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Long, Thelma Dorothy (1918-)

Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-714072

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

The career of Australian tennis player Thelma Coyne Long spanned more than 20 years. The winner of the Australian Women's Singles title in 1952 and 1954 (aged 35 years) she was also runner-up in 1951, 1955 and 1956. From 1936 until 1940, Thelma Coyne and Nancye Wynne (later Bolton) were Australian Women's Doubles Champions. During the war years of 1941 to 1945, no competition was held for major Australian tournaments and Long enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). Following her discharge from the AWAS Long and Nancye Wynne Bolton continued their tennis careers. They won the Australian Doubles 1947-1949 and 1951-1952. Long then joined with Mary Hawton to win the doubles championship in 1956 and 1958 - 20 years after she won the National Junior Singles Championship aged 16. The pair were also runners-up for the Wimbledon Women's Doubles title in 1957. Long was winner of the Australian Mixed Doubles 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955 and the French Mixed Doubles in 1956. On 30 August 2000 Long was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 2002. A life member of the Australian Women's Army Association (New South Wales) Long is actively involved in the archiving of the association records. In October 2002 she became a participant of the Australian Women in War Project working group.

Thelma Long was inducted to the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame at Melbourne Park during the Australian Open on Australia Day 2002. Long's tennis career was remarkable not only for the span of time it covered (1935-1958) but more so for what was accomplished due to the limited opportunities available to Australian women players at that time. The records show Long won 19 Grand Slam titles - 2 Australian Singles, 12 National Doubles, 4 National Mixed and 1 French Mixed.

Long's overseas record was just as brilliant with singles, doubles and mixed championship wins in 16 countries. This was achieved after an absence from international competition for the decade 1939-1949 due to World War II and four years in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). For her service during World War II Long was awarded the War Medal 1939/45 and Australian Service Medal 1939/45.

On 30 January 1941 Thelma Coyne married Maurice Newton Long of Melbourne. The marriage did not continue after the war. Following her discharge from the AWAS Long resumed amateur competition tennis both in Australia and overseas - Open tennis was not established until 1968.

An Australian representative over the years 1938-1958 Long became a teaching professional in 1960 and devoted years of service to coaching promising NSW juniors. In 1985 her achievements were recognized by Tennis NSW when she was awarded Life Membership of the State Association.

In 1993 Thelma (Coyne) Long was inducted to the inaugural Randwick Sporting Hall of Fame and then in 1999 as an Honouree of the Hall of Champions at the State Sports Centre, Homebush Olympic area. Long also is a volunteer at the State Library of NSW and she received the Volunteer Service Award in 1999, The Year of the Volunteer.

In 2000, Australia's Olympic year, Thelma Long was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in recognition of her services to tennis.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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Resources

Selected resources (8)

