Robert "Bob" Alan Shirlaw OAM (born 9 April 1943) is an Australian former rower and stalwart school level rowing coach.

[1] Shirlaw had been a reserve for the 1968 victorious New South Wales King's Cup crew who were selected in toto as the Australian eight to represent at the Mexico Olympics.

Phil Cayzer recruited several of the rowers from Mosman including Shirlaw, to Sydney Rowing Club to create the New South Wales crew in the first place and then coached them as the Australian eight both at home and in Mexico.

In the final sprint the Germans in a boat some 34 kg lighter than any other in the race, held on by less than a second in front of the Australians.

[[7] From 1979 Shirlaw was rowing coach at Shore, the Sydney Church of England Grammar School for 34 years.