Athletics in Australia athletics club was formed by Mrs Drennan, herself a sprinter, in 1913, and competitions, held under the auspices of the NSW men's association were conducted over the next five years. Professional races for women were also very popular during this time. From 1928, the Amateur Athletics Union of Australia, had responsibility for track and field in Australia, including women's athletics with women's events being held, for the first time, at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. The first joint National Championships were conducted in Melbourne in 1930. In 1932 an Australian Women's Amateur Athletics Union was formed which administered women's track and
Participation of women in the Olympics At the Summer Games of the same year held in Helsinki, women were allowed to compete in equestrian for the first time. They competed in the dressage event which was co-ed with the men. Danish equestrian Lis Hartel of Denmark won the silver medal in the individual competition alongside men. At the 1956 Winter Olympics held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the 3 × 5 kilometre relay cross country event was added to the programme. The 1956 Summer Games held in Melbourne, had a programme identical to that of the prior Olympiad. The 1960 Winter Olympics held in Squaw Valley saw the