An inductee of the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame, the Hockey Queensland Hall of Fame and the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame president, Pirie passed away on Friday aged 90.

A celebrated performer in hockey, golf and track and field, Pirie was also the founding president of Womensport Queensland, the first female vice-president of the Queensland Olympic Council, and a board member of the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Pirie AO MBE dedicated her life to the promotion of women in sport and the pursuit of sporting excellence, including being awarded the International Olympic Committee Women and Sport Trophy in 2011.

Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland’s proud sporting record, celebrated most recently with now-retired tennis champ Ash Barty, was the legacy of champions like Pirie.

“Daphne was an official Queensland Great, whose remarkable on-field achievements were followed by lifelong service to the sports community, for which our state will always be grateful,” Palaszczuk said.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Marjorie Jackson-Nelson said her friendship with Pirie lasted 72 years.

“She gave 100 per cent in everything she did in all the sports she was involved with for her beloved Queensland,” Jackson-Nelson said.

One of eight children, as a 17-year-old Pirie, then Daphne Welch, held 40 open running championships in Queensland and was unbeaten in all events.

By 1955 she was selected in Australian women’s hockey team. According to the Gold Coast Sporting Hall of Fame, that was where she played alongside the Valley men’s team and met her future husband Mick. They married in 1958 and had two children, Robert and David.

The family lived at the Gold Coast.

Pirie was subsequently appointed to the Queensland Olympic Council, becoming its first female vice-president and was founding president of WomenSport Queensland and inaugural recipient of its prestigious Contribution to Sport Award.

She held life memberships with Hockey Australia, Women’s Hockey Australia and Hockey Queensland.

Australian hockey Olympian Ambrosia Malone said Pirie was “a shining light.”

“Her contributions over the last 60 years have given athletes like me the opportunities she dreamed of for us,” Malone said.Former long-standing Courier Mail sports editor Jack Craig said Pirie would be sadly missed.

“Have indelible memories of Daphne since we played tennis together as teenagers and her years playing hockey and later in sports administration. A champion to the end.”

Renowned Queensland sportswriter Bernie Pramberg also remembered Pirie as a champion who made an outstanding contribution to Queensland sport.

“Daphne was a towering presence in Queensland sport and an innovative, empathetic and tireless advocate and worker for women’s sport in general. As well, a lovely lady in every way. RIP.”