Australian Women's Register

  1. LONG, THELMA DOROTHY
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    [2002]
  2. She's Game: Women Making Australian Sporting History
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2007]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  3. Who's Who in Australia, 1947
    Chisholm, Alec H
    [1947]
    Published: The Herald and Weekly Times, Melbourne
  4. Encyclopedia of Australia Sport
    Shepherd, Jim
    [1980]
    Published: Rigby Publishers
  5. Long, Thelma (Captain, AWAS, AIF)
    [1941 - 1942]
    PHOTOCOPY OF TYPESCRIPT DRAFT TITLED "MY FIRST SIX MONTHS IN THE AWAS" DESCRIBING RECRUITMENT AND INITIAL TRAINING AND DUTIES IN MELBOURNE, 1941-1942
    1 item
    Australian War Memorial Research Centre
    PR86/222
  6. Long, Thelma Dorothy (Captain, AWAS AIF b: 1918)
    [1942 - 1945]
    COMMISSION, PAYBOOKS, DRIVERS LICENCE, SPECIAL PASS AND DEMOBILIZATION PAPERS ASSOCIATED WITH SERVICE AT HQ VIC L OF C AREA
    11 items
    Australian War Memorial Research Centre
    PR88/152
  7. Long, Thelma D (Captain, AWAS AIF b: 1918)
    PHOTOCOPY OF DIARY/APPOINTMENT BOOK FOR OCTOBER 1943 DETAILING WORK AS A STAFF OFFICER FOR THE VISIT OF LADY GOWRIE TO QUEENSLAND. PRECIS OF AWAS CAREER AND COPIES OF ENLISTMENT AND DISCHARGE PAPERS
    2 items
    Australian War Memorial Research Centre
    PR86/058
  8. Interview with Thelma Long (When the war came to Australia)
    Mrs Thelma Long visited Germany in 1938 as a team member of the Australian Women's Tennis Team and describes her experiences. As part of the war effort, she joined the Red Cross as a transport driver and worked in Melbourne. She then joined the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS). She gives a history of women's participation in the armed forces: navy, airforce and army; also the medical services. She details many statistics, eg 70,000 women served in the combined services in the 1939-1945 war. She describes women's participation in the field, in Australia and New Guinea. She discusses women's conditions in the context of the period: pay rates, duties, value, etc. Mrs Long was on the staff of Colonel S.H. Irving MBE, Controller AWAS for a time and describes people, places and events in Melbourne from 1942. She mentions differences between the American troops and the Australians. In Mrs Long's opinion, women working in the forces pioneered their working in careers. The role of women in the war is discussed: women in the armed forces released some 55,000 men to go to forward positions.
    Australian War Memorial Research Centre
    F04037

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  1. Papers
    [Unpublished : 1942-1945]
  2. Smith, George Albert
    George Albert Smith
    [Unpublished : 1870]
    Available online (access conditions apply)
  3. Papers of Alan Marshall
    Marshall, Alan, 1902-1984
    [Unpublished : 1903-1982]
  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 43 matching archived pages
  2. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 33 matching archived pages
  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 5 matching archived pages
  1. TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC. THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION.
    The Mercury (Hobart,..., Thursday 17 October 1918 p 3
    ... Gins (Cook), 80 per cent Long, Dons (bhort). 85 per cent Smith, Dorothy (Mitthews), 85 per cent ... TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC. | I THE PRACTICAL EXAMINATION. The 1918 practical examination conducted ... Mini (McLaien) Jttnioi -Honours Green, Esma fSaeied Hoarl Convent), 86 per cent , Piibi. Dorothy ... 586 words
  2. Family Notices
    The Advertiser (Adelaide,..., Thursday 30 January 1919 p 6
    ... DOWNEY.-In loving? memory of Tom Downey, who died January 30, 1918.-Inserted by hie frierJs M. and E. Ferguson. DRING.- Ii snd but lovini memory of Lizzie, who d ed on the 30th of January, 1918. Too much ... Jnuunry, 1916, at the Booleroo Centre Hospital, after a long and patient illness. Gone, out not ... 851 words
  3. THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE. PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS BOARD. PRIMARY PUBLIC EXAMINATION, 1918.
    The Advertiser (Adelaide,..., Wednesday 18 September 1918 p 11
    ... THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE. PUBLIC VUBUC EXAMINATIONS BOARD. '_ PRIMARY PUBLIC EXAMINATION, 1918. ... Sabina Agatha, li.Al; Hamp, Edward James, ILL.Al, Gt; Hoies licrry. Dorothy Mary, l.,F,Al; ... Thelma Mabel. L,Al,Gt; *Mn:itsoniery. Lionel Montrose, H,Al,Ct; Morrisscv. Stay, G¡rjil,Gt; ... 754 words
  1. The Huntley Farmside
    The Huntley Farmside
    [Article : 1963-2007]
    Available online
  2. The Huntley Farmside
    The Huntley Farmside
    [Article : 1963-2007]
    Available online
  3. The Huntley Farmside
    The Huntley Farmside
    [Article : 1977-2007]
    Available online