it up?" 'Cause I knew I had to march in the closing ceremony and take the flag around.
And he strapped my leg up, and as he was strapping my leg up there was a knock on my door. Lee got up and opened the door; it was the lieutenant of police. And I looked at him, and I thought what have I done, and he came in with a couple of more policemen and they had a big box of flowers, and he put it on the bed and he's saying, "Open, Open" in his broken Japanese-Australian, and I was opening it up and it was full of lovely flowers, but underneath was the flag.
I put the flag on auction for my testimonial and someone bought it for $75,000. However they gave it back to my daughter because she was saying," Mum, you know, that's cost you your life in swimming."” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser also got married to Gary Ware this year, they also had a daughter also called Dawn Lorraine, however they divorced 4 years later because Gary Ware had “gambling problems.” Also, after the Tokyo Olympics, that same year, Dawn Fraser was banned from swimming for ten years. Many presume it was because she stole the flag. However Dawn Fraser says it wasn’t because of that. Finally, Dawn Fraser was named Australian Of The Year in 1964.
“No, it wasn't that. It ... look, I believe it was, because I think that Berge Phillips got his way, by getting me out of swimming. But the letter that I received from the Australian Swimming Union was the fact that I marched in the opening ceremony and disobeyed the manager's control of marching in the opening ceremony, and also I wore an unofficial swimsuit in the heats, which I did. I admit to both of those. But I also had my explanation for those, but they were not listened to. And I was banned before I even ... I was banned whilst I was on my honeymoon, actually.” –Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser was made Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1967.
Dawn Fraser’s ban was actually lifted after four years because Australian Olympic Officials wanted Dawn to race in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. However, the ban was only lifted 18 months before the Olympics and Dawn thought this wasn’t enough time to train so instead decided not to compete. Dawn talks about this:
“I actually took them to court when I got back from my honeymoon, and we'd won the court case, and the ban had to be lifted straight away. But it wasn't in time for me to train for Mexico City, because it was 18 months before Mexico, and I wasn't allowed to swim in any swimming pool where there were other swimmers because I was banned. It would've meant that they would've been banned for life too, so I couldn't take that opportunity of getting anyone else into trouble. You know, I was the one that got myself into trouble, and I didn't want anyone else to get into trouble.” –Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser retired from swimming in 1965 after her ban.
Dawn Fraser spent the next twenty years doing minor charity work but prioritising on raising her daughter Dawn Lorraine as a single mother.
In 1979, a movie called “DAWN” was made to honour Dawn Fraser. The movie was made about Dawn’s Li
In 1988, Dawn Fraser became the Independent Member for Balmain in the New South Wales Parliament. Dawn Fraser decided to quit being in the Parliament in 1991 when her seat was abolished.
Also in 1988, Dawn Fraser became a mentor for the Abled and Disabled Australian Olympic Teams she has continued to be a mentor to this day. Finally, Dawn Fraser is the Board Director and Supporter of the West Tigers NRL Club. Dawn Fraser was played by Bronwyn Mackay-Payne. Dawn Fraser was credited as Dawn Fraser’s coach. In 2003, Melissa Thomas played Dawn Fraser in the movie Swimming Upstream which was a movie about Olympian/Swimmer for Australia Tony Fingleton who was also a swimmer during Dawn Fraser’s time.
Dawn Fraser has been to every Olympics until 2000 because she stated that she was “disgusted” because of Olympians doping.
In 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Dawn Fraser carried the Olympic Torch on its way to the Olympic Stadium and was honoured as one of seven greatest athletes of all time.
In 1998, she was also voted as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures, and the person who best symbolises and represents Australia.
In 1999, Dawn Fraser was given the title of “World Athlete of the Century” in Vienna at the World Sports Awards. She was also given the title of “Australian Athlete of the Century” the same year by the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2000, at the Sydney Olympics, Dawn Fraser was made the First Lady of the Olympic Games, she also partnered Juan Antonio Samaranch who was the president of the International Olympic Committee to the Opening Ceremony.
In the Opening Cermony, eight of Australia’s former Champion Olympians carried the torch around the stadium. This included: Bill Roycroft, Murray Rose, Liane Tooth, Gillian Rolton, Marjorie Jackson, Lorraine Crapp, Michael Wenden and Nick Green.
