Dr David M Coles OAM
Canberra Rowing Club (ACT)
David has contributed to the sport in many ways as a rower, administrator and team doctor. His work as team doctor has been extensive and substantial.
In the Queanbeyan Age on 11 June 2017, David is quoted as saying that he began his work as team doctor when concerns came through about the health of competitors. “Young rowers were being subjected to unusual training and we started seeing peculiar things,” he said. “I became a team doctor to in a way protect them from the excesses of their coaches and the concerns that often came from their family doctors.”
David in 2017 as portrayed in the Queenbeyan Age - Photo: Dion Georgopoulos
He is a former chairman of the ACT Rowing Association and longtime benefactor to the Canberra Rowing Club.
1986 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian team doctor
1987 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian team doctor
1988 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series team doctor
1988 – World Championships – Team doctor
1989 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian team doctor
1990 – World Championships – Team doctor
1990 – World Junior Championships – Team doctor
1991 - World Junior Championships – Team doctor
1992 – World Junior Championships – Team doctor
1993 – World Junior Championships – Team doctor
1994 – World Championships – Team doctor
1995 – World Championships – Team doctor
1996 – Pre Olympic tour doctor
2000 – Olympic Games – Pre Olympic Tour Doctor
2003 – World Championships – Team doctor
In 2017, he was a awarded an OAM for his services to medicine and rowing.
Andrew Guerin, June 2020