Scotchy Gordon

refer West End Trophy 1966

Alastair K “Scotchy” Gordon 
30 October 1928 – 25 April 2007 

It is with sorrow that we mark the passing of Scotchy Gordon. 

Scotchy still holds the St Peter’s Under 16 200 metres record which he set in the 1944. After the war, he competed alongside Bill Bruce, the school’s first Olympic athlete, and developed into an international calibre athlete. He competed in the 1950 Empire Games, winning a gold medal in the 4x110 yards relay and placing fourth in both the 100 and 220 yards finals. He equalled the Australian 100 metres record of 10.5 in 1952 and was unlucky not to gain Olympic selection as Australia, despite having six highly ranked individuals, did not send a relay team to Helsinki. He retired in 1955 but then made a short comeback in an attempt to make the Melbourne Olympic team. His bid was cut short by injury and he turned to coaching and later, to the hammer throw.

He also loved Rugby Union and was a dedicated Old Collegian. He was a great personality with a great sense of humour and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Scotchy revelled in the image of a grumpy old man but, behind that gruff exterior, there was a man of immense sensitivity and kindness. He was erudite and well read and always enjoyed a fight, whether it be verbal or physical. Often, after a public verbal battle he would say quietly “that was a good one” and then we would then privately discuss what we really thought. 

Scotchy was a life member of Athletics South Australia, a Merit Award Holder of Athletics Australia and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the sport. He is survived by wife, Susie, three daughters, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

An extract from an obitusry by Fletcher McEwen 26 April 2007

A private funeral was held on Wednesday, 2 May 2007 followed by a public celebration of Scotchy’s life at St Peter’s College on Friday, 4 May