Doug Clark
New Norfolk Rowing Club (TAS), Franklin Rowing Club (TAS), then Huon Rowing Club (TAS), then Tweed Heads Rowing and Aquatic Club (QLD)
The following article appeared in the Rowing Queensland Newsletter Volume 2, Number 1 in Autumn 1994.
Doug Clark the Quiet Achiever
By Outrigger (thought to be Simon Newcomb)
At the King's Cup Regatta held in Queensland last year, three retiring Australian officials were presented with ARC Plaques in recognition of their service to the sport of rowing. They were Phil Cayzer from New South Wales, Bill White from Victoria and Doug Clark from Queensland.
Doug Clark grew up at Franklin on the Huon River, in Tasmania, where the jetty in front of his family home was the start line for the 3 mile King's Cup and Inter Varsity Course.
His first memory of a rowing regatta was the 1938 I.V. Regatta, when as an 11 year old, he sat up on the roof of his home watching the ABC Commentator describing the first mile of the race.
They had a telephone connected down the chimney to the phone in the house, and so to the ABC studios in Hobart, from where the commentary was broadcast.
Fifty one years ago this year, Clark rowed in the first Head of the River Regatta, and two years later he was Captain of School rowing and stroke of the First Crew.
Leaving school he immediately became Secretary of the New Norfolk Rowing Club and stroke of a very successful Lightweight Four.
In 1948 Clark returned home to the family orchard and helped reform the Franklin Club after a lapse caused by the 2nd World War.
He became Secretary of the club and then Secretary of the Huon Rowing Club's Regatta Committee a position he held for 12 years.
Stroke of the Club Eight they won the State Championships in 1951 and as a result stroked the Tasmanian King's Cup crew that year.
At only 9 stone 10 pounds he is believed to be the lightest stroke of a King's Cup crew - a record that may stand for many years.
Clark started his coaching career in 1953 and by 1956 won the State Championships thus becoming coach of the King's Cup crew. Still weighing under 10 stone he often coxed club crews.
As Secretary of the Tasmanian Rowing Council from 1956 to 1960 he was closely associated with the conduct of the 1960 Kings Cup Regatta that year.
Clark coached the 1962, 1963 and 1964 Inter Varsity crews and gained his Australian Officials Licence at the 1966 King's Cup held at Franklin. In 1967 and 1968 he was President of the Tasmanian Rowing Council and member of the ARC.
From 1964 to 1976 Clark became a Member of Parliament and from 1969-1972 was a Minister in the Government, and led a Trade Mission to Japan and six other South East Asian Countries in 1970.
He became a Lt. Colonel in the CMF and visited Vietnam in 1969 and was appointed an ADC to the Governor General. He also became State President of 5 other organisations including Inaugural Fellow and Sate President, and then later Federal President of the Australian Institute of Export 1976-1978. He was also a Liberal Party State Vice President 1962 - 1964.
Becoming President of the Tasmanian University Boat Club from 1973 to 1978 he was closely involved with the 1975 Inter Varsity Regatta held on his home course as well as the 1966 and 1972 King's Cup Regatta also held there.
President of the Tasmania Rowing Council as well as President of the ARC for the Centenary King's Cup and National Regatta he was also awarded Life Membership and Patronage of his old club at Franklin. He also became Patron of the newly formed Tasmanian Women's Rowing Association, and Chairman of the ARC Committee which brought about the amalgamation of the Australian Womens' Association with the ARC.
In 1977 Clark was awarded the Queens Jubilee Medal for service to sport, the community and Parliament, and in 1980 was admitted as a Member of the Order of St John.
Later in 1980, Clark moved to the Gold Coast in Queensland and after a lapse while he settled into his new business, he became President of the Rowing Section of the Tweed Heads Rowing and Aquatic Club and was a member of the QARC Management Committee, as well as being a Boat Race Official.
He was a Member of the Queensland Divisional Council of the Australian Institute of Export and was granted Honorary Fellowship in 1990.
Clark became inaugural President of the Gold Coast Branch of the Nuserymens Association and was a member of the Management Committee of the State Division of the Australian Nurserymen's Association and is a member of Gold Coast Legacy Club.
Clark is also the Inaugural President of the Tweed / Gold Coast Schools Rowing Association Inc.
Extracted by Andrew Guerin
November 2024