I love the Olympics. I have many fond memories of Olympic moments. I love watching the handball and trying to work out what the hell is going on. My lovely partner knows to come and get me anytime there is a gymnastics or ice-skating-related highlight no matter what time of night. During the Tokyo Olympics, I got really into the artistic swimming and marvelled at how anyone could hold their breath for that long AND keep their hair lacquered flat and their makeup in perfect condition. In my defence, I had not been allowed out of the house for weeks so I was a little nuts by then.
But one of my favourite memories is standing in the middle of a Scottish pub in 1996 watching Kieran Perkins swim the 1,500m.
There was no sound on the TV. I remember thinking at the time how weird it was that it was even playing since everyone knows Scots can’t swim for shit. But I stood there transfixed by the television and bursting with silent excitement for my faraway homeland as Perkins streaked ahead. Then suddenly, the Other Random Australian in the Pub (because there’s always one) ran up to me, grabbed me in a giant hug and together we jumped up and down and yelled and cried in our shared moment of patriotic pride as Perkins powered home to win the Gold Medal.
Then it was all over. We gave each other one final hug and the Other Random Australian disappeared into the crowd, never to be seen again. That’s when I realised the entire pub was staring at me with astonishment. But I just shrugged and reminded myself that Scots aren’t used to winning stuff like we are.
So in honour of the 2024 Paris Olympics, I’ve started to compile a list of all the Olympians I have uncovered with some kind of Boroondara connection. It is woefully incomplete. Boroondara is a big team sport area so there must be more but information on Boroondara’s Olympians is not collated. I need your help!
The criteria are:
Must have attended any Olympics in any sport, including as a member of a team
Are not required to have won a medal
Must have been born, died or lived in Boroondara at some point
Must be listed on Olympedia
Can have attended school in Boroondara IF they also lived in Boroondara at the time. E.g. Alisa Camplin doesn’t count because she went to MLC but lived in north-east Melbourne at the time.
If you know someone, let me know in the comments below and I will update the list!
Here we go…
ASHBURTON
Louise Dobson: As vice-captain of the Women’s Hockey Team (“Hockeyroos”) Dobson won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and played in the 2004 Olympics while living in Ashburton.
Alex Graham: Won bronze in the Men's 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay and the 4 x 200 m Freestyle Relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Don Hanly: Ran in the Men’s 4 x 400 Relay at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
BALWYN
Steve Hooker (Balwyn High School): A Champion pole vaulter, Hooker attended three Olympic Games (2004, 2008 and 2012) and won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
BALWYN NORTH
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CAMBERWELL
Lachlan Dreher: A prolific men’s hockey player, Dreher won a silver and two bronze medals playing in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
Charlie Morley: Captain of the men’s Hockey Team at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Also won a bronze medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics. Morley and his father George had a long connection to the Camberwell Hockey Club.
Jay Stacy: A stalwart of the Australian men’s hockey teams for well over a decade, Stacy played in the 1988, 1992, 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, winning a silver and two bronze medals.
Keith Thornton: Also from Camberwell Hockey Club, Keith Thornton played in the 1960 men’s Hockey team.
David Wansbrough: Played in the 1988 Summer Olympics men’s hockey team and won a silver medal for men’s hockey at the 1992 Olympics.
Graham Wood: Played in the men’s hockey team with Charlie Morley in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics.
CANTERBURY
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DEEPDENE
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HAWTHORN
Jack Downey: Competed in the 1956 and 1960 Summer Olympics in the Men’s Two Person Keelboat (Sailing).
Noel Hall: Competed in the 1956 Men’s Shooting (Running target, Single and Double Shot).
John Landy: A middle-distance runner, Landy competed at the 1952 Olympics in the 800 m, 1,500 m, 5,000 m and 4 x 400 Relay. He won a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics for the 1,500 m. After his retirement from running, Landy went on to become the 26th Governor of Victoria (2001-06).
Fun Fact: John Landy was the second man (after Roger Bannister) to run a mile in under four minutes.
Julie McDonald: Freestyle swimmer at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Sue McKenzie: Breaststroke swimmer at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
KEW
Robert de Castella: A champion marathon runner, de Castella participated in the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics men’s marathon. Although he never won a medal at the Olympics, he did win the Boston Marathon and excelled at cross country running. He went on to become a powerhouse advocate for Australians to participate in sport.
Debbie Flintoff-King (b. Kew): A skilled hurdler, Flintoff came sixth in the 400 m hurdles at the 1984 Summer Olympics. In 1988, she won the Gold medal for the 400 m Hurdles by an astonishing 1/100th of a second. The accomplishment awarded her the honour of being the Australian flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony. After her retirement, Flintoff-King turned to athletics coaching (specialising in hurdles) and today advocates for the professionalisation of women’s sports.
Nick Green: Men’s Rowing. A member of the “Oarsome Foursome”, Green won Gold at the Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) Olympics. Nick was the official flag bearer for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
Wilfrid Kent Hughes (d. Kew): A Gallipoli veteran, Hughes represented Australia in the 110 hurdles at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp while attending Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship. On his return to Australia, Hughes moved to Kew and became a prominent federal politician. During WWII, Hughes was interned by the Japanese in Singapore. After his release, he recommenced his political career in the Menzies Government and became Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Melbourne Olympic Games. He received a knighthood in 1967 and died in 1970. Today, the most outstanding performer at the Olympic Games is presented with the Wilfrid Kent Hughes Award.
Fun fact: Hughes was a self-identified fascist. According to his biographer, he didn’t know much about fascism but liked to use the word to shock people. It didn’t seem to affect his political career.
Kelland O’Brien (b. Kew): O’Brien won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in the Men’s 4,000 m Team Pursuit (Cycling). O’Brien is currently in Paris to compete again in the Pursuit and the Men’s Madison.
Stuart Sim (b. Kew): Sim participated in the Men’s Eights (Rowing) at the 2020 Summer Olympics as the coxswain.
Graham White: Champion freestyle swimmer who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal in the Men’s 200 m Freestyle Relay.
Keith Wiegard: played men’s water polo for Australia in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Leon Wiegard: played men’s water polo in the 1964 and 1972 Summer Olympics.
Fun Fact: When they weren’t in the swimming pool, the Wiegard brothers played football for the Fitzroy Football Club.
Marilyn Wilson: Competed in the Women’s 100 m Backstroke at the 1960 Summer Olympics. She won a silver medal as the backstroke part of the 4 x 100 m Medley Relay.
Bevan Worcester (b. Kew): Worcester participated in the Three Person Keelboat (Sailing) at the 1952 Summer Olympics.
There’s many more, I know it! Let me know in the comments if you have someone in mind.
Vive la France!
BOOK UPDATE: It’s now available to buy at the Leaf Bookshop, Ashburton! Also still at Ashburton Community Centre, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria in A’Beckett Street Melbourne and from my online store.
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