[5] He first made state selection for New South Wales in the men's eight which contested the 1971 King's Cup at the annual Interstate Regatta.
[2] The entire New South Wales winning King's Cup eight of 1972 was selected as the Australian eight to compete at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
[10] The Australian eight travelled to the 1975 World Rowing Championships in Nottingham, came second in their heat, won the repechage and finished sixth in the final.
[10] In 1976 Shaw in the two seat and Brian Richardson at bow were the only two members selected to the Australian Olympic eight who hadn't rowed in the 1976 New South Wales King's Cup crew.
[11] The back injury would prove to be the end of Mal Shaw's competitive rowing career although he had subsequent success as a coach of lightweight women's crews at Mosman.