Sir Edgar Stephen Tanner, CBE (10 August 1904 - 21 November 1979) was an Australian sports administrator and Victorian politician. He was a former secretary-general and president of the Australian Olympic Federation and Chairman of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association.

Personal

Tanner was born on 10 August 1904 at Albany, Western Australia.[1] He was the eldest of four children.[1] He attended All Saints Grammar School, St Kilda and studied commerce at the University of Melbourne.[1] He joined the advertising staff of the Herald and Weekly Times.[1] On 11 June 1938, he married Edna May Ponsonby.[1] He died on 21 November 1979 at North Caulfield and was survived by his wife Edna, daughter Anne and son Ted, a former member of the Victorian Parliament and boxing administrator.[1][2]

Military career

In 1929, Tanner had been commissioned in the Militia.[1] In November 1941, Tanner was appointed temporary captain in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force.[1] He was a member of the Gull Force.[1] In January 1942, he became prisoner of war after Gull Force was overpowered by the Japanese in Ambon.[2] Whilst a prisoner of war at Hainan, he organised sports events including a running race between Australian and Dutch prisoners.[1][3]

Political career

In May 1955, Tanner representing the Liberal and Country Party, won the seat of Ripponlea in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.[1] After Tanner was elected a member of parliament, the media questioned his ability to concurrently serve in important Olympic positions including secretary of the Organising Committee of the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as well as a member of Parliament.[4] When Ripponlea was abolished in 1967, he was elected to Caulfield which he held until in retirement in February 1976.[1] Whilst in the parliament, he was chairman of several committees and deputy-speaker from 1970 to 1973.[1] His son Ted was the member for Caulfield from 1979 to 1996.

Sports administration career

Boxing

Tanner won a University of Melbourne blue for boxing and fought in 150 featherweight bouts and lost seven.[1][3] He was appointed secretary of the Victorian Amateur Boxing and Wrestling Association in the 1930s.[1] He managed Australia's boxing and wrestling team at the 1938 Sydney British Empire Games, Sydney.[1][3] In 1979, he stepped down as president of the Amateur Boxing Union of Australia, a position that he held for over 20 years.[2]

Olympic Games

In June 1946, Tanner was elected secretary-treasurer Victorian Olympic Council (VOC)[5] This election led to his campaign with Bill Uren, VOC Chairman, for Melbourne to host the 1956 Summer Olympics.[5] Tanner and Uren gained the support of the then Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir James Connelly, and Sir Frank Beaurepaire, a former Lord Mayor.[5] Beaurepaire's standing in the Olympic movement is stated as a major factor for the successful Melbourne Olympic bid.[5][6] Tanner served as the secretary of the Organising Committee of 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.[2] In May 1947, at the Australian Olympic Federation's first meeting since World War II, Tanner was elected secretary-general.,[5] a position that he held until 1974. He was General Manager of the Australian team at the 1948 London Olympics.[5][7] He was president of the Australian Olympic Federation from 1974 to 1977.[2] His presidency came to an end when defeated by Sydney Grange in a ballot in 1977.[5]

Commonwealth Games

He held various positions including Chairman with the Australian Commonwealth Games Association from 1974 to 1977.[8]

Honours

  • 1957 - The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil) for Secretary of the Olympic Games Committee[9]
  • 1968 - Knight Bachelor for Secretary of the Australian Olympic Federation[9]
  • Life Member Australian Olympic Committee[10]
  • Life Member Commonwealth Games Australia
  • Sir Edgar Tanner Trophy is for the best performed team at the Australian Boxing Championships

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Tanner, Sir Edgar Stephen (1904–1979)". Sir Edgar Stephen Tanner. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 19 May 2015. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Edgar Tanner dead". Canberra Times. 22 November 1979. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Hamilton, John (2 August 1972). "Sir Edgar's worry is a flying start". The Herald: 2.
  4. ↑ "Mr. Tanner is at the crossroads". The Argus. 2 June 1955. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gordon, Harry (1994). Australia at the Olympics. St Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
  6. ↑ Jobling, Ian (November 1994). "Olympic Proposals and Bids by Australian Cities" (PDF). Sporting Traditions. 11 (1): 37–56.
  7. ↑ "Edgar Tanner Manager". Sporting Globe. 6 March 1948. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Australian Commonwealth Games Association (2014). Australian team : Glasgow 2014, handbook 23 July - 3 August. Melbourne: Australian Commonwealth Games Association.
  9. 1 2 "Edgar Stephen Tanner". It's An Honour. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Life Members". Australian Olympic Committee website. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
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