Obituaries

Former Rowing Australia President and Boat Race Official, Reginald ‘Reg’ McKay passed away on 22 January 2021. Awarded Life Membership of Rowing Victoria (2020), Reg’s contribution to the sport of rowing, nationally and internationally, were enormous. He administered the sport of rowing at the highest levels, having been President of the then Australian Rowing Council (ARC, now Rowing Australia) from 1989 to 1994.

Prior to his role with the ARC, he was Chair of the Rowing Victoria Committee (1982-87), Rowing Victoria Councillor for the Amateur Australian Rowing Council (1982 to 1990) and previously held the presidency of his club, Footscray City Rowing Club. He began his rowing career coxing at Footscray City, and until recently continued to actively row at Banks Rowing Club. He will be remembered by many Alumni, in 1990, as President of Rowing Australia, for arranging for Professor Theo Koerner to be guest coach of the Australian Rowing Team. The work Professor Koerner contributed to the team environment, alongside Australia’s own coaches, ushered in a golden era for the sport in Australia. McKay became a World Rowing International Umpire in 1977 and went on to officiate on eight World Rowing Juries, three Olympic Games (1980, 1984 and 1992) and a Commonwealth Games (1986). In 2011, he was awarded the Julius Patching Award for Official of the Year, from the Victorian Olympic Council. While he officiated internationally, he also made a significant contribution to the Boat Race Official community in Australia, working at numerous Local, State and National regattas, as well as assisting at many National Selection Trials.

The father of two-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Mike McKay OAM, he will be remembered for his passion for the sport and supporting athletes in their endeavours to compete nationally and internationally.

At his time of passing, Reg had been an accredited Boat Race Official (BRO) for over 40 years. He was a servant of Australian rowing, like his friend and fellow BRO, the late Dr Stephen Hinchy, and will be deeply missed.

Reg was recognised for his contribution to the sport of rowing and was made a Life Member of Rowing Australia in 2021.

GRAEME ‘MICK’ K ALLAN

Olympian and McVilly-Pearce Pin Number 107, Graeme ‘Mick’ K Allan, passed away on Saturday 23 October 2021. An Olympic and Commonwealth Games representative, Allan was a member of the Mosman and Sydney Rowing Clubs. He was introduced to the sport by his best mate Stuart Evans and his brother Bruce. The trio became known as the ‘Novice 3’, rowing two at a time in a tub pair while the other waited for a turn.

“At first, we were just mucking about, and just rowed around the harbour but then (Stuart’s father) Fred began to coach us,” Mick recalled for the Mosman Centenary (as cited at Australian Rowing History). Teaming up with John Holmes, the trio became a four and experienced a successful 1954 Sydney season. Fred moved them into a maiden eight and the crew won all races through the autumn of 1955.

It wasn’t long before Allan was preparing to make his debut for Australia at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales. Competing in the seven seat of the Men’s Eight, Allan won a Silver Medal at just 20 years of age. He was selected to represent Australia at the Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. On Olympic debut, the crew placed fifth in the Men’s Coxed Four. Four years later, remaining in the two seat of the Men’s Coxed Four, Allan and the crew placed 10th. “We thought we had some show in ’60,” he recalled. “We made it into the final, but still didn’t know much about the rest of the world. Your first time up there, with no competition leading up to it was very hard,” he said.

Allan’s association with the sport of rowing continued long after his retirement. A carpenter by trade, he would attend Sydney shed every week to repair and maintain boats.

In 2012, Allan was presented with the Rusty Robertson MBE Award. This Award is presented to an individual or group of individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to the endeavours and objectives of Rowing NSW.