Vale: Mary Ormsby OAM

by Aidan Davis on July 25, 2019

Bowls Australia was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Hall of Fame inductee Mary Ormsby OAM.

Ormsby was one of South Australia’s most prolific bowls exponents, and achieved success across international, national, state and club levels.

From an international perspective, Ormsby was Australia’s fifth capped women’s representative, debuting at the 1967 South African Test Series, and amassing 16 international appearance which also included the 1969 World Bowls Championships and 1969 South Africa Test Series.

At a state level, she donned the South Australian uniform on 167 occasions and was a State Selector for 29 years.

At the grassroots level, Ormsby was included in Grange Bowling Club’s Team of the Century and was immortalised at the club with a green named in her honour.

In recognition of her considerable achievements, Ormsby was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1985 for her services to the sport of Lawn Bowls.

Ormsby was inducted in Bowls Australia’s Hall of Fame, as an athlete in the 1950-74 era, during the inaugural function in 2011.

Bowls Australia extends its sympathies to Mary Ormsby’s family and friends.