With great sadness, Diving Australia mourns the passing of Life Member, Barbara Donnet. 

Barbara, and indeed the Donnet family, are synonymous with Diving in Australia. An Olympian (1956), and two time Commonwealth Games medallist, including Gold on 10m in 1954, Barbara leaves an amazing legacy in our sport.

After an accomplished career as an athlete, including multiple National Championships (Barbara continues to hold the record for most consecutive Women’s 3m National Championships with 6) she turned her hand to coaching where she had great success, including coaching at a World Junior Championships where both her daughters (amongst others), Jenny and Barbi, performed very well. She was also one of the first four Level 3 coaches in Australia.

After moving to Queensland for warmer climes, Barbara continued to coach extensively until 2011, bringing to a close an over 60 year close relationship with diving. It was a great pleasure for Diving Australia to welcome Barbara to pool deck in recent years to check in on the progress of Australia’s young divers.

Barbara was made a Life Member of Diving Australia in 2011 and our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this difficult time.