Cecil McVilly

Cecil Leventhorpe McVilly MC, (3 August 1889 – 4 November 1964) was an Australian representative rower and WWI military officer.

[2] In 1912 McVilly first contested the Henley Royal Regatta, racing in the Diamond Challenge Sculls event in Derwent Rowing Club colours.

[2] Racing again in Derwent Rowing Club colours at Henley in 1913 he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls beating E Pink .

[2] McVilly had been a senior cadet at school[2] and then served for four years with the Derwent Infantry - a military reserve unit - attaining the rank of Sergeant.

He led 'B' Coy, 40th Bttn at the 2nd Battle of Messines on 6–7 June 1917 and was awarded the Military Cross for leadership under intensive enemy bombardment.

In 1921, McVilly was selected in the six seat of the Tasmania men's eight, which contested and placed second at the King's Cup at the 1921 Interstate Regatta.

He was Australia's sole selector for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, picking Bobby Pearce who won gold in the single sculls.

[3] In 2015, Rowing Australia launched the McVilly-Pearce Pin, named after McVilly and Bobby Pearce, the first Australian rower to win Olympic gold.