Also, celebrating 100 years of woman participation in the Olympics, Seven Female Australian Former Olympians also carried the torch around the stadium the second time. This included: Dawn Fraser herself, Betty Cuthbert (Runner) and Raelene Boyle (Runner), Shirley Strickland (Hurdles), Shane Gould (Swimmer) and Debbie Flintoff-King (Hurdles) who after handed it to Cathy Freeman who lit the Flame on the Olympic Torch. All six of these Olympians, also competed in around about the same time as Dawn Fraser did.
In 2001, Dawn Fraser also published her autobiography named “DAWN: ONE HELL OF A LIFE”
In 2003, her beloved Grandson Jackson was born. Dawn Fraser was there at his birth and she also cut the umbilical cord. Dawn Fraser talks about her only grandchild Jackson:
“Oh, just... It was very hard at the time. You get the scissors and they kept on slipping. And I went, "Oh, my God. They say, "You have to cut it now, Dawn." And I'm saying, "I'm trying!" But, you know, I was just too interested in having a look at the baby coming out of my daughter's stomach. It was just magical - here was this life. You know, I've always been terribly interested in life. And you know, seeing this... This was my... When they said it was a boy, I thought, "Go over there. Cut the cord." Got it done. They had to stop the blood flow. I couldn't take my eyes off. I wanted to grab him and hold him. They said, "We have to check him first." But they're beautiful, you know. I think I'm better now as a second time mum. Because I know more now. And I know how to...treat the child. And...I think if you give love to your children, and you're there for them when they go to and come home from school and they're not latchkey kids... I was never a latchkey kid, my daughter was never a latchkey kid and Jackson will never be a latchkey kid... Heaven helps that I'll be there for him. I've made a promise to myself - I'm going to live until he's 21 and I will dance at his 21st birthday.”-Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
In 2013, Dawn was a contestant on Channel 7’s Celebrity Apprentice where she publically challenged World Boxing Champion and World Renowned Boxer Jeff Fenech to a Boxing Match and threatened to tackle him. She was the last person to be fired before the Season Finale, she raised $60,000 for her charity which was the Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled.
In July 2014, Dawn Fraser was invited to attend an event where Australia decided to start a partnership, alliance and cooperation with Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to Australia to start an alliance with Australia. Mr. Abe made a speech in the Australian Court of Parliament where Dawn Fraser was invited to attend. She attended with her daughter Dawn Lorraine and Grandson Jackson. The Japanese Prime Minister also acknowledged Dawn Fraser in his speech:
“I am dazzled by the power of Miss. Dawn Fraser who is in the gallery today. I have believed very much that you bring forth a new dawn to Japan, and a new dawn to Australia Japan relations.” –Shinzo Abe
Speech For The Australian Japanese Cooperation & Relations, Shinzo Abe, 8th of July 2014
Dawn Fraser remains as one of Australia’s most loved Australians.
Dawn Fraser: Dawn Fraser was born on September 4th 1937 to a working-class family in Balmain, Sydney. She was the youngest of eight children. Dawn had 3 brothers (Ken, John Hugh and Donald) and 5 Sisters (Rose, Joyce, Heather and Alick). One name that was always mentioned in interviews with Dawn was the name Donny. Donny was Dawn’s older brother; Dawn had stated that her childhood hero and her inspiration still to this day is her elder brother Donny.
“Donny was and still is my hero, back then there wasn’t much likes him. He was the sort of boy, who would offer to help someone and never expect anything in return. I remember if we did something bad, our father who was Scottish, would give us lashings on the backside with his leather belt. Donny would’ve taken then for me, like he would say “no Dad, I was the one smoking on the couch, not Dawn” and then taken the lashings. He would’ve never expected anything back. Donny died of Leukaemia when I was eleven. I remember crawling through the hospital ward window just to meet him, that day that he died, the last thing he said to me was: “Dawn, never stop swimming, you have a gift.” I was only eleven when Donny died.”- Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Going down to the Balmain Baths to swim when she was only 3. Her brother Donny used to take her. She began swimming because it was good for her asthma and also it was a cheap sport. Back then, her brothers use to take her, however when she was a little bit older, she went by herself. The manager and staff that ran the bath knew her quite well and thought she had talent too. However, there was an entry fee to the Balmain Baths, which Dawns family could not afford (Dawn went so often) so Dawn would crawl under the fence to go to the baths, but then the staff and manager would say, “Dawnie, I know you’re there, don’t worry, it’s okay you don’t have to pay, come on out.”
