by Max Howell
This simple, unplanned, honest event changed Mark’s life. He became, overnight, an Australian sporting super-star. His photograph was emblazoned in the newspapers, which recounted the story of his life. He won the ‘Sporting Life Athlete of the Year’, the ‘Australian Athlete of the Year Award’, the ‘Sportsman of the Year Award’, the ‘Swimmer of the Year’ and a host of other awards. His story exemplified the egalitarian nature of Australian society. A boy from a poor home had overcome all odds by personal sacrifice and commitment and had made his way to the top. He demonstrated that old time values were not out of place in the modern world.
When he arrived at Sydney Technical High School on the following Monday, the Headmaster, Dr. A. S. McKinnon, a product of the previous generation, called a special school assembly. He stood at the concrete ledge overlooking the total school population and called Mark to the podium with him.
“On Saturday,” he said, “a boy from this school set an example to the youth of this country that will never be forgotten by those who saw it. He disqualified himself in the Australian Championships when no official noticed that he had fouled. But he knew, and he refused to accept the victory.
“There have been many famous deeds in this school’s sporting history, but none to my knowledge has ever equaled what Mark did on Saturday night. He showed clearly that a person must live with the principles he believes in. Most Australians are proud of this action in the domain of sport.
“Each of you must ask the question whether you would have had the resolve to make the same decision that Mark did. As an educator, I would hope that you would. As a realist, I would have to say that perhaps few would have reacted in this manner.
“There are few things in life that have meaning above all others. One of them is Honour.
“The motto of this School, Sydney Technical High School, is ‘Manners Makyth Man’.
“Mark Jamieson has lived by the motto of the School and has delivered a message of great significance to all Australians by his action.
“I ask this School to observe thirty seconds silence out of respect for what Mark Jamieson did. Mark - the School and I salute you.”
The applause broke out, and Mark bowed his head out of modesty. The Headmaster extended his hand and shook Mark’s. He then said: “And now, the 30 seconds silence.”
A hush went over the School, and after 30 seconds the applause broke out again. Mark walked down the concrete steps from the podium and was enveloped by his school-mates. It was a moment in his life he would never forget.
CHAPTER 2.
1956: THE OLYMPIC YEAR
Mark kept up his training through the winter and graduated from High School with excellent marks. He was still growing, and was now 6’ 2” and weighed 160 pounds. His long arms and legs, and tapered body, were ideal for sprinting. The increased strength that he had gained made him all the more formidable.
He decided that it would be useless to work in the Olympic year, and reluctantly agreed to give up the year 1956 for his sport. His parents now recognised the ability their son had, and readily agreed that he should stay at home and not work.
The worst part of the year was that his close friend Frank had gone off to the Sydney Teachers’ College, and Faith was now in her last year of High School. It meant that they no longer travelled together to school, so he agreed to meet her each day at their normal place near her home at 3.15 pm and go for a walk for thirty minutes. Then he would be off to training. It was a marvellous thirty minutes for them both, as they would talk about her school, his swimming, their hopes and their fears.
Faith had become a celebrity in her own right. The photograph of her embracing Mark after he disqualified himself was shown nationally, and every girl in her school knew that Mark and Faith somehow had an understanding. They respected the obvious love they had for each other, and did not pressure her to go out with others. She was known as ‘Mark Jamieson’s girl’, yet no one knew they did not go anywhere together because of his Olympic commitment. Terry knew that Mark would never break his word about getting over-involved, and approved of him seeing her briefly each morning and in the afternoons. Terry came to the conclusion that Faith gave him added motivation, and now thoroughly approved of their relationship.
Frank saw Mark whenever he could, but it was mainly when he went to see Mark train and on Sundays, when he would now go to Mark’s home, which he never did before, and they would go off to the beach together. Faith would come to the beach as well, and the three of them would sit on the golden sand at Coogee Beach and talk all day, as close friends do.
Faith asked Mark would he come to her place for dinner one Sunday, and Mark agreed. Faith talked her mother into buying her a new dress for the occasion, which she did. It was a floral dress and the colours enhanced her own complexion. Her mother thought it was rather daring, as it was backless, but she persisted and won out over the choice.
Her mother knew it was a special occasion, and though it was summer she made a roast lamb with baked potatoes and string beans, and a dessert of ice cream and pavlova. Mark was impressed with how nice her parents were, and how well-prepared the meal was. Faith, he thought, looked so very beautiful. She had matured in the last year, gained a lot more poise and confidence. She was still like a young filly in many ways, but her slight shyness and awkwardness added to her attractiveness. She hung on Mark’s every word, yet she would never back down, even with him, if she felt she was right. He liked that quality about her, she was loving yet independent.
Faith’s father brought up the subject of what Mark was going to do after the Olympics were over, and Mark explained that he was hoping for an American scholarship if he did well in the Olympic Games. Faith did not enjoy this part of the dinner, but her father was pleased that Mark had a plan for his future.
