The Otago Daily Times counts down the 150 greatest moments in Otago sport.
No 88: McKenzie's squash threepeat (1956-58)
She grew up in Oamaru, excelling in squash, tennis, netball, badminton, swimming and athletics.
In badminton, she rose to great heights, winning the national singles title in 1958 and the doubles and mixed doubles championships in 1954, and representing New Zealand in 1957, 1959 and 1960.
But it was in squash where she really made her name. She won six national titles and played the sport at the top level for more than 15 years.
In 1956, the same year Dunedin's Don Green won the national men's title, McKenzie became the first New Zealand woman to beat the great Nancy New when she won her first national singles.
The following year, she retained her title by beating New again, and in 1958 McKenzie made it three in a row, a feat not matched until Susan Devoy did it in the 1980s.
In 1957, McKenzie led the Oamaru team to victory in the inaugural national women's club championships. That year, she competed in the national squash tournament (Palmerston North) and the national badminton championships (Feilding) at the same time.
"It was lucky that the squash was played during the day and the badminton in the evenings," she later told author Joseph Romanos.
"I'd catch a bus back and forth."
McKenzie said her upbringing in Oamaru helped her develop skills in many codes.
"I was lucky I came from a small town, where it was possible to play so many sports. My brother and I would hop on our bikes and go everywhere. If I'd lived in Dunedin, I'd probably have had to specialise.
"I played with the men in Oamaru. That's why I improved so quickly."
McKenzie won a fourth national squash crown in 1960.
She then married top squash player Albie Stephens, moved to Hamilton and won two more national titles.
She won the national 40-plus squash title in 1979 and was later a national veteran doubles champion in tennis.
