HOWDEN, James Guthrie (1934-1993)

Modified on Sat, 18 Aug 2018 21:25 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Collegians in the News 1911-1960, Biography - OGCA Gallery of Notable Old Collegians, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of Sporting Achievement

HOWDEN, James Guthrie ‘Jim’ (1934-1993)


'Jim' Howden at a PFA Camp at Pt Lonsdale during the 1940s (Waugh Album)

'Jim' Howden at a PFA Camp at Pt Lonsdale during the 1940s (Waugh Album)

'Jim' Howden.

'Jim' Howden.

Olympic rower and County Court Judge, James Howden, the son of Guthrie Balleny Howden and his wife Marie nee Werry was born in the Wimmera.

After attending Queenscliff High School he was enrolled as a day student at the Geelong College in 1948. The following year, 1949, he became a boarder. At School, he became a School Prefect, Vice-captain of Calvert House, a cadet corps corporal and the stroke of the Rowing VIII in 1951 and 1952. A versatile all-rounder he was also in the Athletics Team 1949 and 1951; the Relay Team, 1950 and 1951, and the Football Team of 1952. He continued his rowing with Melbourne University and was in the winning 1956 King’s Cup Crew. In 1956, James Howden in position four, together with another former Collegian, Michael Aikman competed in the 1956 Melbourne OLYMPIC GAMES finishing third. Their coach, Robert Aitken was also a former Collegian. Jim also rowed in the 1959 and 1960 King’s Cup and was a member of the Australian coxed IV which finished fifth in the first World Championship at Lucerne in 1962. He was a state rowing selector from 1970 to 1975 and a national selector from 1974 to 1981.

'Jim' was appointed a County Court Judge in 1986. Chief Justice Waldron at a service at the County Court said that 'The memory of Jim Howden will have an honoured place in the hearts and minds of those members of the legal profession - and indeed of the general community - who had the great privilege to know this gifted, courageous and much loved man.'

'Jim' Howden was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in October 2014.


Sources: Ad Astra December 1993 p11; Ad Astra July 2014 p51. OGC 1948.