The swimming season as such was over in January, after the State championships and the Australian championships, and these acted as Olympic trials. Those selected would go to Townsville for three weeks of training, and then there were the Olympic Games in Melbourne, the first time they had ever been held in the southern hemisphere. Television was going to be introduced into Australia that year, so it meant that any successes in the Games would become internationally and as well as nationally known.
All Mark’s training centred on his performance at the Games, but every hurdle was essential in securing Olympic representation. At the 1956 State Championships, he equalled his own Australian record.
At the national Championship, he won his heat easily, being conservative in his swimming, because Terry had told him they would attempt the world’s record in the final.
“You see, Mark,” Terry said, “they will expect you to be nervous after the disqualification last year. Well, we will not be. We will do the tumble turn and go for the world’s record. If you get it, every swimmer in the world will be scared of you. If you miss out, there is no way you will not be on the training squad to Townsville. The sporting public will not stand for you being left off the team. So we have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
All his training therefore centred on the tumble turn. The newspapers gloried in the emotional conflict they saw.
Sydney Morning Herald
WILL SWIM STAR ATTEMPT WORLD RECORD?
The swim experts are divided as to whether they think Mark Jamieson will attempt a world’s record at Empire Pool on Saturday night.
After the dramatic events of last year, when the young sportsman disqualified himself, many expect him to forget the faster and yet more dangerous tumble turn and concentrate on qualifying for the Games. Many feel that going for the world’s record would place too great an emotional strain on the swimmer.
Whichever choice he makes, the Empire Pool will be packed to watch Mark in action. He is the hero of the younger set by his sportsmanlike decision last year. Most spectators know that Mark is capable of setting a world’s record whichever turn he uses.
In the actual final, Mark forged ahead by the first turn, and the spectat
ors gasped as there was a flurry of foam and he went in to the tumble turn. He accelerated out of the turn, and ran away with a victory by seven yards. It was a stunning performance.
The announcer gave the news to the assembled crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Jamieson has just broken the world’s record by two-tenths of a second.” Near hysteria broke out, with cheers and yells and clapping, and Faith, Frank and Terry ran down to embrace him on the performance.
“You did it, Mark,” Terry said, “now the rest of the world are chasing you. You are the best in the world and you have virtually made the Olympic team. A great performance. Congratulations, Mark, you have done it.”
As he walked to the change room, there was sustained applause. He was truly an Australian sporting hero, and he obviously fulfilled the deep-seated dreams of many others.
He was now the fastest in the world. It made him feel very proud. Terry was right, now everybody had to chase him. The Sydney Sun summed it up:
MARK JAMIESON BREAKS WORLD RECORD
The world record set by Mark Jamieson on Saturday night in the 110 yards freestyle at the Australian championship put the crowd of 10,000 into a frenzy never seen before in Australia. It was by far the most stunning performance of the two-day carnival.
Mark decimated the rest of the field, winning by seven yards in 55.4 seconds, two-tenths of a second better than the previous world record.
All eyes were on the youngster as he neared the first half-way point, and everyone held their breaths as he went in to the tumble turn which caused his self-disqualification last year. When he came flying out of the turn, the crowd cheered and clapped him to the finish.
No sportsman of the last fifty years has captured the imagination of the public like this speedster from Randwick.
Showing the courage that most expected of him, he showed no hesitation in going for the tumble turn at the end of 55 yards. It was a gutsy performance by a kid who is already an Australian legend.
Mark Jamieson must rank as one of Australia’s greatest prospects at the Melbourne Olympic Games. Epitomising sportsmanship at its best, an Olympic victory could possibly go to Australia’s most deserving and cherished athlete.”
The Australian Olympic swimming squad went away to the country town of Townsville in Queensland for an intensive 12 weeks’ training prior to the Olympics. The swimmers were informed they might be dropped from the team if their form was not up to par during the camp. There were a number of coaches at the venue, Don Talbot, Frank Guthrie, Forbes Carlile, Harry Gallagher, Sam Herford, Arthur Cusack and Terry Somerville, and each looked after his own swimmers. These coaches trained their charges at different times of the day so that the others would not know their times. It was a little bit of psychological warfare practised by them.
There were some marvellous swimmers at the camp, such as Dawn Fraser, Lorraine Crapp, Sandra Morgan, Murray Rose, John Konrads, John Devitt, David Theile, Kevin O’Halloran, John Monckton and Gary Chapman.
Mark was not accustomed to being away from home, and initially felt somewhat out-of-place at Townsville. The athletes were quartered out with residents of the city, and Mark and John Devitt roomed together with an older couple. Mark had very little experience at handling himself in strange situations. His home life might have been poor, but he was used to it, and he was quite shy as he prepared for the Olympics with the other athletes. He wrote Faith from Townsville of his concerns.
Dear Faith,
I am now settled in at Townsville, rooming with an old couple, Mr. and Mrs Cooke. John Devitt and I have single rooms in their house. We have our meals with them, and do our training at nearby Tobruk Pool.
Fortunately Terry is here and I see him at the pool. But I must confess to you that I do not feel comfortable. Only you will understand how I feel, but as you are aware I am not used to being away from home. Many of the foods I eat are not familiar to me, and I feel very shy all the time. Most people think I have the world at my feet by being a swimming champion, but they do not understand that I have doubts and fears like anybody else. I know how to handle myself in the pool while training, but outside of the pool I feel very inexperienced. I would not tell anybody else this, Faith, but I know you will understand as you know me so well.
