Valda Emily Unthank (née Garnham, 1909 – 21 June 1987) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long distance cycling, mostly set during 1938-39, most notably the women's seven day record. Valda was born in 1909 as "Emily Garnham" at Lilliput, Victoria to William and Edith Garnham (née Blackburne). In 1933 she married John Leslie Roberts "Jack" Unthank, a Councillor at the Victorian League of Wheelmen. Little is known of her early years until her first reported cycling record in 1935, covering the from Prahran to Wonthaggi in 5 hours 5 mins. What first established Unthank's reputation though was the ride in October 1938 from

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

covering in 33 hours 43 minutes. Unthank was sponsored by Austral bikes, a brand within the

Malvern Star Malvern Star is a manufacturer of bicycles based in Melbourne, Australia. The company was established in 1902, and went on to become a known brand in Australia. History Malvern Star opened in a small shop at 58 Glenferrie Rd, in the Melbourn ...

group, and the rides were organised by Jack O'Donohue, publicity manager for Bruce Small Ltd. This was followed shortly after by riding from Launceston to

Burnie Burnie is a port city on the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. When founded in 1827, it was named Emu Bay, being renamed after William Burnie, a director of the Van Diemen's Land Company, in the early 1840s. , Burnie had an urban popul ...

and return on 14 November 1938, setting the 12 hour Australian women's record of and rode on to set the Australian women's record in 12h 8 min. In March 1939 Unthank set a

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

hour record The hour record is the record for the longest distance cycled in one hour on a bicycle from a stationary start. Cyclists attempt this record alone on the track without other competitors present. It is considered one of the most prestigious re ...

of . In June Unthank traveled to Queensland where she set a new 12 hour record of before returning to Victoria to set the record in 51 min 40 sec. 1939 culminated in riding over seven days for what was claimed as a women's world record, bettering the set by

Joyce Barry Joyce Barry (March 1919 – 23 November 1999) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long-distance cycling, most notably the women's seven-day record. Biography Barry was born in March 1919, the third daughter of Mr and Mrs Ja ...

in September 1938. Unthank was supported by another Malvern Star rider,

Ossie Nicholson Oserick Bernard "Ossie" Nicholson (1910 – 9 November 1965) was an Australian cyclist who twice held the World Endurance record for distance in a calendar year. Australian cycling career Nicholson was a professional cyclist in the years be ...

, who had set the world endurance record for distance in a calendar year in 1933, and 1937, as well as the Australian men's seven day record of in 1938. The seven day record was also sponsored by the

Metropolitan Gas Company The Australian state of Victoria has a number of defunct energy supply and distribution utility companies. The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company The North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company operated an electri ...

who supplied a "modern gas kitchen" to cook all Unthank's meals. Unthank also appeared in an advertisement for

Peters Ice Cream Peters Ice Cream is an Australian ice cream brand, now a subsidiary of European food firm Froneri. It was originally developed by an expatriate American, Frederick (Fred) Augustus Bolles Peters in 1907, using his mother's recipe. History The c ...

("The health food of a nation") along with

Hubert Opperman Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, OBE (29 May 1904 – 18 April 1996), referred to as Oppy by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician, whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acc ...

. Unthank's seven day record was eclipsed in March 1940 by the next Malvern Star woman rider, Pat Hawkins who rode . World War II saw Unthank retire, although she returned for events competing on

bicycle rollers Bicycle rollers are a type of bicycle trainer that make it possible to ride a bicycle indoors without moving forward. However, unlike other types of bicycle trainers, rollers do not attach to the bicycle frame, and the rider must maintain balance ...

to raise money for the

Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...

. Unthank died in June 1987 at the age of 78.Ancestry: Valda Emily Unthank in the Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unthank, Valda 1909 births 1987 deaths Australian female cyclists Cyclists from Melbourne Ultra-distance cyclists Sportswomen from Victoria (state)