The family of Australia’s oldest Rio Olympian, Mary Hanna, will be up in the wee hours cheering her on from the Macedon Ranges’ while she vies for equestrian glory.
This will be the 62-year-old’s fifth Olympic campaign wearing the green and gold and she is said to be the oldest Australian ever to compete at the games.
Hanna has been a stalwart of the shire’s equestrian community since the 1980s when she set up the purpose-built Macedon equestrian complex, Statene Park, now Ellanbrae Park, with her late husband, Gert Donvig.
Her two sisters, a daughter and grandchildren all live in the Macedon Ranges and know they have some late nights ahead of them as they watch Hanna compete in the individual and team dressage.
Daughter Gitte Donvig said her mum was “mentally strong” after decades of experience.
“One of the nice things about dressage is you never stop learning and getting better, even though it is really physical,” she said.
“Mum looks after herself, is really mentally strong and still evolving her technique – you can never be done with this journey.”
Hanna will compete on Boogie Woogie in the individual and four-person Australian dressage team events.
Ms Donvig remembers, as a 16 year old, waking up in the middle of the night in winter to watch her mum at the 1996 Atlanta Games – and she’s proud that her children will do the same for their grandma.
