Swimming - Diving
Jan. 01, 1968 - Linda McGill Beats Seven Men To Become First Person To Swim Across Shark-Infested Port Phillip Bay: 22-year old Linda McGill, daughter of a Sydney policeman, today beat seven men to become the first person to swim across the widest point of port Phillip Bay, a treacherous and shark-infested stretch of 25 miles. The eight contestants for a 1, 000 dollar (1, 120 U.S. Dollars) prize offered by a Melbourne newspaper, swam in wire meshages because of the shark danger. Sharks were sigted during the race but caused no trouble. Miss McGill took just over 13 hours to cross the Bay from Port Arlington to Frankston, and was two hours ahead of her nearest rival when she stepped ashore on Frankston Beach. Miss McGill swam the English channel last year and was awarded the M.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List
