Wairarapa swimming icon mourned

MILESTONE MOMENT: Ian McPhee, the driving force behind the construction of the Carterton indoor pool, joins Carterton Swimming Club patron June Pinfold at a cake-cutting ceremony in August 2007 which marked the 20th birthday of the facility.PHOTO/FILE

WAIRARAPA swimming has lost one of its greatest advocates with the death of Ian McPhee last Friday.

While an outstanding competitor in his younger days it was as an astute and hard-working administrator that Mr McPhee made a hugely significant mark on the sport here and nationally ... significant enough to earn him life membership of Swimming Wairarapa and Swimming New Zealand.

Carterton Swimming Club benefited immensely from Mr McPhee's input over many years. He filled nearly every committee position, including president, vice-president , selector and handicapper, but will be remembered foremost as the driving force behind the construction of the town's indoor pool.

Carterton coach Russell Geange said that pool would never have eventuated in the late 1980s without Mr McPhee's enthusiasm and vigour.

"It was his idea and while he would be the first to admit he had plenty of good support to make it happen it was Ian who drove it ... it was his baby," Geange said.

Mr McPhee was secretary of Swimming Wairarapa from 1978 to 1981 and also served that body as an examiner, selector, education officer, coach, vice-president and president.

He was their first delegate to Swimming New Zealand (then the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association) and was a key component in the organisation as they moved from a centre to a stand-alone swimming region. He was made a life member of Swimming Wairarapa in 1979.

A nationally qualified timekeeper, judge, starter and referee, Mr McPhee served as vice-president of the NZASA from 1979 to 1981 and became president the following year.

Geange recalls him as being a keen debater always with the best interests of the swimmers in mind.

"If he felt there was something which should be said he would say it, he was quite prepared to stand on toes to get his point across. But he respected other people's opinions, he never held grudges."

McPhee managed several New Zealand teams, including at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Australia, and was chef de mission for the inaugural Australia Games in 1985.

He was also a member of the national body's awards committee for 15 years, nine of them as chairman, and was made a life member of Swimming New Zealand at its 120th annual meeting in 2010.

Swimming Wairarapa issued a statement saying it was deeply indebted to Ian McPhee for his work and dedication to the sport.