 Peter Dignan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Peter Fraser Dignan[1] 6 March 1955 (1955-03-06) | |||||||||||||||||
| Died | 20 June 2013(2013-06-20) (aged 58) | |||||||||||||||||
| Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in)[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 89 kg (196 lb)[1] | |||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Rowing | |||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Peter Fraser Dignan (6 March 1955 – 20 June 2013) was a New Zealandrower.
Dignan was born in Gibraltar in 1955,[1] to a formerBerlin airlift pilot. His father later entered thediplomatic corps and, as a result, Dignan spent a lot of time outside of his parents' native New Zealand. He subsequently relocated toAuckland, New Zealand, where he attended and boarded atKing's College, becoming a houseprefect.
He rowed with the men's eight in the1975 World Rowing Championships inNottingham, Great Britain, and won a bronze medal.[2] Dignan represented New Zealand in the 1976MontrealOlympic Games and won abronze medal for his row in the Men's Eight along withTony Hurt,Alec McLean,Ivan Sutherland,Trevor Coker,Lindsay Wilson,Joe Earl andDave Rodger andSimon Dickie (cox).[1] He subsequently participated insurf boat tests internationally, racing for New Zealand, including a 'rebel' tour to South Africa. He retired undefeated. Dignan also playedrugby. Dignan's son Matthew is also a representative rower, and is in the Australian Under-19 coxed four.[citation needed]
Dignan served as a modern history teacher inSydney, Australia at Sydney Grammar School. He was also a senior coach at the Sydney Grammar School boatshed and the School Year 10 Second Eight. In previous years he had much success with younger crews, coaching three different Year 10 second eights to victory at Head of the River, including the 2004 and the 2008 Year 10 second eights. Dignan also acted as thecommanding officer of the 306 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets from 1999 to 2005. Dignan died of pancreatic cancer on 20 June 2013 at the age of 58, with his last place of residence atDrummoyne.[3]
