MACMILLAN, Donald Robertson Thomson (1928 – 2004)

Modified on Wed, 22 Nov 2017 14:48 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Collegians in the News 1911-1960, Biography - OGCA Gallery of Notable Old Collegians, Biography - Staff, Geelong College, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of Sporting Achievement

MACMILLAN, Donald Robertson Thomson (1928 – 2004)

Don Macmillan, circa 1997.

Don Macmillan, circa 1955.

'Don' Macmillan was a champion athlete, middle distance runner, and OLYMPIC GAMES participant of 1952 and 1956.

He was the son of Old Collegian, Dr Wilfred Ewart Macmillan (1898-1963) and first went to Mildura State School before attending the Geelong College as a boarder from 1940 until 1946. His father, Wilfred had been a student at the School from 1913 to 1917. His sporting prowess at the School was legendary, playing in the First Football Team from 1944 to 1946, and participating in the First Rowing VIII from 1944 to 1946, becoming Captain of Boats in 1944. Above all else he excelled in athletics and participated in the Relay Team in 1942 and 1943, and the Athletics team in 1943 and 1945 before captaining it in 1946. He became a School Prefect in 1945 and Head Prefect the following year capping his achievements by winning the College Cup that year as well. Don performed in several Glee Club musical productions including his memorable 'Dick Deadeye' of 1946 in the 'Pirates of Penzance'. His versatility was such that he also won the Music Prize in 1946.

'Don' Macmillan, like his father Wilfred before him was the APS one-mile record holder and Australian middle-distance champion. Don was the Australian one-mile champion in 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1955 and half-mile champion in 1950, 1952 and 1955. He represented Australia at the Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games)) in 1950 and 1954, at the Olympic Games in Helsinki in 1952, where he was a finalist in the 1,500 metres, and again at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, where he ran in the 800 metres event.

Don was a teacher at the Geelong College for many years teaching History and Geography and coaching rowing. He also taught at Scotch and Haileybury Colleges. In 2002, he was interviewed by fellow former Collegian, Harley Dickinson and a transcript of that interview is held in the School Archives.

'Don' Macmillan was inducted into the Old Geelong Collegians' Association (OGCA) Notables Gallery at Geelong College in 2011.

Don Macmillan as 'Dick Deadeye' in 'The Pirates of Penzance', 1946.

Sources: The Age (Melb) 29 November 2004; Geelong Advertiser 24 November 2004. Ad Astra December 1997 p 12.