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The 1956 Olympics
 In 1956, an unknown teenage shot-putter,
Margaret Woodlock (now Woodlock-McLean), was selected to represent
Australia in the Melbourne Olympic Games. A protege of
world-renowned athletics coach, Franz Stampfl, Margaret's
selection for the Games generated massive press interest. She
was catapulted into the public eye as Australia's newest hope
in the Olympics.
 Her photo and story appeared in newspapers all
over the country such as The
Argus, The
Age, The Herald, The Melbourne Sun and The Sydney Sun. She
also appeared on various national radio programs - as television
hadn't yet been established in Australia, this was the height
of media attention. A student of St Catherine's School,
in her final year, and also Head Girl, Margaret went on to compete
in the Games as Victorian Champion. She went onto gain
the title of Australian Champion on 1958, which she held
until 1962, when she retired from competition.
Marg then went on to study
Physical Education at Melbourne University, graduating
with a Diploma in Physical Education, and became Head of Physical
Education at Melbourne Girls Grammar (M.C.E.G.G.S.).
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The
United Kingdom & Canada
 Two years later she left Australia to teach in
the Physical Education Dept. at the Lady Eleanor Holles School,
Twickenham, UK. She lived in the UK for two years, during
which time she was also Head of Physical Education and Matron
of the Boarding School at Birklands School, Herts.
and Head of Physical Education at Heathfield School,
Ascot, Berkshire. She returned to Australia, and her first job
of Head of Physical Education at M.C.E.G.G.S. She met
and married G.A. McLean (see article),
and they moved to Canada the following year. While living in
Ontario, she worked as Box Office Manager for the Playhouse
Theatre, working in the other area that held her interest
- the Performing Arts.
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Toorak
College
 The couple returned to Australia, and in 1983
she became the Development Officer for Toorak College
- during which time she established a AU$1.2 million fundraiser
for a new Sports/Performing Arts Complex for the school. The
target was reached and the Complex built.
 She also set up and maintained an annual
bequests programme and a database and computer system that enabled
the school to efficiently continue their development programme
well into the future. Also responsible for organizing Special
Events and sponsorship, public relations and promotion and budgeting,
Marg set up a thriving, efficient office that effectively served
the school and met all their growth projections.
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National
Water Sports Centre
 In 1988, Marg took the position of Manager
of the National Water Sports Centre (NWSC) in Carrum, Victoria
- a venue established for the Melbourne bid for the 1996 Olympic
Games. (Click here
and here
to read press clippings). This job involved total venue management,
business plans, budgets, maintenance, capital development of
the site, management of all major events, development of community
support groups, VIP hosting & liaison, promotion and public
relations and planning of future development for the site.
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Emjay
Projects
In 1994, Marg decided it was
time to branch out, and established Emjay Projects - a
special events company, with the slogan "personalised service
for special events".
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Strolling Players Performing Arts Group
 Also a very active community member, Marg was
the Director of the Strolling Players Club, which was
a State Appointment for the Girl Guide Association. A Touring
Performing Arts club, dedicated to giving young performers aged
10-18 years, experience and training in the performing arts,
the Strolling Players toured around Australia each year for 2-3
weeks, presenting a variety show prepared through workshops run
every three weeks.
 In 1985 the troupe toured to Europe and performed
in Holland, Switzerland and England, appearing on Thames TV,
London. In 1997 - the year Australia was defending the America's
Cup - the troupe was named Special Ambassadors by the then Prime
Minister, Bob Hawke, and toured through country Victoria and
South Australia to Perth, WA. They carried with them a large
"good luck" card, collecting signatures from Premiers
and audiences, which was then presented to the Australian Americas'
Cup Crew at a special performance at the Royal Perth Yacht Club.
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World
Masters Games & Vic Health Masters Games
 In 1990, Marg came out of retirement from athletics,
and competed in the Vic Health Masters Games. She walked
away with a gold medal in Shot Put and Discus and a Silver Medal
in Javelin. She then went on to compete in the World Masters
Games in 1994, where she won a Silver Medal in Shot Put and
Bronze Medal in Javelin. In 1995 she entered the Vic Health
5th Australian Masters Games and again came away with a Gold
Medal in Shot Put and Discus and a Silver medal in Javelin. See
one of the press
articles for more information. In 2002, Marg became the World
Masters Games Shotput Champion, winning Gold at the World
Masters Games, Melbourne.
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Public
Speaking
 Marg
is also a Public Speaker and has been invited to speak for various
audiences including Rotary Clubs, International Toast-Mistress
Clubs, Probus Clubs, Retired Teachers Association, International
Soroptimists, Schools, Country Women's Association, Conferences,
and The Australiasian Institute of Fundraising. She has done
many television and radio interviews about the events she has
organized and her experiences as an Olympian.
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Memberships
& Honours
 Marg is a member of the Victorian Olympians
Club (Executive Committee Member), Athletics International,
Australian Red Cross and a recent member of The Australiasian
Institute of Fundraising. She has received the Emu Award
from the Australian Guide Association - National award for outstanding
service to Guiding Australia, Long Service Award from
Red Cross Australia for outstanding service to Red Cross Victoria
and the International Directory of Distinguished Leadership
Award from the American Biographical Institute Inc. for outstanding
service to youth, sport and recreation.
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The
Margaret Woodlock Bursary
 She was honoured by St Catherines' Girls School
in 1995 when they created the Margaret Woodlock Bursary
for superlative sporting achievement, in recognition of her contribution
and achievement in sport. (Click here
to read a press clipping). The inaugural beneficiary of this
award was Lauren Hewitt - who went on to compete in the
1996 Atlanta Olympics in the 4x100 relay and won the Bronze Medal
in the 200 meters at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
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Margaret Woodlock-McLean biography
compiled and written by Sally McLean |
