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Brett Woolfitt Receives Services to Sport Award

Published Tue 27 Jan 2026

Brett Woollfitt Awarded May Campbell Medal for Distinguished Service to Sport

Rowing WA is proud to celebrate Brett Woolitt as one of this year’s recipients of the May Campbell Medal for Service to Sport, recognising his extraordinary contribution to rowing in Western Australia and beyond.

Awarded annually at the WA Sport Awards, the May Campbell Medal honours individuals who have demonstrated long-standing, impactful service to their sport. Brett’s name now sits alongside some of the state’s most respected sporting contributors—and for good reason.

A Lifetime on the Water and in Service

For more than 60 years, Brett has been a constant presence in Western Australian rowing. Many in our community know him as the calm, steady voice on an early Saturday morning—the umpire at the start line, the official in the boat, or the friendly face around the sheds. Brett’s involvement began in the mid‑1960s, and remarkably, he continued competing well into 2024.

But Brett’s influence stretches far beyond competition.

He has officiated at every Rowing WA club and school regatta since 1965, an extraordinary record of dedication spanning more than half a century. Nationally, he officiated at nearly every Australian Rowing Championships from 1983 to 2024, and his reputation for fairness, precision and professionalism earned him appointments at:

  • Three FISA World Championships
  • The Southeast Asian Games
  • The Sydney 2000 Olympic Regatta

Quiet Leadership, Lasting Impact

Away from the river, Brett’s service has shaped the foundations of rowing in WA.
For 44 years, he served as Rowing WA’s Property Officer, maintaining equipment, umpiring gear, radios, megaphones and essential infrastructure—the practical but critical elements that keep our sport running smoothly.

His impact at Swan River Rowing Club is equally profound. Across roles as Captain, President and Patron, Brett has played a central role in guiding and nurturing the club community for decades.

A Legacy That Will Echo for Generations

Brett Woollfitt’s contribution to rowing is measured not only in years, but in the culture he has helped build—one defined by respect, generosity, reliability and quiet excellence. His service has strengthened athletes, supported clubs, and helped rowing in WA grow into the vibrant community it is today.

Rowing WA warmly congratulates Brett on receiving the May Campbell Medal, a fitting honour for a lifetime of dedication to our sport.

Brett will be celebrated alongide Gaye Teede (Netball WA) and Tom Hoad (Water Polo Western Australia) at the 2025 WA Sport Awards on Thursday 26 February 2026, at Crown Perth.

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