My whole life to this point has been at home with Mum and Dad, and as you know that has been very hard on me. I love Dad very much, but he drinks too much and it makes life very rough for Mum. You just never know what Dad is going to do, and I always feel as if something is likely to erupt at any moment. After seeing what drink does to people, I have decided that I will never touch liquor in my life time.
I only have a few clothes to wear, and feel as if I am not dressed properly a lot of the time. Many of the other swimmers come to training each day with different outfits, but I have basically only two things to wear.
Even when I had dinner at your own home I was pretty nervous. I just had not sat down to a formal meal like that before, and I was never even sure which pieces of cutlery to use. Maybe there are problems in my own home, but at least I am familiar with everything.
John Devitt is rooming with me, and he is a terrific person. He is a sprinter like myself who comes from Granville. He is a Catholic, but he does not throw his religion at you or anything like that. He is dark-haired and very good-looking, and makes friends a lot easier than I do. All the swimmers seem to like him. He always seems to be coming second in races, but he has a lot of talent and will be a real force in the future. My other chief rivals here are Rex Aubrey and Kevin O’Halloran. John is 19 years of age, one year than myself, but he appears much older than that and seems to be able to handle this type of situation better than myself.
We will be here 12 weeks, and I will write you as often as I can to let you know what is happening. After the training camp I will be coming home for two days, and then we will be three weeks in Melbourne training in the Olympic Village, and then the Games are on. So overall I will be away from home for four months.
The thing I miss the most is seeing you, and of course Frank. But Frank is different. I can scarcely believe I will not see you each day. When I come out of the Tobruk pool I look up hoping to see you, and I always feel sad when I realise you are not here. Above all I miss our half-hour talks daily. I wish that I could still do that. I miss you terribly, Faith, and each night, at 9 o’clock, I think of no one else but you. Every single night when I go to bed you are uppermost in my thoughts.
When the Games are over we will go out somewhere together when I get back home. I can hardly wait for that. I do not have any money so I do not know what we can do, but we will think of something. It will be wonderful, and the thought of it keeps me going.
Each Monday night we have time trials at the Tobruk Pool. The place was packed for the first one, soon after we arrived. Everything is very competitive here. The coaches say that no position is settled, and if anyone comes out-of-the-blue they are liable to make the team. So I have to keep on my toes.
I know you probably would not be able to manage it, but I would love to see you at the Olympic Games in Melbourne. If I could look up in the stands and see you before I raced it would make a big difference. Is there any way you can do it? There are school holidays throughout Australia for the Games, so that would not be a problem. We are each to be given a spare ticket, so I could look after you that way.
Dad and Mum will not be coming. As you know Australia will get television two weeks before the Games, and my parents think they will be able to find someone with a television set to watch my events. By the way, my Dad was really worked up as I left, I thought he was going to cry. He said he knew he had not been able to help me very much but said that he and Mum were very proud of me. It is the first time he has ever said anything like that to me, and I burst into tears and put my arms around him. He did not know what to do then. We are just not one of those families who kiss one another all the time. For me, a kiss should have deep meaning. When I meet one of my relatives and they try to kiss me,
I run for my life. I am just not used to that. I know I have hardly ever kissed you, but those kisses have meant a great deal to me.
I hope your school work is going well. This is your last year, and it is very important. You will make a fine teacher, so keep up with your studies and get good marks. I have been reading a few early Australian novels since I got here in my spare time. At the moment I am reading Marcus Clarke’s For the Term of His Natural Life, which you mentioned in one of our first meetings. I never did read it as a child. It is very absorbing, and seems a faithful analysis of the early convict days in Port Arthur. You can just imagine the convicts coming from the slums of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and being transported to a strange land, and some to an isolated area in Tasmania. They treated the prisoners like animals. I find the book very absorbing.
Well, I must be off. I am sitting on my bed writing this. John is in the next room and he is reading Sporting Life. It is getting close to 9, so in a few minutes I will be lying in bed thinking of you, and wishing you were here. So good-night, Faith, I miss you so very much.
Best wishes,
Mark.
Her reply was not long in coming, and he savoured every word as he lay on his bed. He read her letter again and again over the next few days.
Dear Mark,
I cannot tell you how I felt when your letter arrived. My hand was shaking as I took it out of the letter box, and I opened it and read it quickly standing there. Then I took it inside and read it again, slowly, then again and again.
I have never had a personal letter written to me before, and I shall keep it always. I loved every word you wrote. I too miss seeing you each day. I know you may think it silly, but I go down to the Baths each morning and wait for you. It is a big disappointment when you do not appear, but I feel I am at least making contact with you by doing that. Every afternoon at 3.15 I go to our place where we meet, and I walk for half an hour pretending I am with you. Every evening I think of you at 9 pm. I never miss, and I sleep in perfect peace knowing that somehow our thought waves meet at that moment.