Remembering Redcliffe’s first Olympian

Published 5:00am 19 July 2024

Words by Kylie Knight

Main image: Courtesy of The Pictorial History of Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay Region.

Redcliffe’s first Olympian was middleweight boxer Graham Higham, who fought at the 1948 Olympic Games in London.

The so-called ‘austerity games’ were held in the wake of WWII and on a tight budget. This meant no new venues were built and facilities were shared, including the Wembley Empire Pool where the boxing was held after the swimming events.

The boxing was held on a floating ring positioned in the swimming pool, which had not been drained.

Graham lost in the first round to Argentinian Hector Garcia on points.

His passion for boxing was sparked by his first bout at a Margate theatre when he was 13.

He lost the fight but, in a bid to improve, decided to train under the direction of Jack O’Brien.

Graham soon became the winner in all divisions from 6 stone 10lb to middleweight and was the Queensland champion in that division in 1945 at the age of 17.

He trained on the family's dairy farm at Scarborough, now Newport, as well as at the Kedron Boxing Club.

By the age of 19, he had achieved 61 wins from 65 fights. Graham made the Australian Olympic team the following year.

He was the Queensland and Australian middleweight champion from 1945-49 and by the end of his amateur boxing career, in 1952, his record was 101 wins from 107 fights.

Graham turned professional in 1953, fighting four times in New Zealand before retiring the following year.

After his retirement from boxing, he and wife Ailsa (nee West) ran a bed and breakfast in Grant St, Redcliffe.

Ailsa was also an accomplished athlete, representing Redcliffe and Queensland in hockey.

The couple was involved in sport in the area before moving to Dayboro in 1964.

Graham, who died in 1988, is featured in Redcliffe’s Wall of Fame in the Jetty Arcade, 139-141 Redcliffe Pde.

Sources: History Redcliffe and The Pictorial History of Redcliffe and the Moreton Bay Region.

Image below: Image courtesy of City of Moreton Bay, reference number RM-5170.