Graeme SCOTT
Graeme joined Collingwood Harriers in time to start the 1955/56 summer season at the age of sixteen. His first competition for the Club was in the under 17 grade at the Millers Rope Works in Brunswick. At first, Graeme’s main interests lay in the 100 and 220 yards sprints and of course the associated relays.
The next season after the Olympics had finished, competition moved to the dog track next to the now defunct Olympic Park. It was here that ‘Doc’ was asked to run his first 440 yards race. There were only two Collingwood competitors, the other being Neil Greenway. Graeme remembers finishing second in a time of 60 seconds and thus began a love hate relationship with the long sprint that continued for many years.
Graeme is remembered as a strong runner, no doubt due in no small part, as a result of his consistent participation in the cross-country seasons during the winters.
Scotty began doing some coaching in the early sixties and remembers seeing the development of a very young Peter Norman. At about this time Graeme also joined the committee and certainly did a lot to support the Club over many years. He served as Club Secretary from 1970 -1973 and was also Chairman of the Social Committee for quite a period.
Graeme was on the Committee when Trevor Billingham was invited to the Club to speak about the new Little Athletics program started in Geelong and he was instrumental in setting up the Collingwood Centre and has continued his involvement ever since. Graeme has been made a Life Member of the ‘Littles’ as a result of his work.
In 1976 Graeme was made a Life Member of the Harriers in recognition of his many years of service on and off the track. A competitor for many years, Graeme spent about six seasons competing at the top level in A Grade. He won the Club’s Blue Ribbon 100 Yards title in 1964.
In 1980 after a, in his own words, ‘fairly good winter season’, Graeme had a trot in the Melbourne Marathon, making the trip up the Nepean Highway from Frankston in just a few seconds over 3 hours 55 minutes.
Graeme met his wife Bev through his involvement with the Little Athletics movement and their three children, Trent, Narelle and Sage have all competed with the Harriers. Bev and Graeme coordinate the Collingwood Littles’ cross-country activities and Graeme has been instrumental in many of the Coaching Camps organised by the Little Athletics Association.
Graeme is still a regular attendee at Club functions and often helps out at the Club’s winter events.
August 2014