Dawn Fraser attended Birchgrove Primary, with her siblings. Later, she attended Leichardt Home Science School. She would go to the Balmain Baths so regularly; she was a familiar face there.
Dawn Fraser recalls about the day of Brother Donny’s funeral:
“I wasn’t allowed to go to the funeral because in those days young people were not allowed to attend funerals. And I can remember standing up opposite the Balmain Leagues Blub, which is still in Victoria Road, and I hid behind the school gate there. And you know, he had a police escort and all the old footballers stood on the middle of Victoria and they stopped the traffic. And it was about an hour and a half by the time the front hearse came to the end of the can and I think every car in Australia came to my brother’s funeral. He was one of the first people in Australia to die of Leukaemia. It was the biggest funeral I’ve ever seen in my life, and I just remember, you know, sort of, his jersey….on the coffin and……just saying well, Goodbye.” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser knew when she was 10 that she wanted to become a swimmer, although she originally planned to be a doctor presumably because of her older brother Donny’s condition. However, many people, didn’t believe she could be an Olympic Swimmer like she wanted to be because she was from Balmain. Dawn recalls:
“There was, well there was an official by the name of Bill Berge Phillips, who has now passed on, and I can remember at 12 years of age I was called into the New South Wales Swimming Office, and I went in there with my first coach, who was my cousin, Chuck Miranda, and Berge Phillips said behind his big, leather desk that, and slapped the desk and said, you know, "you will never swim for Australia because you come from Balmain". And I think that's where I started being very rebellious towards officialdom. And I got up and I slapped the desk and said, "Yes I will". And ...And I, you know, even a couple of years later I went up to thank, you know, to shake hands with Bill Berge Phillips and say, "thank you for making me the swimmer that I am today, because you put it there, you put the fire in my belly".” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
At age 15, Dawn Fraser beat famous swimmer Lorraine Crapp in a swimming meet. However this meant Dawn broke the rules of amateur swimming and was therefore banned from swimming for eighteen months. Because of this incident, Dawn made it onto front headlines of newspapers, Harry Gallagher; swimming coach saw potential in Dawn and therefore offered to train Dawn free of charge. Harry Gallagher remained as Dawn Fraser’s coach for many years.
In 1953, when Dawn was 16 she raced in the Australian Championships aiming for a spot on the Australia team for the 1954 Empire Games in Vancouver. She did not make it however she didn’t give up. Dawn and her coach Harry moved to Adelaide and began training at the local pool.
Dawn Fraser was so determined and very driven, this led her to training with the men at the pools. Harry played a huge part in helping Dawn and broke the swimming record which remained unbroken for 21 years in the National Selection for Olympics. This undoubtedly qualified her for the Olympics in 1956 which was held in Melbourne, Australia. This was the beginning of a lifelong career for Dawn Lorraine Fraser.
Personal Information:
Full Name: Dawn Lorraine Fraser
D.O.B: September 4th 1937 (Age 76)
Place of Residence: Balmain, Sydney
Parents: Kenneth & Rose Fraser (Both Dec.)
Heritage: Father was Scottish
Occupation: Former: Olympian/Swimmer
Current: Charity Worker, Mentor, Grandmother
Family Class: Working-Class
Religious: Non
Marriage Status: Divorced (Gary Ware: 1964-1968)
Hero/Influence: Older Brother Donny (dec.)
Siblings (Youngest Of 8): Rose Fraser, Joyce Fraser, Ken Fraser, John Hugh Fraser, Heather Fraser, Donald Fraser (dec.), Alick Fraser
Hobbies: Walking her Dogs, Taking Grandson Jackson swimming, spending time in her motorhome.
