Olympian dies at Peninsula Village

Australia's oldest living Olympian Ms Helen Joy Hardon, of Umina, died on July 21, aged 94, at the Peninsula Village nursing home where she lived.

Ms Hardon was the 1955 National Open Women's Foil Champion and was selected as one of 21 Australian fencers, of which only three were women, to compete at the first Olympic Games on Australian soil.

It was only by sheer determination that she was able to compete at all, however, as she was struck down by debilitating bronchitis at the start of the Games.

Ms Hardon struggled through the pre-Games training camp though and went on to be knocked out in the first round of the women's individual foil, finishing eighth in her group, and 28th overall, at the time admitting she was not at full strength in the competition.

After the Games, Ms Hardon moved to Vanuatu where she worked as a secretary to the British Resident Commissioner for nearly two decades. She also spent nine years working in England before returning home to Australia.

Ms Hardon settled in Peninsula Village at Umina Beach in 2001.

During the last two years of her life Ms Hardon's health deteriorated until she passed on July 21.

Ms Hardon's funeral was held at Simplicity Funerals Woy Woy, July 23.

Media release, 28 Jul 2016

Australian Olympic Committee Media