Swimming New Zealand mourns the passing of life member, Enid Wordsworth

ENID WORDSWORTH Q.S.M


Swimming New Zealand mourns the passing of life member, Enid Wordsworth. 

"Thank you, Enid, for your years of dedicated service.  Enid epitomized what Swimming Bay of Plenty strives to achieve and her tenaciousness, positively and sense of humour will be missed but forever remembered."  

All of us at Swimming New Zealand offers our condolences to Enid's family.

Enid’s involvement with Swimming spanned over 6 decades.  Enid was one of the driving forces and foundation member to establish the Greerton Amateur Swimming Club back in 1958.  It was at this point that Enid’s legacy in swimming began.

Enid for many years instructed at club level concentrating on teaching budding swimmers to breathe in the proper manner.  Enid worked tirelessly in establishing the club, the day to day running of it, and fundraising for the actual construction of the Greerton Pool – the club’s home base. She qualified as a Bay of Plenty Regional Timekeeper in 1970 and later qualified as a Judge/Inspector of Turns. The 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch saw Enid poolside at the Queen Elizabeth Complex officiating as a timekeeper. 

Enid was always poolside officiating at National Meets right up to 2006. She had officiated at Oceania Meets, Masters’ Meets both National and International, and Special Olympics Swimming Meets. Greerton Amateur Swimming Club had the benefit of her time keeping skills at their domestic swim events right throughout the years of their existence until her health started to fail.   In 1980 Greerton Club honoured Enid by bestowing upon her Life Membership of their club having already previously awarded her a Long Service Award. Enid also served her club as a committee member for many years. Enid was extremely active at club level attending most committee meetings passing on invaluable information from her immense experience and the vast fund of wisdom.

At a Regional level, Enid was the Patron of Swimming Bay of Plenty.  She actively promoted swimming at all levels.  At a regional level, as well as officiating at practically every regional event and Championship Meet run by the Region for many years.  Enid also sat on several sub-committees.  She was a Regional Examiner of Timekeepers and the Convener of the Regional Examiners Committee and was also the Convener of the Awards Committee. She was also a member of the Regional Technical Committee.  Enid served as Bay of Plenty Regional Secretary from 1976 to 1980.  She was a member of the Swimming Bay of Plenty Board in 1970 thru to the mid-1980s. 

In 1972 she was awarded the Bay of Plenty Service Award and in 1984 Bay of Plenty honoured her with Life Membership.

At a National level, Enid was awarded the SNZ Service award in 1983 followed by Honors in 1994.  She was one of the original members of the New Zealand Swimming Trust formed in 1991 and was elected to serve on the Trusts Committee in 2000.   Enid was appointed to the SNZ Awards Committee in 1997 and filled this role for many years.  Enid served on the SNZ Board in 1984.  She was awarded SNZ Life Membership in 2009.

In 2002, Enid was awarded the Queens Service Medal for Community Service; this was in recognition for her valuable contribution to swimming.

Enid was dedicated, conscientious, much-loved and respected.  Her service to our sport was tremendous.  She inspired us all with her passion, dedication and hard work.  She promoted this sport’s many values at public and grassroots level. 

REST IN PEACE ENID

Memorial: A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 2 pm at Pyes Pa Memorial Park - Crematorium Chapel.