Lily Beaurepaire

It was at the Albert Park Swimming Club in Melbourne where Lily Beaurepaire found her love for the sport, with her winning multiple school and state championships. Beaurepaire was also an accomplished diver and a skilled lifeguard, serving as the honorary secretary of the swimming club. After the planned 1916 Olympics were cancelled due to the war she set her sights on competing at the 1920 Antwerpen Games. Unfortunately for her Australia had already decided not to send any female swimmers to the Olympics due to funds, with Beaurepaire paying her own travel costs to Europe, accompanied by her mother. Her brother Frank was also a champion swimmer who competed at the Antwerpen Games, making them the first siblings to represent Australia at the Olympics.

Beaurepaire swam in the 100 and 300 metres freestyle events at the Antwerpen Olympics but did not advance from the heats in either race. She also took part in the high diving, narrowly missing out on advancing to the final by one point. Following the Olympics she competed at swimming meets in England, South Africa, the United States, and Canada, in addition to giving exhibitions in New Zealand with her brother Frank. Upon her arrival back in Australia she retired from competitive swimming to focus her time managing a guest house and hotel. Beaurepaire continued to swim in her leisure time, with her becoming a lifeguard. In 1933 she made the headlines in newspapers across Australia when she saved the lives of three men who had been swept out to sea. In 1967 the Lillian Beaurepaire Memorial Swimming Pool was opened by her nephew and city councillor Ian Beaurepaire.