Old Aquinian and four-time Olympic Rowing coach Nicholas (Nick) Garratt AM (’65) passed away suddenly on 8^th July as he prepared the U23 Australian Rowing team for the World Rowing Championships in the US this week.

Aquinas College, the Swan River Rowing Club and Rowing WA invite community members to a special Memorial Service to celebrate Nick’s life at Aquinas College this Sunday 21^st July at 2pm in the College Chapel, followed by a Wake at the Swan River Rowing Club at 3pm (2 The Esplanade, Mt Pleasant).

Nick’s sudden passing has been felt across all levels of Australian rowing, with Rowing Australia President Rob Scott describing Nick as “… a passionate rowing coach who worked tirelessly to develop and support Australian rowers from grassroots to Olympic level. He was a greatly loved and admired member of our rowing family and we are all feeling this profound loss.”

Australian Olympic Committee chair John Coates said Nick’s dedication to Australian rowing and Olympic competition spanned many decades.

“At Olympic level, at national level and at club level, there are many hundreds of rowers, young and mature, who are in his debt as a coach and mentor,” Mr Coates told Rowing Australia.

Nick graduated from Aquinas College in 1965. He was a prefect and crew member of the 1^st VIII in his final year at school. From the boatsheds of Aquinas and the Swan River Rowing Club (where he was Champion in the Senior VIIIs and a lifelong member since 1965) he continued his rowing accolades, including stroking for the WA King’s Cup crew three years in a row, before turning his hand to coaching.

Nick’s Olympic coaching career included four successive games, beginning with Sydney in 2000. He coached six world champions or medalists (Junior, U23 and Senior A) from 1995 onwards and coached more than 26 Australian champions.

His career was highlighted by many achievements, including his appointment as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2016 and being named 2018 Pathway Coach of the Year. He was current Head Coach of the ACT Academy of Sport.

Nick’s funeral will be held in Canberra on Thursday 18^th July. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Heart Foundation via https://heartfoundationinmemoriam.everydayhero.com/au/in-honour-of-nick-garratt-am