Adult:
Dawn Fraser’s first Olympics were the Melbourne 1956. She won 3 medals, 2 gold and one silver. Her events were the woman’s 100m freestyle, where she received fold, woman 4x100m freestyle relay where she also won fold with her team which consisted of her and three other Australia Female Swimmers. Finally, she received Silver for the woman’s four hundred metres freestyle. After receiving medals for all the events she participated in, Dawn only twenty at the time, travelled back to Sydney, after being declared victorious in representing Australia. She soon settled down and began training again in preparation for the next Olympics with winning in mind.
In 1958, Dawn Fraser competed in the 1958 6th Commonwealth Games which was held in Cardiff, Wales. Once again, she won 3 medals, 2 gold and one silver, her first gold medal was for the 110 yd (100m) freestyle. Her second gold medal was for the 4x 110 yd freestyle relay where she won with the Australia Women’s Relay Team. Her silver medal was from the 440yd (400m) freestyle which she received silver.
Dawn Fraser competed after two years of hard work, dedication and training in the 1960 Rome Olympics. She was given the nickname “Our (Australia’s) Golden Girl” because she broke world records and won medals. In this Olympics in particular, Dawn Fraser won once again, Gold for the 100 m freestyle, Silver with her team, for the 4x100 Relay Freestyle, and silver once again, for the 4x100m relay medley with her team.
Also, as well as winning gold for the 100m Freestyle, Dawn Fraser broke three world records in under an hour, this was big news. Because of her success, after when Dawn Fraser got back to Australia, she was invited by the Queen of England for lunch on the royal yacht “Britannia”. Dawn recalls:
“Oh, well, you know...it was just beautiful because I can remember, you know, walking up the gangplank of the 'Britannia' and just saying, "Wow!" You know, pinching myself, saying, "This is the kid from Balmain. Look where you've come to." And I always never forget those thoughts because the people of Balmain were absolutely fantastic to me. And I remember sort of being shown...into this beautiful room on the boat and thinking, "Oh!" And there was this baby grand piano and a lovely little library, and I happened to be looking at the books in the library and this person came over and said, "Are you interested in books?" And they were all history books and I've always loved history. And I turned around and I said, "Oh, yes..." (Gasps) "..Ma'am!" (Laughs) It was the Queen and she came over to me and she said, oh, you know, "What sort of books do you like?" I said, "I'm just looking at these very old books. They're beautiful and it must be beautiful to have them in your library." She said, "Do you play the piano?" and I said, "No. My mother played the piano but I...never got taught." And she asked me lots of questions. I spent probably about 10 minutes with her, talking, and it was a very interesting talk. And then after that, she went and met everyone else and Dame Pattie Menzies came up to me and she said, "I hope you know how to act in front of the Queen." And I just looked at her, I thought, "Oh, what can I say to you? You're the Prime Minister's wife." And I'm thinking, "Mmm. No, I'll keep my mouth shut." But then I did say, you know, "I do have a lovely mother and father and they've taught me how to..." She said, "Do you know how to use a knife and fork?" And I said, "No, but I'll just watch the Queen 'cause I'm sitting on her right-hand side." But...I mean, I was scared but, you know...I just thought, "Well, I'll just watch what they're doing." Then Prince Philip said, "If you don't know what to do, just start from the outside and if you miss a course - but you won't - leave those knives and forks out." I mean, Philip was quite lovely and he, I mean... She amazed me, and so did Philip, is the fact that they knew so much about us as the athletes that they had on board. They knew about our background, could talk to us and... You know...it was quite nice to sit down at the table and have the Queen on one side of you and the Duke on the other side, and just keep on saying "How's your mother and father?" and, you know, "Your father was a shipwright." And you're thinking, "Oh. You're well-versed up, old mate."” – Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
It was also this year, that Dawn’s father Kenneth, died of Leukaemia. He was the second member of Dawn’s family, who had their lives taken from them because of Leukaemia. Dawn Recalls:
“Well, that was something with Dad - we were never, ever allowed to say goodbye 'cause we were always going to return back to the house...to our home. And you'd say, "I'll see you later, Dad." You know, I always called him 'Pop'. And my mother looked after my father for 13 and a half years on the first floor of our house. He was bedridden for six or seven of those years. And he had...leukaemia that we didn't know anything about. And, you know, to see your father, who was a six foot two, 48-inch chest with forearms that thick, to waste down to... I could pick him up in my arms, and I did pick him up... And for a man that had a lot of pride to be lying in bed and changed with nappies, because he had no control over either urine or his... And it was just...so sad to see. And, you know, you'd sort of rub his back and wash him and, you know, my mother was such a fantastic nurse. You'd never walk into the room and smell sickness because she was just so clean with him. And, you know...I can still see Pops lying in bed and I...have his bedroom at home so...it's something. He's in the house with me. And people...you know, I don't tell this story very much, and I'm...you've given me enough rope to sell myself. “– Dawn Fraser
