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australian rowers profiles and history

Gary O Uebergang

University of Queensland Boat Club (QLD), Sydney University Boat Club (NSW), Mosman Rowing Club (NSW) and Sydney Rowing Club (NSW)

Gary is an Olympian, who was a senior Australian representative, Interstate Champion, National Champion and highly successful schoolboy coach. He has had a remarkable rowing career.

Whilst the other details at the foot of the page are compiled by the author, the following profile has been copied from the Mosman Rowing Club centenary history, Red and White Hoops - One Hundred Years of Mosman Rowing Club, published by Jacobson Publishing Pty Ltd in 2011 and is reproduced with permission of the publisher and the author, Judge Mark Williams SC, Past President and Life Member of Mosman Rowing Club. Thank you to both for access to this most interesting profile.

Quick Learner 

While a student at University of Queensland, the strapping young Gary Uebergang was in the engine room of the Queensland King's Cup eights in 1972 and 1973. They didn't make the final in either year, and Sydney beckoned as Olympic selection for 1976 loomed. 

Fitting In 

After a short stint at Sydney University Boat Club in 1974, Gary arrived at Mosman in February 1975. Bruce Evans recalls, 'he was a big man, about 6' 4" and 96 kg. He was a very quick learner and within a few months rowing behind Crowley and others he was fitting into the eight quite well'. 

King's Cup 

Just before the State Championship, the Nepean River was in flood, and the Champion Eight was moved to Iron Cove. Gary remembers Bruce getting the crew up at 3 A.M. in time for a 7 A.M. start to the race. Bruce had been taking the crew to a sports psychologist in Bondi for weekly sessions for the last month before the Champion Eight. He still doesn't know if it had any effect on them. Uebergang, Athol Macdonald and Bryan Weir were selected in the King's Cup squad. NSW recorded its third win in a row. 

Montreal 

Olympic selection followed, with Gary joining Athol Macdonald and Mal Shaw in the eight, which finished fifth in the final in Montreal. 

Senior Competition 

Gary served as Club Captain in 1976, and was again part of winning King's Cup crews in 1977 and 1978. He moved on to Sydney Rowing Club in 1978. After an unsuccessful attempt at further Olympic selection in 1980, he continued competing at senior level until the 1985 Riverview Gold Cup. 

Teaching 

After a stint at Cranbrook, Gary started teaching at Shore in 1980 and remains a popular coach, Latin teacher and Housemaster. Together with Bob Shirlaw, he has played an integral role in the dominance of Share crews for many of the last 30 years.

The Mosman 1975 Gold Cup Eight-W. Stephens (bow), J. Gray, G. Uebergang, G. Elliott, J. Clark, B. Weir, I. Taylor, M. Crowley (stroke), T. O'Hanlon (cox), B. Evans (coach).

The winning 1976 NSW King's Cup crew with Gary in the three seat

Some other details

1971 - Australian University Championships, men's Eight, five seat - Seventh

1972 - Interstate Championship Men's Eight (QLD), five seat - Eliminated in repechage

1973 - Interstate Championship Men's Eight (QLD), four seat - Eliminated in repechage

1976 - Interstate Championship Men's Eight (NSW), three seat - First

1976 - National Championships, Men's Open Eight, three seat - First

1976 - Olympic Games, Men's Eight, four seat - Fifth

1977 - Interstate Championship Men's Eight (NSW), emergency

1977 - National Championships, Men's Coxed Four, three seat - Fourth

1978 - National Championship Men's Coxless Four, three seat - First

1978 - Interstate Championship Men's Eight (NSW), five seat - First

1978 - World Championships, Men's Eight, five seat - Fourth

1983 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st crew, coach - Second

1985 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - First

1986 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - First

1986 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st crew, coach - First

1989 - Interstate Championships, Men's Youth Eight, coach - no race due to cyclone

1989 - National Championship, Men's Under 23 Eight, coach - no race due to cyclone

1992 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - Third

1995 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - First

1995 - National Championship Men's Junior Eight, coach - First

1996 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - First

1996 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st crew, coach - First

1998 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st crew, coach - Second

1999 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, coach - Third

1999 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st crew, coach - First

2000 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st Four, coach - First

2000 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd Four, coach - Second

2000 - National Championship Men's Junior Eight, coach - First

2002 - National Championship Schoolboy Eight, co-coach - First

2003 - National Championship Schoolboy Four, coach - Fifth

2005 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Fourth

2005 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2006 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Third

2006 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - Second

2007 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2007 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2008 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2008 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2008 - National Championship Schoolboy Four, coach - First and Second

2009 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2009 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2010 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Fourth

2010 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2011 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Second

2011 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - Second

2013 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2013 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2014 - National Championship Schoolboy Four, coach - Seventh

2015 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Second

2015 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - Second

2016 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2016 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2017 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - First

2017 - National Championship Schoolboy Four, coach - Sixth

2018 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - Fourth

2019 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - Second

2019 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 2nd four, coach - Second

2020 - AAGPS Head of the River, Shore 1st four, coach - First

2020 - National Champion Schoolboy Four, coach - regatta cancelled


Andrew Guerin
January 2022

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