A swimming official who's been volunteering at meets around New Zealand since 1970 has no plans to slow down, even at 90 years of age.
Dunedin's Mary McFarlane still drives to competitions around the South Island and flies north when needed, helping run events by starting races and inspecting turns.
"I like watching the younger children come up, like Erika [Fairweather], Danyon [Loader] and Caitlin [Deans]," she told 1News.
"And even the little ones who try on ribbon night, their first swim is amazing.
"When they get to the end, you'd think they'd won an Olympic medal."
McFarlane recently renewed her driver licence to keep going to as many competitions as possible.
"Yeah, [it was] no hassles and felt quite good, although I did take Rescue Remedy before I started," she said.
"I was a wee bit nervous."
Over the past 56 years, McFarlane has volunteered at hundreds of meets.
"If my husband had been alive, maybe I wouldn't do as much," she said.
"We would have done things together. But he's no longer here, and I don't see why I should sit at home doing nothing.”
She receives a $400 grant per year to help her officiate, but otherwise covers all of her petrol, accommodation, food and flights as a volunteer.
Asked whether she had spent thousands of dollars on swimming, McFarlane laughed.
"Thousands would be right," she said.
"Hundreds of thousands over the years since 1970."
Commonwealth Games medallist Deans is among the New Zealand swimmers thanking McFarlane for her commitment into her 90s.
"Mary's been there probably from day one for me, for my career.”
"She's been poolside every competition that I can remember.
"I definitely think Mary's taken for granted. She's just always been there."
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