Mervyn Wood

Mervyn Thomas Wood, (30 April 1917 – 19 August 2006) was an Australian rower and police officer. He was an eight-time Australian national sculling champion, four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist. He later rose to become the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force.

Early life and career Wood was the youngest of four children born in Kensington, New South Wales, on 30 April 1917. His father Thomas Wood had emigrated to Australia and entered the Police Force in 1905. Wood grew up in Randwick and attended Sydney Boys High School, graduating in 1934, where he represented his school in rugby union, swimming and most successfully, rowing.

Following high school, Wood became a police cadet and rowed for the New South Wales Police Rowing Club. The police senior eight dominated at state and national championships and was selected in toto represent Australia at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. At the age of 19 years, Wood appeared in his first Olympics rowing in the three seat of the Australian men's eight. His boat was eliminated in the repechage and did not make the final.

Upon his return, Wood made police constable. After the majority of his crew retired, Wood took up sculling. He worked in the police force in the Criminal Investigation Branch, and in 1944 joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a navigator.

Rowing

After the end of the Second World War, Wood won State and National Championships in 1946, 1947 and 1948 and was selected to represent Australia in the single scull at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Wood travelled to London ahead of the rest of the team and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls event at the Henley Royal Regatta, beating Bert Bushnell in the final. At the Olympics, Wood won all of his races handily including the final, which he won by 14 seconds. Wood celebrated by smoking his pipe – he was a lifelong smoker who only put aside the habit for the Olympics.

Wood went on to win the national single scull championship a record seven straight times, winning in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952. At the 1950 British Empire Games he won the single scull and with compatriot Murray Riley the double scull. As the 1948 Olympic Champion, Wood was awarded the Philadelphia Challenge Cup as the best amateur sculler in the world, which Wood defended in 1950, defeating John B. Kelly Jr. and Antony Rowe in a match race in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Wood represented Australia in the single scull event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he was honoured by being selected to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.

Wood's final competition was the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, where teaming with MacKenzie he won silver in the double scull at age 41. Once the document surfaced, however, the public backlash forced Wran to take back his support for Wood.

Awards Wood was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1957 New Year Honours, in recognition of his outstanding representation in the sphere of Australian amateur sport.

In the 1975 New Year Honours, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM).

Wood was appointed a Member (Fourth Class) of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1977 on the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee visit to Australia. In 1984, all existing Members (Fourth Class) were upgraded to the rank of Lieutenant, and could therefore use the suffix 'LVO'.

Death Wood died in Sydney on 19 August 2006 at age 89. He had been suffering from cancer.

Rowing record Olympics 1936, eight (8+), did not qualify for finals 1948, single (1x), gold 1952, single (1x), silver 1956, double (2x), bronze

Empire/Commonwealth Games 1950, Single (1x), gold 1950, Double (2x), gold 1954, Four w/out (4-), gold 1954, Double (2x), gold 1958, Double (2x), silver

Henley Royal Regatta 1948, Diamond Challenge Sculls, first place 1952, Diamond Challenge Sculls, first place