City of Holdfast Bay’s Margaret Messenger Reserve is set to undergo a much-needed makeover as part of the Council’s Glenelg Oval Masterplan – but what won’t change, is the reserve’s famous name.
And the real-life Margaret Messenger – a long-time Glenelg resident and Olympic Games gold medallist – is happy about that.
“I was told about the plans for the reserve and I thought it was lovely … the reserve has been neglected in the last few years and it is nice to think that (council) is not forgetting about it and that gives me an enormous amount of pleasure,” she said.
“It will continue our family’s connection in Glenelg through another generation and I feel very happy about it.”
Margaret’s personal connection to Glenelg goes back many decades and she still lives, and swims, locally to this day.
She was barely a teenager when she was first spotted swimming at Glenelg beach by instructor Spencer Major – which eventually led to her becoming an Olympic athlete when she was 18.
“It happened by chance…I honestly don’t think I knew much about the Olympic Games when I grew up,” she said.
“And it was quite serendipitous that I started swimming and Spencer saw me down the beach and said to me, ‘I could make you a swimmer’.”
It was Margaret’s amazing performance in the pool at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics – in the 4 x 100m relay race with teammate Dawn Fraser – which led to the reserve being named in her honour.
“Dawn and I were in the team together and were the best of friends – and are still best friends,” Margaret said.
Margaret Messenger Reserve was unveiled officially on 31 October 2004. Almost 20 years later, it’s something that Margaret and her family – including 12 grandchildren – are still very proud of.
“It used to be the women’s croquet club and when (council) decided to turn it into a reserve, somebody put my name forward and they decided to name it after me.
“It was a long time after the Olympics, so it was bit of a shock that they even remembered who I was but I was extraordinarily honoured and I felt quite proud of that fact that my sporting record was being recognised in Glenelg.
“And it is fun for me when people visit here and it comes up in conversation – they say to me, ‘there’s a park named after you’,” Margaret said with a laugh.
In the coming 12-18 months, the reserve will be undergo a makeover, with the basketball court to be reconfigured and upgraded, fitness equipment to be installed, new trees will be planted and there’ll be better access and connection to Glenelg Oval. A playground will also be built in the north-east corner of the oval, which will flow into Margaret Messenger Reserve.
