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Likely H McBrien OBE

Albert Park Rowing Club, now Albert Park South Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)

McBrien served in WWI in the pay section.

Likely Herman McBrien was born on 7th December, 1892 in South Melbourne and lived at 19 Kerford Rd, Albert Park.

His first wins for the Albert Park Club were in maiden crews in 1913-14, progressing to junior crews by the end of his first season. By March, 1915, he had won a Championship Eight for the club.

In a book written by his son Bruce on Melbourne, he commented that his father's 1913 win at the Melbourne Regatta in December 1913 was won by only one foot from Hawthorn and regarded as one of the finest rowing races ever witnesses over the Henley course (on the Yarra). He also added that his father was a staunch committee member of Albert Park Rowing Club and also a hockey player.

A publisher by trade, ‘Like’ enlisted on 3rd April, 1916 as a private in the 60th Battalion at the age of 23. Transferred to the Administrative Headquarters in London, Like returned to Australia on 23rd May, 1917 for family reasons.

An avid sportsman, Like returned to the Club and married Madge Summers on 16th July, 1919 and had two children.

He went on to have a public career as a prominent sports administrator and politician. He was secretary and president of the South Melbourne Football Club in the 1920s, and was secretary of the VFL from 1929 until 1956.

From 1943 to 1949, he was elected to the Legislative Council as an Independent for Melbourne North.

Like was appointed OBE in 1950, and died in 1956.

1913 Maiden Eight win

Rowing details
1913 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Maiden Eight, four seat - First (winners of the second Buchan Cup)

1914 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Men's Maiden Four, two seat - First

1914 - Ballarat Regatta, Men's Junior Four, two seat - First

1914 - Geelong and Barwon Regatta, Men's Junior Four, two seat - First

1914-15 - Victorian Championships, Men's eight, four seat - First

Committee man of Albert Park Rowing Club

Grace Blake, Philippe Batters and Andrew Guerin
July 2021

Sources:

http://www.apsmrc.com/Honour-Rolls
The Victorian Oarsman by John Lang, Massina & Co, 1919

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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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