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Jack W Webster

South Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)

1946- Interstate Men's Eight Championship bow- First

1947- Interstate Men's Eight Championship bow- First

1948- Olympic Games- Men's Coxed Four bow - eliminated in repechage

1950- British Empire Games- Men's Coxless Pair bow- Gold

Joined his club in the early 1940's and became very successful. He raced successfully in a pair with his club President Dudley Williamson for a long time. As a protected tradesman in WWII, a ships plumber, he was sent to Darwin. After the war, he continued his father's plumbing business.

The laconic Jack Webster

Webster has been the only Australian representative of his Club. He was a unique person and a true character of the sport. He was laconic as the photo demonstrates below, humorous, tough, head strong, individualistic and skilful to name some of his traits. He died after being run over by a train at a railway crossing and fellow club member Brian Dalton is famously quoted as saying "It took the bloody Geelong freight train to kill him".

Andrew Guerin 2011

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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