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Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8782, 25 January 1909, Page 5

Fourteen swimmers essayed an eightmile swim in the Yarra, from Hawthorn to Princc's Bridge, Melbourne, on Saturday week. Of the six who suceeded, none.finished less fatigued than the one lady competitor (Miss Ruby Boobier). The swim was organised by the Richmond Swimming Club, and in order to lend variety to the event, Alexander Lamb and his pupil, F. Marr, agreed to dive from the bridges en. route. Not to be outdone by the sterner sex, Miss. l - Boobier left the water at the Botanical Bridge, and in company with Lamb and Marr scaled the parapet. For a few seconds the girl . poised on ■ the narrow'ledge, cool and confident; - Then she sprang- forward and l entered the water with a clean shallow dive. The cheering was tumultuous. The progress of the swimmers was watched with interest by hundreds of people, who followed in motor boats and smaller craft while crowds walked the full course along the river bank. Mies Boobier said she took part in the swim just to show that a woman's powers of endurance were equal" to those of a man. Miss Boobier is a native of Bendigo, and is 18 years of age. * '