VALE NICK GARRATT
AM 1947 – 2019

It is with much sadness to advise that Rowing ACT head coach
Nicholas (Nick) Garratt AM passed away today.

Not only was Nick respected both nationally and
internationally, his work ethic and character were widely valued and admired.  Nick was friendly, calm and collegiate with a
good sense of humour.

As our head coach and a member of the ACT rowing community
for the last few years the loss is personal to many of us including the current
cohort of elite rowers.  He inspired many
youngsters who progressed under his tutelage to be National and World Rowing
Champions.  Nick achieved great results,
initially in Western Australia, then in NSW at Mosman and finally in the ACT.  

His results with the ACT team were exceptional. All four of
ACT interstate crews and scullers won medals in the 2019 interstate regatta,
the ACT’s best-ever results. Nick was personally involved as the principal
coach of the ACT men’s lightweight four and sculler Cara Grzeskowiak, and was
influential with our national para scullers.

He was appointed a Member in the General Division of the
Order of Australia (AM) in the 2016 Australia Day honours. Nick coached crews
in the Sydney, Athens, Beijing and London Olympics, with a fourth in the men’s
quad scull in Sydney and a sixth in the women’s eights in London.

Australia has lost one of our great rowing coaches and a
great man.