FAMILY OF FENCERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 13

FAMILY OF FENCERS

Winter Sisters Of Australia

Miss Rickey Winter, who is at present in Christchurch with the Australian Universities fencing team, is one of three sisters who are all prominent in Australian fencing. At the last national championships all three were among the eight finalists in the women s foil event. The most outstanding of the three is 19-year-old Joanna, who competed in the women’s foil at the 1960 Olympic Games only to be eliminated in the first round. She was the first of the family to be introduced to fancing. four years and a half ago by a part-time school instructor, Professor Michael O'Brien. He had studied fencing in Europe and as a professional coach held classes at the Sala Bella Vista Fencing Club. It was not long before Joanna joined his club in Melbourne and her sisters soon took up the sport. With Rickey attending university it is not unusual for the three girls to fence two nights at the Sala Bella Vista club and another at the University Club. The girls are able to compete in only five open events a year. Tlie youngest sister is 17-year-old Vai who is still at school. She has been fencing for about three years and a half and has managed to finish ahead of Rickey at the last two national tournaments but has still not beaten Joanna. Vai toured New Zealand last month with the Australian national team. The Winter family immigrated to Australian from Europe in 1951 and the girls are planning to return to Europe for a holiday to gain more fencing experience.