Cluer, Southern Rhodesian by birth, spent most of his early childhood in Tanzania and later attended Sydney's Barker College as well as Port Moresby High School in pre-independence Papua New Guinea.

[1] A three-time participant at the South Pacific Games, Cluer's first appearance was as a 14-year old in 1966 and he claimed a bronze medal in the medley relay.

[2] Cluer was a member of the Papua New Guinean squad for the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, but had to withdraw after contracting mumps.

He was the only Papua New Guinea swimmer to feature at the 1973 World Championships, where he came fifth in the 200 metre breaststroke.

[3] In 1974, Cluer represented Australia at the British Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, as Papua New Guinea opted not to send a team.