Chilla Porter facts for kids
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| Nickname(s) | Chilla | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 11 January 1936 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
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| Died | 15 August 2020 (aged 84) Innaloo, Western Australia, Australia |
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| Education | Anglican Church Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Charles Michael Porter, known as "Chilla," was an Australian athlete and a figure in politics. He was born on January 11, 1936, and passed away on August 15, 2020. Chilla Porter won a silver medal in the high jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Later, he worked as a leader for the Liberal Party of Australia in Western Australia.
Contents
Early Life of Chilla Porter
Chilla Porter was born in Brisbane, Australia. His father, Charles Robert Porter, was also a politician. He served as a Member of Parliament in Queensland. Chilla went to school at the Anglican Church Grammar School.
Athletic Achievements
Chilla Porter was a high jumper. He used a style called the "straddle technique." This was a common way to jump before the "Fosbury Flop" became popular.
1956 Melbourne Olympics
When he was 19, Chilla competed for Australia in the high jump at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He won the silver medal, jumping 2.10 meters high. This was a big improvement from his previous best jump.
The gold medal went to Charles Dumas from America. He set a new Olympic record of 2.12 meters. The high jump event at these Olympics was very long. It lasted over five hours and went on until it was almost dark. About 60,000 fans watched at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This event was the longest field event in Olympic history.
Commonwealth Games Medals
Chilla also won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games.
- In 1958, he won silver at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, UK. He jumped 2.03 meters.
- In 1962, he won another silver at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth, Western Australia. His jump was 2.08 meters.
National Records and Titles
Between 1955 and 1961, Chilla Porter won seven Australian high jump titles in a row. He held the national record for six years. He was the first Australian high jumper to clear a height of 2.10 meters.
Life After Athletics
In the early 1960s, Chilla Porter moved to Perth. There, he married Nerida Chater. He started working for the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division). He began as a field officer, helping with local campaigns.
Political Career
Chilla later became a senior field officer. In 1978, he was made general secretary of the party. This role is similar to a state director today. He held this position until 1987. After leaving this role, he worked as a director for a marketing company. He returned to the Liberal Party in 1994. He chaired the state campaign committee until 1996.
Sports Administration
In 1995, Chilla Porter was chosen to be the chairman of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS). He helped WAIS develop a new special facility for athletes. He was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame in 2011. This recognized his great achievements in athletics.
Personal Life and Passing
Chilla Porter's son, Christian Porter, also became a politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives. Chilla Porter passed away on August 15, 2020, at the age of 84. He had been battling cancer for a long time.
See also
In Spanish: Charles Porter para niños
