The King’s Cup

Not many Ormondians get a message from a king. Even fewer, one sent via Winston Churchill. One who did was Clive Disher, an Ormondian, doctor, rower and war hero who is remembered by the Australian rowing community for both his sporting prowess and for convincing a king. Clive Disher came to Ormond in 1912 to study Medicine and during his studies was a star rower for both Ormond and the University. After graduating, he served as a medical officer in World War I and was recommended for a Military Cross for his bravery. When the war ended, Disher was one of thousands of soldiers in Britain waiting months or years in the UK for a berth on a ship to take them home to Australia. To help people adjust to post-war life and to occupy troops awaiting transport, in 1919 the UK staged the Henley Peace Regatta, a rowing competition that included a race between six military crews, each representing an Allied country. Disher was immediately named as the stroke (first rower) of the Australian crew.

Disher’s crew epitomised some of the challenges of post-war life. All members had just finished fighting the war and many suffered the kind of stress we might now call PTSD, and the coach and some members had to retire for this reason. Clive Disher himself itched to return to his medical work. But the crew won the event and took home the King’s Cup. Or at least they tried to. Once the event was over the Australian rowing community wanted the King’s Cup to be awarded annually to the Australian national champion crew, but the Australian War Memorial (which likely held the object) were opposed. So Clive Disher wrote to the king. A copy of the letter is in the Ormond archives, as is the response from the king, a letter from the Secretary for the Colonies, Winston Churchill. The king granted the request and the King’s Cup has been used for this purpose ever since.

After returning from Britain in 1919, Clive Disher remained closely involved in Ormond rowing as selector, coach and fundraiser for the sport, and an Ormond boat was named after him. He was a long-time member and sometime president of the Old Ormond Students’ Association (now the OCA). He later served in World War II as the commanding officer of fellow Ormondian rower and medic ‘Weary’ Dunlop. Clive Disher is remembered by the Australian rowing community, which now awards both the King’s Cup, for which state crews compete, and the Clive Disher Cup, which is awarded to military rowers.