Obituary: Clive Lee AM

Published Mon 05 Apr 2021

5 April 2021

Obituary: Clive Lee AM

Registered with athletics the day he was born in the 1920s, former Athletics NSW Executive Director Clive Lee passed away last week aged 95. He oversaw great advancement in athletics in NSW, steering the sport through amalgamation of the men’s and women’s associations and leaving the sport in a healthy situation with 15 sponsors when he retired in 1989.

On 26 March 1926, Clive Ditton Lee was born in Essex, Great Britain. Before the end of the day he was a paid up member of South End and County Harriers Club. His mother was a school teacher and his father a sweets factory owner and athlete sports manager. They were tennis players, winning the Essex County mixed title. The young Clive competed in the sprint events and played soccer, but he was more interested in club administration, than hard training. He initially worked in banking and was a competitor and administrator in athletics, soccer, rugby union, refereeing, cycling, hockey and tennis. He first became an official in the UK in 1946 and by 1948 was a grade 1 starter. Also in 1948, his long association with the Olympic Games commenced when he was a volunteer at the London Games. He also was a spectator in 1952 in Helsinki.

Before he and his family moved to Australia in 1957, he registered with the Western Suburbs Athletics Club (Asics Wests) and the day he arrived in Australia he was an official starter at interclub. In Australia he initially worked in banking.

He also had significant interest in soccer and with his family, and particularly brother Nigel and father Bertie, in 1958, setup the Eastwood St Andrews Football Club in Sydney. The family worked tirelessly to establish a ground for the club. Clive was President from 1958 to ‘63 and his brother Nigel for four years 1968-72. Clive’s dad Bertie was the club’s first life member, followed by Clive and in later years Nigel.

During his Presidency years at Eastwood Football, his day job was as General Manager of the relatively new Eastwood Rugby complex (T.G. Milner Field) on Vimiera Rd. This was followed by a role as Manager of the University of Sydney Union.

But athletics was Clive’s focus, immediately becoming a club delegate for Western Suburbs to Athletics NSW and from there led to a staggering contribution to athletics in Australia.

After serving as the Honorary Secretary of Athletics NSW 1969 to 1979, he became the first paid Executive Director from 1979 to 1989.

Either side of these key administration roles, from the early 1960s until 2000, a stretch of nearly four decades, Clive pioneered, established and served in the sport at every level from club to international. But without doubt the outstanding achievement during his tenure was the amalgamation of the AAANSW (the men’s association) and NSWWAAA (women’s association). The new office bearers were elected on 7 December 1981, the inaugural meeting of the new association, NSWAAA was on 24 March 1982 and the new association was in place from 1 April 1982.

He had an extensive impact at many more organisations, Athletics Australia, NSW Olympic Council, Oceania Athletics Association, Australian Olympic Committee, Pacific Conference Games Federation and Sydney University Athletics Club.

One of his early achievements was co-founding the Pacific Conference Games Federation in 1963. In that era athletes could only represent Australia at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games or World University Games, but a Pacific region competition was developed including sporting powerhouse USA, along with Japan, Canada and New Zealand and others. The inaugural Games were held in Tokyo in 1969 and further competitions in Toronto (1973), Canberra (1977), Christchurch (1981) and Berkley (1985). Clive managed the 1969 Australian team and over his 34 years of service, served as President and Honorary Secretary, being made life member in 1981.

The biggest fun run in the world is the City to Surf and from the ‘70s Clive was a co-founder of the event along with George Carruthers, Arthur Hodgson and The Sun Newspaper. He served on the organising committee for over 25 years.

For most NSW athletes, their first impressions of Clive were invariably memorable. The sartorial elegance stood out, as did the handlebar moustache and the perfect voice for a starter. His red starters jacket was visible for decades around the start line as well as the variety of other colourful jackets which indicated his presence at after parties and meetings.

Many athletes and officials learnt the fine art of conducting meetings and recording decisions under Clive. He was a stickler for meeting protocol and the proper role of minutes in the functioning of an organisation. He inspired many of the younger athletes to take up administrative roles in the sport. He mentored Brian Roe, Phil O’Hara and Harrison in the early ‘70s when planning for the Pacific Conference Games in Canberra.

Clive understood and valued the history of the sport and approaching the centenary in 1987, he instigated the writing of the association’s history by Ray White and Malcolm Harrison, which was produced by Fairfax at a nominal cost, plus a grand dinner and other celebratory events during the year. In retirement, Clive, together with Don Allen and a number of other retired officials, set up a regular annual lunch in where tall stories and true were enjoyed over the lunch. Sadly, many of the attendees are no longer with us.

He had a strong association with one of Australia’s oldest clubs, Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC), serving as President for five years in the ‘70s. He helped Malcolm Harrison organise and manage the first SUAC overseas club tour to PNG in 1971 and the Canada in 1977. In 1973, Clive was the leading advocate for the setting up of a committee at SUAC to plan for the club centenary in 1978. It was a huge undertaking by the club and included a number of high level track meets, overseas teams, a grand celebratory dinner and a comprehensive history. The '78 Club' continues to this day and is a committed behind-the-scenes supporter of the current SUAC.

On 14 August 1989, Clive Lee retired from the role of Executive Director at Athletics NSW. He continued to contribute and serve in many volunteer roles for over another decade. He and wife Liz initially moved to Exeter on the Southern Highlands, then eventually fully retired to Longford, 2km south of Launceston.

In 1990 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia and has been a life member since 2000. When he retired to Tasmania he served in the Northern Region and Tasmanian branches. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal (ASM) in 2000.

Behind the distinctive mutton chops moustache, was a passionate, enthusiastic and tireless worker for the sport. For over four decades Clive provided outstanding service to athletics in NSW, Australia and across the region.

He passed away in Launceston on 31 March 2021. A private family funeral will be held in Longford Tasmania and a celebration of his life will be arranged in Sydney later in the year.

SUMMARY OF KEY ATHLETICS ROLES

IAAF (World Athletics)

-Congress delegate 1972-1999 (10 occasions)

-Awarded Veteran Pin 1984

Oceania Athletics Association (OAA)

-Founding Secretary-General 1969-1973

-AA delegate 1973-1984

-President 1984-1991

-Life Member 1991

Pacific Conference Games Federation (PCGF)

-co-founding Pacific Conference Games Federation – 1963

-President 1973-77