John was added to the St Virgil’s Heritage Roll of Honour in 2008.

The following is the archival material collected about that award being made.

JOHN WHITEHOUSE OAM (SVC 1957 – 66)

Born: 26 August 1948 in Hobart

Family:

Partner Sue
Two sons - Sam (b.1989) and Ned (b.1992) (both attended SVC)

Education

St Mary’s College (1954 – 56)

St Virgil’s College (1957 – 66)

Prefect (1966)
Swimming Captain (1966)
Tennis Captain (1966)

University of Tasmania (1967 – 71)

BSc 1970
DipEd 1971

Career

Teacher (Mathematics & Science) Warrane High School (1972-78)
Senior Master Warrane High School (1978-87)
Assistant Principal Warrane High School (1988)
Assistant Principal Bridgewater High School (1989-90)
Secretary General Australian Water Polo Inc (1991-Current)

Sporting Involvements

Water Polo Player

State

Member Tasmanian Water Polo Team (1968-71)
Coach & Captain Tasmanian Water Polo Team (1972-75)

National

Member Australian Water Polo Squad (1971)

Water Polo Administrator

State

Board Member Tasmanian Water Polo Association (1969-92)
Schools Water Polo Coordinator Tasmanian Water Polo Inc (1979-92)
President Tasmanian Water Polo Inc. (2000-08)
Schools Coordinator Tasmanian Water Polo Inc. (2004-06)

National

Hon Secretary Australian Amateur Water Polo Committee (1977-82)
Hon Secretary Australian Amateur Water Polo Association (1982-85)
Secretary General Australian Amateur Water Polo Assoc. (1985-91)
Secretary General Australian Water Polo Inc (1991 - )

International

Member FINA Technical Water Polo Committee (1992-96)
Honorary Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee (1996- )

Official

International

Referee I FINA World Championships Belgrade (1973)
Referee II FINA World Championships Cali (1975)
Referee Montreal Olympic Games (1975)
Team Manager Australian Water Polo Team III FINA World Championships West Berlin (1978)
Team Manager Australian Water Polo Team to Moscow Olympic Games (1980)
Referee Los Angeles Olympic Games (1984)
Referee Seoul Olympic Games (1988) (including referee of Gold Medal Game USA v YUG)
Referee VI FINA World Championships Perth (1991) (including referee of Gold Medal Game ESP v YUG)
Referee Barcelona Olympic Games (1992) (including referee of Bronze Medal Game CIS v USA)
Official VII FINA World Championships Rome (1994) (Member FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official Atlanta Olympic Games (1996)(Member FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official VIII FINA World Championships Perth (1998) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official Sydney Olympic Games (2000) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official IX FINA World Championships Fukuoka (2001) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official X FINA World Championships Barcelona (2003) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official Athens Olympic Games (2004) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official XI FINA World Championships Montreal (2005) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official XII FINA World Championships Melbourne (2007) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)
Official Beijing Olympic Games (2008) (Hon. Secretary FINA Technical Water Polo Committee)

N.B. FINA is the Technical Water Polo Committee which has the responsibility

for the conduct and management of water polo competitions.

Swimming

State Swimming Champion

-Freestyle (110 – 1650 yds) (1966)

-Butterfly (110 – 220 yds) (1966)

State Surf Life Saving Team (Captain 1969) (1968 – 69)

Community Involvement

Club Captain Clifton Beach SLSC (1969 – 72)
Honorary Secretary Clifton Beach SLSC (1973 – 75)
Committee Member Sandy Bay Football Club (1972 – 73)
Honorary Treasurer Sandy Bay Football Club (1973 – 80)
Vice President Sandy Bay Football Club (1981)
President Clifton Beach SLSC (1981 – 91)

Life Memberships

Tasmanian Water Polo Inc (1978)
Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club (1980)
Surf Life Saving Tasmania (2004)

Honours

World Life Saving Citation of Merit (1988)
Medal of the Order of Australia (1995)
Australian Water Polo Hall of Fame (2009)

The following citation on the Water Polo Australia Website

OVAtions

The monthly e-newsletter of the Old Virgilians Association

June Edition | No.78 · 03 Jul 2024

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