“When I was sick with glandular fever and was home, I had to get my sister to take my baby - she was only about two and a half at the time - I felt that I was really going to die. And I had my bedroom curtains undone and I saw the profile of my father on the wardrobe, saying, "Get out of bed, Dawny." And if I...I don't know what it was. I got out of bed that day and I came back the next morning and I saw his profile again, with, "Get out of bed, Dawny." And I got up and if, I don't think, I had of seen that profile, I think I would have died, because it was there. And it was only recently when my daughter had her son and I was waiting at home and I was sitting in the lounge room waiting to get the call to go to the hospital, and I saw my father's image walk...top...across of the stairs and he said, "It's soon." And my grandson was born...an hour and a half after that.” – Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
In 1962, Dawn Fraser competed in the 1962 7th Commonwealth Games which was held in Perth, Australia. She won 4 Gold Medals for the 110yd (100m) freestyle, 440yd (400m) freestyle, 4x110yd freestyle relay, and the 4x110yd medley relay. Also during the 110 yd freestyle, she broke the one minute barrier for this event finishing at 58.9 seconds, she became the first ever person to do this.
This record remained until 1973, which was eight years after Dawn Fraser’s retire that it was broken.
In 1964, three months before the Tokyo Olympics which Fraser was competing in, another one of her family members died, however this time not to Leukaemia. Her mother Rose Fraser, died in a car accident. Dawn recalls:
“What had happened is we came to Sydney from Melbourne - I was living in Victoria at the time - and we had the Australasian Championships here in North Sydney Pool. And the people of Balmain, and the football club mainly, because that's where everyone used to go, they said they wanted to give me a dinner and to raise money for Mum to come over to Tokyo for the Games. And I thought that was absolutely fantastic. My whole family was there. And my sister who lives out at Brighton-Le-Sands said, "I can't get a taxi this late at night." In those days you couldn't get taxis that late at night. I think it was about 1:00, 1:30 or so. And I said, "Well, don't worry about it. Johnny's lent me his car and I'll drive you home." And I had a girlfriend up from Melbourne and also my mum in the back of the car, my sister in the front of the car and I drove them home. As I was driving home, we were on General Holmes Drive at the time, being the freeway, and there was a parked truck. I just happened to see it at the last moment because I couldn't...it had no lights on the back and being a pig truck, it had all slush over the back tail lights. And I had this car which was the first car I'd ever driven that had power steering and as I pulled the car to swerve it, I rolled the car. The car got hit in the back and it flipped the car over. And I remember going by ambulance to the hospital and waking up in hospital and hearing, "Three injured and one DOA." And I thought... And I said... I can remember looking up and seeing my eldest brother. And I said, "Kenny, what's DOA mean?" He said, "Don't worry about it yet, sis." I said, "Is Mum alright?" And he said, "We'll talk about it later." And then it wasn't... I think, about three days later, then, I realised that...you know, I was in the same room as my girlfriend and my sister but my mother wasn't around. And I had to ask the doctor. I said, "Where is my mother?" And he said, "She was DOA." I said, "What does that mean?" He said, "Dead on arrival." And I said, "Oh." You know, I sort of, you know, broke down. And when my brother picked me up to take me out of the hospital, he made me drive the car. I said, "I'm not driving the car anymore. I don't ever want to drive the car." He said, "Don't worry about it. Mum had a heart attack." And I was led to believe by my family for many, many years, up until three years ago, that my mother had died prior to the accident. And it wasn't until I was doing my book and Debbie, who you know, who was my agent at the time and still is, she got the police report. She said, "Do you want this book to be honest?" I said, "As honest as the day." She said, "You ready?" I said, "Yes." She said, "I don't want to tell you this," she said, "but your mother died in the accident." I said, "Thank you, Debbie." And now it has made me feel not good inside but I know I've wiped away that question mark in my mind. I know now how my mother died. She didn't have a heart attack, she...I killed her, I drove the car that killed her, yeah. “ –Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
Dawn Fraser decided to compete in the Tokyo Olympics even after this accident because she said her “mother would’ve wanted to.”
