Roger Wilson OAM (OB 62)

Since rowing in the first ever BGS 1st VIII to compete in 1st VIII's division in the APS Head of the River regatta in 1961 Roger Wilson has had a passion for rowing.

In rowing circles he is known as the ‘voice of rowing’ having commentated at literally hundreds of regattas including at 40 Heads of the River, 39 Kings Cups (the Australian State Championship for eights) for the ABC and the Olympic Games in Barcelona,(1992), Atlanta (1996) when Australia won two gold medals and Sydney(2000).

Roger has also been an accomplished rowing correspondent for The Age, The Herald Sun and Weekly Times for over 30 years.

As well as his commentating, Roger was the General Manager of Forty Winks, the well known bedding company, building the franchise up from a small number of stores to more than 90. Roger was President of the Franchise Council of Australia 2001-2003 and was elected to their ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2006 – one of only 23 people to date. 

Roger is also a great lover of Australian Rules football. He played over 200 games of Victorian Amateur Football with the Old Brighton Grammarians Football Club. He was a committee member, coach, ‘Best and Fairest’ and Life Member.  Click here to listen to a  radio interview with Roger Wilson