Centenarian Evelyn Webster, New Zealand's first female competitor at Wimbledon, passes away at the age of 101.
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Evelyn Webster, a trailblazing figure in New Zealand's sporting history, has been fondly remembered at a memorial service held at the Milford Cruising Club. Born in Helensville, Webster's life was marked by a unique blend of tennis prowess and seafaring adventure.
Webster, who competed under her maiden name Attwood, made history as the first New Zealand woman to participate in Wimbledon. From 1951 to 1954, she represented her country at the prestigious tournament. Her journey to England, which took weeks, was a testament to her determination and resilience.
During her time in England, Webster trained tirelessly, hitting balls against bricks in a back alley in Kensington. Her hard work paid off, as she became the national ladies' singles champ in New Zealand in 1948.
In the mid-20th century, Webster was supported by the New Zealand tennis community, although there is no specific team recorded as backing her during her time in England. Notably, Dunlop provided her with a tennis racket and funded some of her travel.
However, Webster's life was not solely focused on tennis. She spent quite a few years of her schooling in Levin, New Zealand, and later in life, she lived in Milford, on Auckland's North Shore for the second half of her life.
Webster's love for the sea was evident as she was the main instigator in creating the anchorage for boaters at Smokehouse Bay in Port Fitzroy on Great Barrier. Alongside her husband, Eric, she built communal facilities for visiting sailors, known as 'Webster's Wonderland'.
Webster had to save money to travel to England for more competition, and she returned to New Zealand late in 1954 due to her father's age and her desire to be with her sister.
In 1940, Webster, then Attwood, lost a narrow victory in the girls' singles at the New Zealand championships in Wellington to Rosemary Hodges. But this setback did not deter her, and in 1941, she won the junior girls' national title at the 18-and-under championships in Christchurch.
Webster started turning heads in tennis at the age of 11, and her career was marked by a spirit of perseverance and a love for competition. Her memory lives on, not just in the annals of New Zealand tennis history, but also in the hearts of those who knew her and were inspired by her journey.