Dawn Fraser was chosen to march representing Australia in the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo. She decided to rebel against the Australian Sponsors and wear a swimming costume which was from an unofficial source because she thought it was “more comfortable” than the sponsor supplied official one. This upset the sponsors very much. Also, Dawn Fraser was caught for “stealing” a flag, from the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Dawn recalls and explains what happens:
“Well, the story was that I'd finished with my swimming and I was doing a film for Bonds, we were doing a film for children to go to schools, and my producer, Lee Robinson, who has now passed on. We got an exemption from the team, from the village, and we went in to stay in the Imperial Palace Hotel in town. We finished doing the film, and that night, which was a Friday, we finished doing the film about four o'clock, and our men's hockey team had just won a bronze medal for the first time in Olympic history, and Lee said, "Why don't you ring up the manager and ask the boys if they'd like to come into the hotel, we'd like to give them a drink". And they'd finished their competition. So I rang Charlie Morris and I said, "Hey, Charles, Lee Robinson's invited you and the boys to come in and have a drink, a few drinks at the Imperial Palace Hotel". And they did, the team came in and we had a few drinks together, and the doctor of the team, who was with the hockey team at the time, said, "Fraser, are you interested in getting a flag?" And I said, "Of course I am". Howard Toyne, and Des Piper said, "Yes, let's go out and get some". So we said, "Righto-o". And as we walked out the hotel it was the big avenue leading up to the Imperial Palace, and if you've been to Tokyo you know that you can't get into the Imperial Palace. And outside of there was an avenue of Olympic flags, and we got two flags down. We put Des Piper on our shoulders. And, I mean, if you know, the size of a flagpole, I mean, I was fit, but not that fit.Yeah, we hoicked ... both Doc and I hoicked him up there and he got the rope down and got the couple of flags down, and we got two flags down, and the next thing there were whistles blowing everywhere, the police had seen us, we'd been spotted, and they started to chase us. So we ran ...we bolted, we ran into the bushes and, you know, they were hitting in the bushes with their batons, and it was hurting ...I jumped down off the garden, and I didn't realise it was about seven feet tall, the garden, and 'cause where we'd run it was very dark and I couldn't see, and I jumped down onto this, on the footpath, I thought I'd get away. But unfortunately I didn't, and that's when I tore all the tendons in my ankle.
And, you know, I sat in the park for a little while, and Doc and Des got caught, and the next minute a couple of policemen found me in the park, I was sitting on the bench, and they asked me what I was doing, and I said I was waiting for some friends, and they said no, and I had the flag stuck up underneath my tracksuit, 'cause I'd had the flag, I got one flag. And with that, when they stood up the flag rope fell out of my tracksuit pocket, underneath my tracksuit, and they pulled the flag out and they took me to the Marunouchi Police Station, and they were going to charge me, and they got in an interpreter who was the lieutenant of the police station, and he couldn't believe that it was Dawn Fraser, that I was Dawn Fraser, 'cause we had no ID on it, we'd left our dog tags back at the hotel.
I actually phoned Lee Robinson, who was my producer, still at the hotel, and this was about, oh, maybe one o'clock in the morning, and he said what have I done, and I said, "Just bring my dog tags in my room and my gold medals underneath my pillow, and I'm at the Marunouchi Police Station, which is just about two blocks down from the hotel". And he said, "What have you done?" And I said, "Look, I'll tell you when you get here".
