Scroll To Top
australian rowers profiles and history

Harry J Whiting

Albert Park Rowing Club, now Albert Park South Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC) and Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC)

Whiting was a distinguished rower at the start on the twentieth century.

1905 MUBC Eight for the Universities Championship - Harry Whiting standing on the right

1905 Victorian crew with Harry Whiting back row second from the right.

The following obituary appeared in the Argus on 17th January 1940.

Mr. H. J. Whiting, a Melbourne solicitor and former brilliant oarsman, died yesterday morning after a short illness.

His funeral took place privately at the Springvale Crematorium in the afternoon.

Mr Whiting was the son of the late Mr..R. S. Whiting, a partner in the legal firm of Taylor, Buckland and Gates, of Melbourne and Geelong. The firm subsequently became Whiting and Aitken and later Whiting and Byrne, with Mr. H. J. Whiting as a partner.

Mr Whiting, who was educated at Cumloden and Ormond College, was as a young man one of the most famous oarsmen in Australia. He stroked the Ormond College crew for three years, and it won on each occasion. He was stroke of the Melbourne University crew for six years, a longer period than any other stroke, and he rowed in four Victorian crews. He stroked 48 winning crews altogether, and the Melbourne University crew of 1905, which he coached and stroked, still holds the Australian record for 3¼ miles.

In the Great War he was promoted from lieutenant in Queen Alexandra's Own Yorkshire Regiment to captain on the staff of Major-General Sir John Sackville-West, 21st Brigade, 30th Division. 

Mr. Whiting was a member of the Australian Club, the Royal Sydney Golf Club, and the Junior Carlton, London.

He is survived by a widow and three sons.

There was a representative gathering of city business men at the funeral yesterday. The chief mourners were Mr. Whiting's sons, Messrs. R. H., B. R. and E. L. Whiting. 

Among those present were the Minister for Air (Mr Fairbairn), Major C. O. Fairbairn, Sir Keith Murdoch, Major G. B. Walker, Mr. W. I. Winter-Irving, Mr. Norman J. Carson, Major Allan Spowers, Mr. Eric Quirk, and Mr. Edmund Collins.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by A. A. Sleight Pty. Ltd.

1907 Victorian Crew with Harry Whiting seated on the right

Rowing record includes:

1901 - Melbourne University Inter-Collegiate Regatta, Ormond College, stroke - First

1901 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1902 - Melbourne University Inter-Collegiate Regatta, Ormond College, stroke - First

1902 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1903 - Melbourne University Inter-Collegiate Regatta, Ormond College, stroke - First

1903 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1903 - Nagambie Regatta, Men's Maiden Eight, stroke - First

1904 - Henley Regatta, Men's Maiden Four, stroke - First

1904 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Four, bow - First

1904 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Maiden Four, stroke - First 

1904 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1905 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1905 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Four, bow - First

1905 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1905 - Nagambie Regatta, Men's Senior Four, bow - First

1905 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1905 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1905 - Victorian Men's Four Championships, bow seat - First

1905 - Australian Men's Eight Championships, five seat - First

1906 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Four, bow - First

1906 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, six seat - First

1906 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1906 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1906 - Victorian Men's Four Championships, bow seat - First

1906 - Victorian Men's Eight Championships, five seat - First

1906 - Australian Universities Men's Eight Championship, stroke - First

1906 - Australian Men's Eight Championships, four seat - Second

1907 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Senior Four, bow - First

1907 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1907 - Victorian Men's Eight Championships, five seat - First

1907 - Australian Men's Eight Championships, six seat - First

1908 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Senior Eight, five seat - First

1908 - Victorian Men's Four Championships, bow seat - First

1908 - Victorian Men's Eight Championships, five seat - Second

1908 - Australian Men's Eight Championships, five seat - Second


Andrew Guerin
July 2021

Sources

Website by Hope Stewart—Website Design & Management