Mike N Jeffries
Adelaide University Boat Club (SA)
Michael Nugent Jeffries was born in Adelaide in 1947, the eldest of four boys. He sadly died in November 2025 after a long illness.
His fellow AUBC and SA King’s Cup crew member Mike Page summed up Mike as follows: Such a great bloke. An extraordinarily talented rower, coach, and administrator. AUBC is a lot poorer for his passing.
Michael’s rowing career began at St Peters College in Adelaide in the early 1960s. He competed with great distinction in under-aged crews, and developed a taste for winning, which is not uncommon amongst SPSC oarsmen.
1964, at 16 years of age, he stroked the winning Saints First VIII in the Head of the River, on the old River Torrens course, in central Adelaide. Many commentators still say that the 1964 Saints crew was the best to hit the water. Of interest is Michael's use of a disciplined and regular weights program. Whilst not commonplace in the 1960s, it is now an important element of training. He was a catalyst for this development. In 1965, at 17 years of age, Michael repeated the 1964 result, with a commanding First VIIIs victory.
1966 –Michael, at not quite 19, stroked the 1966 SA crew in the Interstate Championships, King’s Cup, placing third. Interestingly, SA led at the 1900m mark, but the lightness of the crew allowed the heavier and more experienced Victorian, and NSW crews to overtake them.
Finish of 1966 King's Cup
1967 SA crew from the 1967 program - Mike in stroke seat
Many commentators have said that the arrival of Michael Jeffries into SA’s ranks was the dawning of a new era for SA Rowing. The late Rowing Australia legend, Brian Richardson, once stated that Michael Jeffries was the best rhythm-maker he had rowed with. Praise indeed.
Rowing at a high level was followed by coaching primarily at school, university and club level. His club coaching in the years 2009 and 2010 have often been referred to as AUBC’ s Golden Years. Adelaide University won back to back Oxford and Cambridge Cup wins at the Australian Universities Championships and also won a Trans Tasman competition in 2010 versus New Zealand. The 2009 win was AUBC’s first win in 30 years.
Winning 2009 AUBC crew coached by Mike on their way to the heat
Pembroke School Coaching - Mike coached for Pembroke School for several years, including coaching their first VIII and his daughter's crews, generally 'keeping everyone on their toes'. A highlight was a win in the under 14 A's in record time in 1994 and in fair conditions, a record which stood for many years.
St Peter's Coaching - Mike was actively involved in coaching at SPSC over the years including their second eight and most recently a win in the Year 10A quad scull.
2010: NSW State Championships, Swansea Belmont Beach (NSW), Bronze
2013: Australian Championships, Kirra Beach (QLD) Fourth (we was robbed!)
2014: Australian Championships, Scarborough Beach (WA), Fifth
As an administrator, Mike also excelled. For over 45 years he provided significant input into the management and operations of AUBC. Michael was possibly the most productive President the Club has ever had from 2008-2012. He took on the mammoth task for the refurbishment of the Club’s spiritual home, The Barr Smith Boathouse, on the River Torrens. This involved years of engineering input, collaboration with the then Vice-Chancellor Prof. James McWha, and provision for the financial support. Michael had oversight of every step of this project, which is a beacon on the River Torrens today. Between 1999 and 2001, Mike assisted the Pembroke School rowing club. This included being chair of their parents rowing committee and chair of their fund raising committee.
His rowing also continued, competing for AUBC as a Master until around 2016, when he became ill.
As if his rowing contributions were insufficient, when Mike's two sons (Tom and Will) moved to Sydney in the 2000's, they took a keen interest in Surfboat Rowing and competed for Bronte SLSC. Mike would travel to Sydney periodically to coach the Bronte Surf Life Saving Club Open Men's crew from 2009-2014. During that time there were the following notable achievements.
2010 - NSW State Championships, Swansea Belmont Beach (NSW), coach - Bronze
2011- NSW State Championships (Kingscliff Beach) Finalist.
2013 - Australian Championships, Kirra Beach (QLD), coach - Fourth (according to Tom they were robbed!)
2014 - Australian Championships, Scarborough Beach (WA), coach - Fifth
Mike was awarded Bronte SLSC Club coach of the year in 2013.
Some of the rowing community have commented as follows:
- a powerful contributor and coach, a great mate to all
- a leader in group challenges of the decades
- an outstanding rower and someone to study to improve your own rowing
- stroked the 1968 AUBC Australian Universities Championships eight superbly with a crew being plagued by food poisoning - lost in the last stroke
- a great person whose tremendous contribution to the sport of rowing and AUBC has never been fully acknowledged.
- coached at all levels of ability and age without discrimination.
Good friend Mike Page deserves to conclude this summary of Mike's rowing life. Michael was a calm, cheerful and humble man. In the boat he was one of the fiercest warriors you could meet. I was privileged to have spent several summers, and winter weight training, in his company. He will be missed for many years by all who knew him. RIP, Michael.
Some rowing highlights
1966 – National Championships, Men’s Coxed Four, stroke – Third
1966 – Interstate Championships, King’s Cup, stroke - Third
1967 - Interstate Championships, King’s Cup, stroke – Third
1968 – Australian Henley, Grand Challenge Cup, stroke – First (An AUBC win over the highly favoured Mercantile crew.)
1968 - Australian University Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke – Second
1970 – Australian University Championships, Men’s Eight, stroke - Third
1971 - Interstate Championships, King’s Cup, emergency
1972 – Interstate Championships, King’s Cup, three seat – Fourth
1970s – School coaching for St Peter’s College mainly their second crew
1994 – SA Head of the River, Pembroke School U14 Quad Div A, co-coach - First (record time)
1995 - SA Head of the River, Pembroke School U14 Quad Div A, coach - First
1996 - SA Head of the River, Pembroke School 1st VIII, coach
1997 – SA Head of the River, Pembroke School 1st VIII, co-coach – Third
1997 – National Championships, Men’s Under 19 Double Scull, coach – Eighth
2002 - SA Head of the River, SPSC 10A 4x+, coach - First
2009 - Australian University Championships, Men's Eight, coach - First place. (This was the first time AUBC had won this event in 30 years, Lake Burley Griffith (ACT))
2010 - Australian University Championships, Men's Eight, coach - First place (back to back victory)
2010 - Trans Tasman Series (vs New Zealand in Queenstown and Dunedin), Men's Eight, coach - First place
2011, 2013, 2014 – World Masters Championships, competitor
Andrew Guerin and Mike Page
November 2025
Sources
- Emails from Will and Tom Jeffries
- This website
- Images from the Guerin collection