And fortunately for Lee, he got into my room and he came down to the Marunouchi Police Station, and after showing them my gold medal and my dog tags, you know, they were still very disgusted that I'd ... that it was me, but they couldn't believe that I would do that. And then when he explained to me that it was a stealing offence, it could mean a jail term, and they decided then because of who I was, Dawn Fraser, and they let us off.And, you know, I sat in the park for a little while, and Doc and Des got caught, and the next minute a couple of policemen found me in the park, I was sitting on the bench, and they asked me what I was doing, and I said I was waiting for some friends, and they said no, and I had the flag stuck up underneath my tracksuit, 'cause I'd had the flag, I got one flag. And with that, when they stood up the flag rope fell out of my tracksuit pocket, underneath my tracksuit, and they pulled the flag out and they took me to the Marunouchi Police Station, and they were going to charge me, and they got in an interpreter who was the lieutenant of the police station, and he couldn't believe that it was Dawn Fraser, that I was Dawn Fraser, 'cause we had no ID on it, we'd left our dog tags back at the hotel. Next day I got the flag. The lieutenant gave it to me. He let us go.
That morning, about six o'clock in the morning there was a knock on my door, the doctor came in, and I said, "Oh, look, I've hurt my ankle, can you strap it up?" 'Cause I knew I had to march in the closing ceremony and take the flag around.
And he strapped my leg up, and as he was strapping my leg up there was a knock on my door. Lee got up and opened the door; it was the lieutenant of police. And I looked at him, and I thought what have I done, and he came in with a couple of more policemen and they had a big box of flowers, and he put it on the bed and he's saying, "Open, Open" in his broken Japanese-Australian, and I was opening it up and it was full of lovely flowers, but underneath was the flag.
I put the flag on auction for my testimonial and someone bought it for $75,000. However they gave it back to my daughter because she was saying," Mum, you know, that's cost you your life in swimming."” – Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser also got married to Gary Ware this year, they also had a daughter also called Dawn Lorraine, however they divorced 4 years later because Gary Ware had “gambling problems.” Also, after the Tokyo Olympics, that same year, Dawn Fraser was banned from swimming for ten years. Many presume it was because she stole the flag. However Dawn Fraser says it wasn’t because of that. Finally, Dawn Fraser was named Australian Of The Year in 1964.
“No, it wasn't that. It ... look, I believe it was, because I think that Berge Phillips got his way, by getting me out of swimming. But the letter that I received from the Australian Swimming Union was the fact that I marched in the opening ceremony and disobeyed the manager's control of marching in the opening ceremony, and also I wore an unofficial swimsuit in the heats, which I did. I admit to both of those. But I also had my explanation for those, but they were not listened to. And I was banned before I even ... I was banned whilst I was on my honeymoon, actually.” –Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser was made Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1967.
Dawn Fraser’s ban was actually lifted after four years because Australian Olympic Officials wanted Dawn to race in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. However, the ban was only lifted 18 months before the Olympics and Dawn thought this wasn’t enough time to train so instead decided not to compete. Dawn talks about this:
“I actually took them to court when I got back from my honeymoon, and we'd won the court case, and the ban had to be lifted straight away. But it wasn't in time for me to train for Mexico City, because it was 18 months before Mexico, and I wasn't allowed to swim in any swimming pool where there were other swimmers because I was banned. It would've meant that they would've been banned for life too, so I couldn't take that opportunity of getting anyone else into trouble. You know, I was the one that got myself into trouble, and I didn't want anyone else to get into trouble.” –Dawn Fraser
Abc Interview, Dawn Fraser Still Kicking, 15 April 2007
Dawn Fraser retired from swimming in 1965 after her ban.
Dawn Fraser spent the next twenty years doing minor charity work but prioritising on raising her daughter Dawn Lorraine as a single mother.
In 1979, a movie called “DAWN” was made to honour Dawn Fraser. The movie was made about Dawn’s Li
In 1988, Dawn Fraser became the Independent Member for Balmain in the New South Wales Parliament. Dawn Fraser decided to quit being in the Parliament in 1991 when her seat was abolished.
Also in 1988, Dawn Fraser became a mentor for the Abled and Disabled Australian Olympic Teams she has continued to be a mentor to this day. Finally, Dawn Fraser is the Board Director and Supporter of the West Tigers NRL Club. Dawn Fraser was played by Bronwyn Mackay-Payne. Dawn Fraser was credited as Dawn Fraser’s coach. In 2003, Melissa Thomas played Dawn Fraser in the movie Swimming Upstream which was a movie about Olympian/Swimmer for Australia Tony Fingleton who was also a swimmer during Dawn Fraser’s time.
