Elsie Wilkie


Elsie Hamer Wilkie was a New Zealand lawn bowls player who represented her country internationally.

Bowls career

She was born in Waihou, near Te Aroha.
She won the singles gold medal at the 1973 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Wellington, New Zealand in addition to the team gold, and four years later successfully defended her title when taking singles gold again at the 1977 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Worthing, England. An additional bronze medal was won in the team event.
She won the 1966, 1970 & 1971 singles titles and the 1969 & 1980 pairs title at the New Zealand National Bowls Championships when bowling for the Walton and Matamata Bowls Club respectively.

Honours and awards

In the 1979 New Year Honours, Wilkie was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to bowling.
In 1990, Wilkie was the first woman bowler to be inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.