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A W (Gus) Oakley

Yarra Yarra Rowing Club (VIC)

A W (Gus) Oakley father of fellow members Wally, Michael & Tony Oakley.

WW2 veteran (a 'Rat of Tobruk')

Died 1998/99

Gus employed Thea Skidmore as a typist which was her introduction to the rowing world.

Member 1961/62----1975/76

Wins recorded:-

1963 - Metropolitan regatta, maiden four (coach)

1963 - Preston regatta, maiden four (coach)

1963 - V.R.A. regatta, junior four (coach)

1963 - Upper Yarra regatta, junior four (coach)

1963 - Footscray regatta, lightweight four (coach)

1965 - Albert Park regatta, junior four (coach)

From the 1998/99 YYRC annual report:-

Also same article in the club newsletter 'Yarra Yabbie' 1999-2-20 edition No74

Gus Oakley

Gus Oakley passed away recently at the age of 92. Gus was active in the club in the 1950’s and 1960’s as a coach for lightweight crews. Some of his lightweight rowers included Jim Skidmore, Peter Gill, Jimmy Wilson, Doc Gillespie, Ron Mitchell and two of his sons, Michael and Wally. His other son, Tony still rows for University. He was also involved in Wesley College rowing. Our sympathies to his family.

[NB: an error in the report - Gus did coach his sons but not the others mentioned in the report.]

1964 photo Gus at Yea regatta

Jim Skidmore
June 2024

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The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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