Dawn Fraser has been to every Olympics until 2000 because she stated that she was “disgusted” because of Olympians doping.
In 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Dawn Fraser carried the Olympic Torch on its way to the Olympic Stadium and was honoured as one of seven greatest athletes of all time.
In 1998, she was also voted as one of Australia’s National Living Treasures, and the person who best symbolises and represents Australia.
In 1999, Dawn Fraser was given the title of “World Athlete of the Century” in Vienna at the World Sports Awards. She was also given the title of “Australian Athlete of the Century” the same year by the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2000, at the Sydney Olympics, Dawn Fraser was made the First Lady of the Olympic Games, she also partnered Juan Antonio Samaranch who was the president of the International Olympic Committee to the Opening Ceremony.
In the Opening Cermony, eight of Australia’s former Champion Olympians carried the torch around the stadium. This included: Bill Roycroft, Murray Rose, Liane Tooth, Gillian Rolton, Marjorie Jackson, Lorraine Crapp, Michael Wenden and Nick Green.
Also, celebrating 100 years of woman participation in the Olympics, Seven Female Australian Former Olympians also carried the torch around the stadium the second time. This included: Dawn Fraser herself, Betty Cuthbert (Runner) and Raelene Boyle (Runner), Shirley Strickland (Hurdles), Shane Gould (Swimmer) and Debbie Flintoff-King (Hurdles) who after handed it to Cathy Freeman who lit the Flame on the Olympic Torch. All six of these Olympians, also competed in around about the same time as Dawn Fraser did.
In 2001, Dawn Fraser also published her autobiography named “DAWN: ONE HELL OF A LIFE”
In 2003, her beloved Grandson Jackson was born. Dawn Fraser was there at his birth and she also cut the umbilical cord. Dawn Fraser talks about her only grandchild Jackson:
“Oh, just... It was very hard at the time. You get the scissors and they kept on slipping. And I went, "Oh, my God. They say, "You have to cut it now, Dawn." And I'm saying, "I'm trying!" But, you know, I was just too interested in having a look at the baby coming out of my daughter's stomach. It was just magical - here was this life. You know, I've always been terribly interested in life. And you know, seeing this... This was my... When they said it was a boy, I thought, "Go over there. Cut the cord." Got it done. They had to stop the blood flow. I couldn't take my eyes off. I wanted to grab him and hold him. They said, "We have to check him first." But they're beautiful, you know. I think I'm better now as a second time mum. Because I know more now. And I know how to...treat the child. And...I think if you give love to your children, and you're there for them when they go to and come home from school and they're not latchkey kids... I was never a latchkey kid, my daughter was never a latchkey kid and Jackson will never be a latchkey kid... Heaven helps that I'll be there for him. I've made a promise to myself - I'm going to live until he's 21 and I will dance at his 21st birthday.”-Dawn Fraser
-Dawn Fraser Interview Enough Rope With Andrew Denton! 9th August 2004
In 2013, Dawn was a contestant on Channel 7’s Celebrity Apprentice where she publically challenged World Boxing Champion and World Renowned Boxer Jeff Fenech to a Boxing Match and threatened to tackle him. She was the last person to be fired before the Season Finale, she raised $60,000 for her charity which was the Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled.
In July 2014, Dawn Fraser was invited to attend an event where Australia decided to start a partnership, alliance and cooperation with Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to Australia to start an alliance with Australia. Mr. Abe made a speech in the Australian Court of Parliament where Dawn Fraser was invited to attend. She attended with her daughter Dawn Lorraine and Grandson Jackson. The Japanese Prime Minister also acknowledged Dawn Fraser in his speech:
“I am dazzled by the power of Miss. Dawn Fraser who is in the gallery today. I have believed very much that you bring forth a new dawn to Japan, and a new dawn to Australia Japan relations.” –Shinzo Abe
Speech For The Australian Japanese Cooperation & Relations, Shinzo Abe, 8th of July 2014
Dawn Fraser remains as one of Australia’s most loved Australians.