Graeme McCabe passes away

Athletics legend Graeme McCabe has passed away. Photo / Supplied

Graeme McCabe of Mt Maunganui, who has given a life time of service to athletics, died on Wednesday 13 September 2017 aged 77.

An outstanding manager of New Zealand teams to international competitions, Graeme oversaw teams to three Olympic and three Commonwealth Games.

He was athletic section manager to the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. He was assistant general manager to the 1986 Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, assistant chef de mission to the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, general manager of the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games team and athletic section manager to the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and four other New Zealand teams over a period of 11 years.

Graeme was a hurdler for the New Plymouth, Hawera and Putaruru clubs, competing at the New Zealand championships for 14 years until 1971, winning a national championship medal in 1969. He was coached by Arthur Eustace. After finishing his competitive days he went on to officiating, managing teams and administration for Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty.

He was president for two years from 1980 and was made a life member of Athletics Waikato Bay of Plenty. Of late he has been on the committee of the Tauranga Ramblers Club.

Graeme was a long standing council member of the NZAAA and Athletics New Zealand representing Waikato Bay of Plenty from 1972 to 1986. In 1986 he was appointed to the Board of Athletics New Zealand a position he held right through to 1996. During that period he served on various committees, chairing the tours and outfitting committee, the international competitions committee, and later the marketing and promotion committee.

He was an Athletics New Zealand Track & Field Selector from 1972 for 14 years and the Athletics New Zealand Delegate to the NZ Olympic Committee from 1986 to 1993.

Graeme was currently a member of the Athletics NZ awards committee. Graeme received one of the inaugural Athletics New Zealand merit awards in 1988 and was vice-president of Athletics New Zealand 1999-2000 and was elected president in 2000. He was made a life member of Athletics New Zealand in 2004.

For many years he owned and managed McCabes Toyworld in Putaruru and on retirement shifted to Mt Maunganui. He and his wife Brenda continued to follow the sport overseas and attended a number of world championships in athletics. Graemes ill health prevented them from attending the recent world championships in London.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1.30pm on Tuesday 19 September at Legacy Gardens Papamoa, 53 Te Okuroa Drive, Papamoa.

In lieu of flowers, Graeme's family would be incredibly grateful for any donations towards the final Athletics project he was working on before his passing, the resurfacing and upgrade of Tauranga Domain Athletics Track.

Donations can be made at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/graememccabememorial or via bank transfer to The Tauranga Millennium Track Trust Bank Account: 03 0435 0633253 25

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand