Morry Doidge passed on 25 April 2020

Rest in peace, Morry Doidge.

A grand old Master of New Zealand Swim Coaching passed on 25 April 2020, when we bade a sad farewell to Morry Doidge former Mt Eden Swimming Club coach.

Morry was responsible for the unprecedented success of the Mt Eden Swimming Club in its golden era, the late 1950s until the early 1970s. During this period Morry coached members of his swim squad to national and international success. His charges included Olympic and Commonwealth Games representatives and medallists, Australian title-holders and countless national and provincial champions.

But perhaps Morry’s greatest coaching accolade came in 1966 when he became the first New Zealand swim coach appointed to a major national team. At the Kingston Commonwealth Games, he guided a team of nine, including five members of the Mt Eden Club. That team, one of our most successful, returned with a tally of one gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

But Morry’s coaching legacy was not solely with elite competitors. Throughout his professional career, he remained a dedicated swim teacher to countless numbers of youngsters.

Morry, your memory lives in the memories of the many lives you touched as a coach, a mentor and a friend.

Kei te pai to mahi e hoa

David Gerrard

Picture: Morry is 4th from the right. Taken November 2019 at a Mt Eden Swimming Club reunion.