Passing of Whanganui rowing legend Simon Dickie recognised

Waverley-born Wanganui Collegiate old boy, the late Simon Dickie, receives the traditional coxswain's dunking after winning Olympic gold in Munich.

Wanganui Collegiate School is marking the tragic passing of old boy and Olympic champion Simon Dickie.

The Waverley-born Dickie, old boy number 6282 from Harvey House during 1964-68, died suddenly on Wednesday, December 13, at his home in Taupo.

He was the coxswain for the Collegiate eights crew from 1966-1968 as they won three Maadi Cups.

While still attending Collegiate, Dickie was selected for the New Zealand team for the 1968 Mexico Olympics, and won gold in the coxed four event along with Dick Joyce, Dudley Storey, Ross Collinge and Warren Cole. This was New Zealand's first Olympic gold medal in rowing.

He also won gold at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and bronze at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

Collegiate director of sport Barry Touzel said school crews rowing at the annual Christmas regatta at Lake Karapiro over the weekend wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Dickie and would also play a part in his funeral service on Wednesday.

"We have a busload travelling to Taupo to act as a guard of honour at Simon's funeral. They will take Collegiate oars and will form one side of the guard of honour with representatives from Rowing New Zealand forming the other," Touzel said.

"Simon Dickie was a well-resepcted old boy who was awarded his Honour Tie in 2015. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich Dickie teamed with fellow Whanganui rower Trevor Coker, Dick Joyce, Tony Hurt, Wybo Veldman, John Hunter, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Gary Robertson to win the gold medal in the eights.

At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal he was again cox for the eight which this time won the bronze medal. His crewmates this time were Tony Hurt, Alec McLean, Ivan Sutherland, Trevor Coker, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Dave Rodger.

Dickie is one of only 15 New Zealanders to have won two or more Olympic gold medals.

He died at his house in Taupo on Wednesday, December 13 aged 66.

The day prior to his death, he had held a reunion for the 1968 coxed four, and he was involved in organising a reunion for the 1972 coxed eight at the next Halberg Awards function.

He is survived by his wife, Adi, and their three daughters.