The Mirror family learned this morning of the death of Norm Deane. The notice in the Hobart Mercury records a loving family man, just shy of 95 years old, a Member of the Order of Australia. But we need to record publicly the debt we as Mirror sailors owe him. At the 4th World Mirror Championships in Sligo in 1987 a committee with Norm as President set about the task of making the Mirror a truly one design boat with International status, with a constitution and Rules of Measurement acceptable to the IYRU. International status was formally granted in November 1987. Norm remained active in the International executive until 2008.
Not sure how many of the older members of the Association knew Ernie Turpie from Annandale Sailing Club.
Ernie passed away earlier after a long battle with cancer. Ernie was a great Mirror enthusiast, and was a Class Measurer. Our thoughts are with his wife and family at this time
In case anyone who knew him has not heard, Graham Elmes, who was the coach to the Irish team at the 2013 Worlds has died. More details on the Sutton Dinghy Club website.
Ben Lulham-Robinson
Bob Towler
As Ian tells us in this video, he started sailing in a Mirror, age 8, with his sister at Chipstead SC. He also metions his first major event being a Mirror European Championship in Holland. So that must have been the one in 1984.
Ian went on to win four Mirror National Championships in a row - from 1986 to 1989.
Silver Medalist, 470 class, 1996 Olympics, Atlanta
Silver Medalist, Star class, 2000 Olympics, Sydney
