Australian Graeme Owens honoured in Queen's Birthday Awards

by Jenny Honeybun on 10 Jun 2009
With over 50 years in the sailing world including 35 years experience as a skipper in one design, offshore and mixed handicap racing, Graeme has an impressive history.

Born in Perth in 1937, married to Gilliam and living in Claremont, he retired early from business as a Construction Cost Consultant in 1990 to pursue an interest in all things yachting.

Graeme’s resume of international, national and state umpiring and judging, appointments to International juries and committees, protest hearings & mediation, lecturer, examiner and recognized publicist of marine educational material, awards achievements and qualifications is long and varied.

It should be stressed here that although the organizers of overseas events and training seminars willingly provide air tickets and accommodation, no payment is accepted. All the time given to the sport is gratis. Graeme once summed it up simply 'If I accepted money my interests would become my business. Then I would lose my interest.'

A member of Royal Perth Yacht Club where he served on the many committees in various positions, Graeme was instrumental in forming the Endeavour 24 and the Quarter Ton Class Associations and won the Endeavour 24 Championships in 1972 & 1975.

He served the Yachting Association of Western Australia (now Yachting WA) on the Management, Racing Rules, Protests and Appeals Committees, and as a delegate, instructor, mediator and a lecturer. In 1991 he was awarded the prestigious Ron Tough Yachting Foundation Gold Medal for an outstanding contribution to the sport of sailing.

At some stage most illustrious yachting administrators have their interest drawn to the America’s Cup, yet few have had the deep involvement of Australia’s Graeme Owens.

Commencing in the early 1980’s with rules assistance to the Australia II syndicate, he went on to serve on the Americas Cup Committee from 1984 to 1987 and prior to the challenge he provided rules lectures and assistance to all the defence syndicates. In 1988 his extensive experience and expertise was sought by the San Diego Yacht Club, America’s Cup host and served on the Cup Challengers’ Committee from 1990 to 1992 . In 1995 Graeme reduced his contribution to the Cup preparation but did spend some time with the Australian challengers in Queensland prior to their departure.

Appointed by the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF) as an Australian National Judge in 1983, by the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) as an International Judge in 1986 and an International Umpire in 1990, Graeme was a sought after lecturer and guru in all matters relating to the sport of sailing. His considerable published material was read, circulated and acclaimed world wide. He has been invited to present at world seminars in countries varying from the Americas to Yugoslavia and India.

Graeme’s numerous appointments to prominent international events started in 1979 when he was judge for the Parmelia Race (Plymouth to Fremantle) a position he undertook until 1987. This was followed by the Australia Cup Match Racing in 1982 & 83, the French Coupe du Monde in 1985 and an ongoing list of world events which rolled out each year thereafter drawing him away from Australian waters for considerable periods. If it wasn’t the America’s Cup, it was the Kenwood Cup in Hawaii or the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race, the IYRU World Championships, South East Asia Games, Californian Congressional Cup, the Philippines President’s Cup etc, etc. This set the trend for annual demand which found Graeme not only umpiring and judging, but lecturing and examining around the world yet he always returned home to Australia for the demands of sailing championship season.

Olympic involvement didn’t escape him. In 1997-2000 Graeme was the Rules and Protest coach to the Australian Sailing Team’s Olympic squad and was selected by the Australian Olympic Committee as the Rules and Protest Advisor and a member of the Olympic Team in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

On the 8th June 2009 Graeme was deservedly recognized with another award in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and adds the Order of Australia medal to his credit as follows:

• Presented the title 'Senior US Judge' by the United States Sailing Association.
• Awarded the title of 'Honorary judge' by the Canadian Yachting Association.
• Twice awarded a scroll by the International Yacht Racing Union ‘in recognition of your support'.
• The International Sailing Federation’s Certificate of Long Service 'created to formally recognise those individuals who have dedicated their time and skills to the benefit of our sport through their contribution as race officials over a number of years.'
• 1991 Ron Tough Yachting Foundation Gold medal for 'an outstanding contribution to the sport of yachting'.
• 1996 May Campbell Service to Sport Award, Yachting awarded in the West Australian Sports Champion Awards
• 1997 May Campbell Service to Sport Award, Yachting awarded in the West Australian Sports Champion Awards
• 1998 Nortel Australian Yachting Award by the Australian Yachting Federation ‘in recognition for services to yachting'.
• 2000 The Australian Sport Medal – awarded by the Governor General of Australia for 'Australian sporting achievement'.
• 2001The Horace Rumble Medal - awarded Royal Perth Yacht Club 'in recognition to a member who was considered to have provided 'exceptional service'.
• 2002 The Asian Games Federation Diploma and Medal - awarded by the Asian Games Federation in recognition of services as Chief Sailing Judge at two Asian Games and two South-East Asia Games.
• 2003 The International Sailing Federation’s Silver Medal - awarded by ISAF 'In recognition of your outstanding voluntary contribution to the sport of sailing over many years
• 2008 Yachting Australia's Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2009 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition for 'For service to the sport of sailing'.

Whether it was the Liberty Cup in New York, World Match Racing Championships in UK, Champion of Champions in Hong Kong, IYRU Nations Cup in Greece, the Kenwood Cup in Hawaii, the Nippon Cup in Japan or the S80 State Championships in Perth, Graeme can be relied upon to give of his best and always with good grace – the quintessential gentleman and sportsman, an example to all.