In 1976, when she was 24, Cree had her left leg amputated below the knee due to bone cancer. She has two sons, who were aged seven and nine in 1979. They nicknamed her "The only bionic Mum in Sydney".
They also trained in athletics with her.
In 1980, Cree was named the New South Wales Sportswoman of the Year.
A year after her operation, Cree won five medals at the Australian Amputee Sporting Association"s New South Wales competition. She then won two gold medals at the 1977 FESPIC Games, and won six gold medals in the Australian Amputee Sporting Association"s Queensland championships in 1979. At the 1980 Arnhem Paralympics, she won a gold medal in the Women"s High Jump C event, a silver medal in the Women"s Long Jump C event, and three bronze medals in the Women"s 100 m C, Women"s Discus C, and Women"s Javelin C events. She received an Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
