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australian rowers profiles and history

Simon Fraser

Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC)

1908 - Australian University Men's Eight Championship, stroke - Second

1909 - Australian University Men's Eight Championship, six seat - Second

1912 - Victorian Men's Pair Championship, stroke - First

1912 - Olympic Games - Men's Eight two seat - Semi Finalists

1912 - Henley Royal - Grand Challenge Cup two seat - First

Simon commenced rowing at Melbourne Grammar School where he was in the first crew for three years. Whilst never in a winning crew, he was both stroke and Captain of boats in 1905. He entered Melbourne University and was a student at Trinity College where he stroked the College and the University crews in 1908 and 1909. The MUBC crew finished second in both 1908 and 1909 to the SUBC crew which included his fellow 1912 crew member Waley on both occasions and Ward in 1909. He stroked the winning Henley on Yarra Grand Challenge Cup crew in 1910 for MUBC. With fellow 1912 crew member Ross-Soden in 1912 he won a Victorian Championship Men's Pair.

He did not row after the 1912 tour as he had to return to manage his father's estate at Nyang Victoria. He enlisted in May 1918 and died at the age of 33 years as a result of the influenza epidemic of 1919. The Melbourne Grammar Boat Shed bears his memory.

Above: Fraser as part of the 1912 Australian Olympic team - standing second from left

Andrew Guerin March 2018

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