Victor Walter
Victoria Lake Club (South Africa)
When speaking with Victor about his rowing career, he said that whilst he didn't trouble the judges too often, he learned so much from rowing. As with all rowers, he leant about being focused, disciplined, tolerant, respectful, and reliable. All the attributes required in a boat and in life. He prefers to employ rowers as he knows that they will be good employees.
His self-deprecating comments are just a hint of the generous and well-meaning disposition of Victor, who shows remarkable empathy and kindness to rowers whilst undertaking umpiring at regattas.
Given a juvenile eye complaint, Victor was encouraged into rowing at his school, Jeppe High School in Johannesburg, South Africa. He started in year 8 in 1975 and by 1979 was a competent sculler, finishing second at the South African Schools Championships. However, in his thoughtful manner, he was most proud of being part of the school rowing team which won the overall championship, rather than his own performance.
Immediately after leaving school, he commenced rowing umpiring, an activity in which he excelled and led to him to being an international umpire and the Chair of the Australian Umpires Committee.
He started as a local Transvaal Rowing Association umpire and this then led to being a national level South African umpire by 1984-85. Along the way, he served as treasurer and then secretary of the Transvaal Rowing Association, introduced umpiring licences for that association, and then rewrote the South African rules of racing to match those of FISA.
In 1990 he awarded his State’s (Transvaal Rowing Association's) colours as an umpire. An unusual feat in any jurisdiction.
In 1994 with the apartheid lifted, the FISA embargo on South Africa was also lifted enabling Victor to attend the World Championships in Indianapolis USA to sit for his international umpiring licence. He was successful. His first international regatta was the 1996 African Continental Qualifying Regatta, which was followed many other regattas including World Junior Championships, World Masters, numerous World Cups, two World Championships and the Paralympics. It is an outstanding record.
When asked about highlights of his umpiring career, he mentioned the challenges of being President of the Jury at the three combined World Cups and Australian Rowing Championships conducted in Sydney. They were complex regattas requiring a full grasp of both local and international requirements to make it happen.
Victor caught on the run at 2013 combined World Cup 1 and Australian Rowing Championships as President of the Jury
Outside umpiring, Victor has served as a director of Rowing NSW and is currently an observer on the Rowing NSW Risk Committee. He was also an active masters rower in his native South Africa.
Professionally, Victor is a chartered accountant, who has undertaken various Chief Financial Officer roles in leading financial institutions.
Following the election of the ANC in South Africa, Victor and his wife hoped for good change, but sadly did not see it. They made the difficult decision to bring up their family in Australia and migrated. It was a big call but it was success for both him and his family. One of his daughters rowed and umpired following in his stead. He and his wife became leaders in the Loreto Normanhurst rowing program, helping them to improve both their on and off the water.
Victor leaves a strong and lasting legacy for rowing both in both South Africa and Australia. He continues to be an active rowing umpire.
Andrew Guerin
April 2025