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Robert A Shirlaw OAM

Mosman Rowing Club (NSW)

"Bob" Alan Shirlaw commenced his rowing at Mosman Rowing Club in 1961. He was an apprentice carpenter aged 18. His rowing career was to span over decade on the water and another 30 years as a coach.

Bob raced at the senior level from 1963 until his retirement in 1972. His first big win was the NSW State Sculling Championship in 1963.

1963 NSW Sculling Champion
©Mosman Rowing Club - Red and White Hoops 2011 Jacobson Publishing Pty Ltd - jacobsonpublishing@ozemail.com.au, page 165

As a rowing master at Shore for some 39 years, he always worked on the principle that every rower at every level was important. He was not a master whose focus was just on the senior crews.

His contribution to the sport was immense and was rewarded with a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2008.

The details

1963 - NSW Men's Sculling Championship - First

1963 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship - Third

1964 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championship, bow - First

1964 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship - Third

1966 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championship, bow - First

1966 - National Men's Coxless Four Championship, three seat - Second

1966 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship - Third

1967 - Interstate Men's Sculling Championship - First

1967 - Henley Royal Regatta, Diamond Sculls - eliminated

1968 - National Men's Coxless Four Championship, two seat - First

1968 - National Men's Coxless Pair Championship, stroke - Second

1968 - Interstate Men's Eight Championships, emergency

1968 - Olympic Games, Men's Eight two seat - Silver

1969 - Interstate Men's Eight Championships, bow - Second

1972 - Interstate Men's Eight Championships, emergency

1981 - Appointed rowing master at Sydney's Shore School, a position he held for 29 years until 2010 when he retired.

2008 - Awarded Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rowing as a coach, administrator and competitor, and to education.

1968 Olympic Eight with Bob in the two seat

Andrew Guerin
August 2021

Sources include:

Red and White Hoops - One hundred years of Mosman Rowing Club - published by Jacobson Publishing Pty Ltd 2011, pages 164-167
Regatta programs

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:

Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

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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