Melbourne Olympic Games

Photo: Heidleberg Historical Society also online at Yarra Plenty Regional Library

1 I was a dishwasher at the 1956 Olympic Games
2 The athletes
3 Reading
4 Links

[edit] I was a dishwasher at the 1956 Olympic Games

During the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, I was a volunteer at the Olympic Village (in West Heidleberg). The position was advertised in the local Leader Newspaper. I applied and was accepted. I didn’t have the biggest idea of what I was going to do. Anyway after working a full day at the Koala Shoe factory which was from 8am till 4.30pm, I would catch a bus up to the village and start work at 5pm. We had a special pass, a special hat that we kept each day and we got a white dustcoat. The cap had the games number in roman numbers on the front. I started working there 3 weeks before the games began and worked there for 7 weeks. I used to operate the big industrial dishwashers. They were on loan to the village from the Watsonia Army Barracks. It was long hours. We had to wait for everyone’s events to finish, then they came in for a meal. Then we would wash up afterwards. Sometimes I didn’t finish till 11.30 at night. But it was fantastic.

[edit] The athletes

I met all the famous athletes like Dawn Fraser, Lorraine Crapp, Shirley Strickland, Betty Cuthbert & Marjorie Jackson. I remember that Murray Rose was the only athlete not to stay in the Olympic Village because he was on a special diet. I can recall all the crowds of people lining up outside for autographs and one of the athletes said to me “I can’t understand all the fuss we’re just like everyone else, just normal people. But I told her that this was probably the only chance that someone would get to meet a real Olympian, it was a fantastic experience. There also wasn’t any security like nowadays although I do remember that IRAQ would not eat in the same kitchen as Iran and ended up leaving. At the end of the games even though we were volunteers we did get paid about 3 pounds a week and we also got a special letter from Canberra. My son also worked as a volunteer during the games. He was lucky enough to work at the MCG. He was only 14 or 15 years of age and he worked very long hours. One day he started at 8.30am and didn’t finish till 11.30pm as the high jump went for so long. An American high jumper kept getting the bar put up higher and higher and broke the world record. Funny enough even though my son was only 14 or 15 his job was collecting glasses from the public bars and selling cigarettes and ice creams. He would have to be 18 to do that today. He was very lucky to see nearly all the events held at the MCG. Over all it was a wonderful experience and in 2000 the government sent us a commemorative medal. I wish I had have kept my autographs book. It was full of all the stars. I am looking forward to these (Melbourne Commonwealth) Games. GO Australia.

By Mary Buzza (aged 93) 2006