Albert William Baird Fawcett (15 May 1890 – 4 March 1970) was a sportsman and sports administrator, known in the sports of rowing, swimming,

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

in Melbourne's western suburbs. Fawcett was born at the facilities of the Albert Park Rowing Club, where his father – a Maribyrnong River boat builder – was caretaker, and he was involved in rowing and swimming from a young age, winning hundreds of junior trophies. In 1912, he became secretary of the Footscray Rowing Club, and dominated maiden and junior events through the year. Fawcett joined the army in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, and fought in France as a lieutenant of the 4th Machine Gun Battalion. He was also the sports organiser for his battalion. He was mugged behind his own line by a gang of deserters while preparing for leave, which saw him spend three weeks in hospital with a fractured skull and concussion. After his return to Australia, he continued as one of the state's best rowers, described by his pairs partner Alf Jonsson as the most vigorous stroke in Melbourne. Fawcett and Jonsson won the Victorian state champion pairs in 1921. Although lesser known for it, Fawcett played football in the winters, and at his peak played one senior match with

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

and two with

Essendon Essendon may refer to: Australia *Electoral district of Essendon *Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington *Essendon, Victoria **Essendon railway station **Essendon Airport *Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League United King ...

in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL); and also with

Yarraville Yarraville is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Maribyrnong local government area. Yarraville recorded a population of 15,636 at the . Yarraville i ...

and the Footscray Juniors in the

Victorian Junior Football Association The Victorian Junior Football Association (VJFA) was an open age Australian rules football competition and administrative body. It was the first successful junior football competition in Melbourne, and was in existence from 1883 until 1932. For mo ...

. He was also an interstate

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. Fawcett held many administrative positions across his chosen sports throughout his life, and was highly regarded for his effort and passion for the roles. Roles included: founder of the Footscray Swimming Club in 1908; vice-president of the Footscray Rowing Club; a long stint as secretary of the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association from 1924 until 1941; president of the Footscray Football Club from 1939 until 1941; and president of the Footscray Football Club Old Players' Association from its foundation in 1948 until his death in 1970. He also arranged 4th Machine Gun Battalion reunions throughout his life. Fawcett worked for the Post Master General's Department throughout his life, beginning as a messenger boy and retiring as chief cashier. He married Dorothy Pont and had one daughter, Valerie. Fawcett died aged 79 in 1970.

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Essendon past player profileDemonwiki profile
1890 births 1970 deaths Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) Melbourne Football Club players Essendon Football Club players Rowers from Melbourne Swimmers from Melbourne {{AFL-bio-1890-stub