Treloar, John AM (1928-2012)
Champion Athlete
John Francis Treloar, AM
(19 January 1928 – 23 July 2012) was a track and
field athlete, who is considered to have been one of Australia’s greatest male
sprinters, ranked as one of the world’s fastest men between 1947 and 1952.
He represented Australia at the 1948 Olympic
Games in London and the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki where he became the first
Australian male to qualify for a 100 m final. He finished sixth - just 0.1sec
behind the winner in the closest finish in Olympic history.
Apart
from his two Olympic Games appearances, John Treloar won three gold medals at
the 1950 Empire (now Commonwealth) Games in Auckland, in the 100 and 200 yards
and the 4x100 yards relay.
In his career, Treloar won six national titles
over 100 yards and 200 yards.
John
Treloar was born in Roseville, NSW, on 19 January, 1928, the son of William John
Treloar (1897-1975) and his wife, Dorothy Mary Sophia, nee Oakley.
William Treloar was born
on 11 August, 1897, at Clifton Hill, Victoria,
the son of William Tremayne Treloar and his wife, Annie Eliza Oliver, nee
McBean.
He married Dorothy Oakley on 11 August, 1921, at
Trinity Church, Hounslow, England.
Dorothy Oakley was born on 22 March, 1895, at
Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, the daughter of Francis James Oakley and his wife,
Mary Elizabeth, nee Kay.
William Treloar enlisted during WW2 and died
on 1 May, 1975, in Sydney, NSW.
Dorothy Treloar, nee Oakley, died in 1985 in
Sydney.
John
Treloar was educated at Roseville Public School and North Sydney Boys High
School where the sportsmaster was Arthur Henry.
He graduated from Sydney University as an
engineer.
John had joined Northern Suburbs Athletic Club
as a 12 year old and came to notice in the 1943 -- 44 season when unbeaten in
interclub competition in the under 16 years 100 yards, 220 yards and triple
jump.
After leaving school, he joined Sydney University
Club from where he represented Australia in the 1948 Olympic Games in London.
After completing his degree, he returned to
Norths in 1952 and became the club’s first Olympian when selected to compete
in the 100 yards at Helsinki.
John Treloar retired from athletics in 1953.
At
UTS Norths 75th
annual dinner, John Treloar was made a life member.
As well as competing for both Norths and
Sydney Uni, John also helped found the Sutherland District Athletic Club in 1959
when he moved to the Shire after his marriage.
In
October,1951, Newington College Chapel, Stanmore, John Francis Treloar married
Patricia Northcott Law, the daughter of Archibald Clive Law and his wife,
Kathleen Northcott Law nee Burns.
Patricia was born on 15 November 1928, the
first of the five children of Archibald (1900-1983) and Kathleen (1902-1983).
Archibald (1900-1983) was a solicitor and the family lived in Cronulla in the
Sutherland Shire.
They
were married in January, 1928, at the Newington College Chapel.
John
and Patricia Treloar lived in Caringbah and had four children – three sons and a
daughter.
Patricia Treloar died on 11 November, 1997,
and was cremated at Woronora Cemetery.
After Pat’s death, John remarried.
In
2000, JohnTreloar was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for outstanding
service as an athlete, administrator and event organiser. In 2001, he was made a
Member of the Order of Australia (OAM).
In 2011, the refurbished gym at his old
school, North Sydney Boys High School, was named in his honour.
John
Francis Treloar died at Woolooware Shores Retirement Village, Taren Point, on 23
July, 2012, aged 84.
At the request of his family, his funeral was
held at his old school, North Sydney Boys High School.
He was cremated at Woronora Cemetery.
View the entry in the
database for Treloar, John AM (1828-2012) and
family. Click on his name at the heading of this
page.
References:
·
Wikipidea
·
http://nswathletics.org.au
·
Australian Electoral Rolls
·
NSW BDM
·
Australia and New Zealand, Obituary Index, 2004-2017
·
Ancestry