Shirley Cross, Skating Champion and Competitive Marcher

This collection of trophies, medals, certificates, and photographs represents the sporting achievements of Shirley Cross, a champion roller skater and leader of a marching team called the Majorettes.

Shirley Hawthorn (née Cross)

Shirley was born in Masterton in 1932 and grew up in central Wellington. She started roller skating at age six, and although she’d lost a big toe at age three it didn’t affect her skating ability. Shirley quickly became obsessed with the sport, clattering away for hours on a narrow stretch of polished floorboards in the family’s lounge. Later was able to practice at the Glide Skating Rink, and she started competing at around eight years old. The couple who owned the Glide rink, sensing her love of skating, offered to provide boots, skates, dress and fare so she could compete at the 1940 Junior Gliding Championships in Christchurch.

Shirley went on to win many solo titles, including the Junior Girls title in 1946, the Senior Solo title in 1949 and 1950, and the Australasian Solo title in 1950. That year she toured New Zealand giving skating demonstrations, with her mother Mary Ellen Cross acting as chaperone.

Shirley also competed with skating partner Ken Rough, and the pair won a number of local competitions. At the 1950 Australasian Champs they skated to Slaughter on 10th Avenue from the musical comedy On Your Toes, which was considered quite outrageous at that time.

Shirley and Ken practised at Wellington’s Luna Park rink, but when it closed in 1950 they had to stop skating. Their sporting partnership continued in marching, however, as Shirley established and led a team called the Majorettes which Ken coached.

In later life Shirley took up leisure marching, and she coached, choreographed and marched for teams in Tawa. She also practised Tai Chi twice a week, in order to maintain her mental and physical balance. Sport remained an important part of Shirley's life, and she was convinced that being active helped her to stay healthy and mobile.  Shirley passed away in September 2017, aged 85.

Roller Skating in New Zealand

Roller skating has been a popular recreational activity in New Zealand since the mid-1880s, and by the early twentieth century there was significant interest in competition-level skating. The New Zealand Roller Skating Association was established in 1937 to promote and foster all branches of roller skating, and in the 1960s they had a membership of approximately 1,200 skaters. Enthusiasts enjoyed seeing competitors like Shirley exhibiting their skills.

Recreational skating had another boom in the 1980s thanks to the popularity of roller discos, and a growing number of people now enjoy skating in the competitive sport of roller derby.

Marching in New Zealand

Marching is a uniquely New Zealand activity which developed as a competitive sport in the 1920s and quickly gained popularity. Marching teams were set up all over the country, and in 1945 the New Zealand Marching Association was established to oversee national competitions and encourage the development of the sport.

Teams of up to ten, guided by a leader who issued whistle commands, aimed to give the impression that they were moving as one, with points given for precision, energy, and uniforms. Shirley not only established and led the Majorettes, she also designed the team’s uniforms, which like most marching costumes were sharply tailored and designed to be dramatic.

This collection of objects and photographs reveals the time and energy Shirley Cross dedicated to both amateur and competitive sport. As for so many other New Zealanders, sport occupied a central place in Shirley’s life, and the objects demonstrate her pride in sporting achievement as well as the opportunities sport provided for travel and excitement, competition and camaraderie.

References:

1. Macdonald, Charlotte. 1993. ‘Organisations in Sport, Recreation and Leisure.’ In Women Together: A History of Women’s Organisations in New Zealand Ngā Rōpū Wāhine o te Motu, edited by Anne Else, 405-417. Wellington: Daphne Brasell Associates.

2. Macdonald, Charlotte. 2007. 'Moving in Unison, Dressing in Uniform: Stepping Out in Style with Marching Teams.' In Looking Flash: Clothing in Aotearoa New Zealand, edited by Bronwyn Labrum, Fiona McKergow and Stephanie Gibson, 186-205. Auckland: Auckland University Press.

3. Macdonald, Charlotte. 2013. Marching teams and cheerleaders. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/marching-teams-and-cheerleaders

4. Pollock, Kerryn. 2013. Roller skating and skateboarding. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/roller-skating-and-skateboarding

5. Rasmussen, Tony. 2011. ‘Janet and Roger Sanson’s Roller Skates.’ In Te Hao Nui: The Great Catch. Stories from Te Manawa, edited by Fiona McKergow and Kerry Taylor, 152-157. Auckland: Godwit.