Sad news this past week with the passing of Sydney University Athletics Club (SUAC) patron, Eric Francis Wilson and former Easts and St George runner Bob Talay who also had a connection with Sydney University.
Eric was born in 1919 and commenced his studies for a Bachelor of Economics before the war. Upon the commencement of hostilities he joined the 8th Division of the AIF and was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore. Eric was a POW at Changi and on the Burma Rail. Eric returned to Australia after three and half years of captivity to finish his studies and then to work as an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia. He resumed his athletics career and was a champion race walker and international walking judge. He made a great contribution to athletics and to SUAC over 60 years. He was one of Sydney University’s great alumni and will be missed.
Bob Talay was born in 1942 and was a fine distance runner representing Australia at the 1975 World Cross Country championships and competing at national level in steeplechase. He won the 1972 NSW Cross Country championship and 1975 State marathon championship and was NSW distance runner of the year in 1977 representing Easts and St George. Bob was the very well-known proprietor of Talay’s Runners Shop in Randwick and was present at many track and cross country meets around the state and a very kind and humble man.
RIP to both Eric and Bob.
