Eighty-five years of achievements recognised

Dorothy ‘Dot’ Durston was a pioneer for female sports stars, representing Victoria and Australia in softball.

She raised three children as a single mother, one of whom has a disability. 

And she is looking forward to Saturday, when she will be one of six recipients of the inaugural Bendigo Women’s Community Achievement Awards.

“When you get to 85, you don’t expect this amount of elation,” Mrs Durston said.

She was introduced to softball by her then employer, Coles, at the age of 14. 

Three years later, her sporting talent was recognised when Bendigo took a Division 2 softball team to Melbourne.

Mrs Durston impressed Myrtle Edwards, then Victorian Captain and Australian selector, with her skills.

She went on to play for her state for three consecutive years and represent her country.

Mrs Durston played against New Zealand in 1951 in Sydney when the Kiwis toured Australia. 

In September 1953, Mrs Durston married and started her family. 

The youngest of her three children, Rodney, was born profoundly deaf and with cerebral palsy.

Her relationship disintegrated about the same time, eventually ending in divorce.

By 1959, Mrs Durston was a single mother, with three young children depending on her. 

She has been Rodney’s primary carer for 57 years. 

Travel re-entered her life when Rodney turned six and needed to start school.

There was no support or schooling suitable for him in Bendigo at the time, meaning Rodney had to be educated in Melbourne. 

“For eight years I had to travel to Melbourne – I was only allowed to bring him back [to Bendigo] once a month.” Mrs Durston said.

Rodney returned to Bendigo when he was 14, and became immersed in family and community life.

He and his siblings David and Kerry inherited their mother’s love of sports. 

Rodney and family friend Margaret Ashman won an Australian ten pin bowling title in 1979. He carried the Sydney Olympic Flame in 2000.

“The biggest hurdle was money,” Mrs Durston said.

To support her family, she resumed work in the retail sector; as a cleaner at the stadium; and in the cloakroom at YMCA dance functions, with help from the late Tom Tweed.

Mrs Durston thanked the people who had supported her and her family throughout the years, some of whom will be present at the Bendigo Ladies Day Out on Saturday.

Tickets are $75 and funds raised will support the Annie North Women’s Crisis Refuge Centre.

For bookings, call Bendigo Stadium on 5440 6200.