Bryan Harper

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Bryan Harper is Australia’s oldest living Olympian (April 2026). He competed in canoeing at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne and had a long career in competitive and recreational canoeing and kayaking in Australia. In this interview, he reflects on his life and changes over his lifetime both in society and in paddle sports.

Bryan was born in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria in 1927. His father was a bank manager and the family moved around regional Victoria regularly as his father was transferred between branches. By the age of 10, he was living in Melbourne. He attended Melbourne Grammar School and competed in athletics and played Australian Rules Football in young adulthood. He joined the Essendon Canoe Club. He competed in a range of kayak and canoe races over multiple distances. He particularly enjoyed the 100 mile distance events and discusses several of these. In addition to competitive canoe and kayak events, Bryan enjoyed recreational canoeing.

Bryan also built canoes and made a living as a builder and woodworker. He lived primarily in Melbourne and moved to Noosa in approximately the mid-1990s.

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Oral History

Oral History Transcript

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IDENTIFIERS

Subject (Keywords)Water SportsSportOlympic Games

CONNECTIONS

LocalityNoosavilleEvent1956 Olympic Games Canoeing/Kayak EventsCollectionOlympic Games CollectionProjectNoosa's Sporting HistoryMenuTopic | Sport & RecreationLocation | Noosaville