Coorong Who's Who
Distinguished and Famous people from Coorong
1. Sir Hubert Wilkins (1888-1958)
Sir George Hubert Wilkins was an Australian polar explorer, ornithologist, pilot, geographer, and photographer. He was born in Mount Bryan East, a town near Coorong. Wilkins was the first person to fly over the Arctic in a submarine, and he participated in numerous expeditions to both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. He made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of these regions.
2. Hurtle "Bert" Hobbs (1900-1964)
Bert Hobbs was an Australian rules footballer who was born in Meningie, a town located near Coorong. He played for the Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1923 to 1931. Hobbs was a highly regarded defender and was known for his strong mark-taking skills. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
3. Fred Agius (1933-2010)
Fred Agius was an Australian politician who was born in Tailem Bend, a town near Coorong. He served as a member of the Australian Senate from 1987 to 2002, representing the state of South Australia. Agius was a member of the Labor Party and made significant contributions to Australian politics during his tenure, particularly in the areas of health and agriculture.
4. Bill Lawry (b. 1937)
Bill Lawry is a former Australian cricketer and renowned cricket commentator. Although he was born in Melbourne, Lawry spent his early childhood in Tailem Bend near the Coorong region. He captained the Australian cricket team from 1967 to 1971 and played as an opening batsman. After retiring from cricket, Lawry transitioned into a successful career as a cricket commentator and became a familiar voice in the cricketing world.
5. Robert Gerard (b. 1944)
Robert Gerard is an Australian businessman and philanthropist who was born in Meningie, near Coorong. He is the founder of the Adelaide-based Gerard Lighting Group, a prominent manufacturer and distributor of lighting products. Gerard is also known for his active support of various charitable causes and organizations in South Australia.
6. Alex Gregory (b. 1978)
Alex Gregory is an Australian-born rower who was raised in the Coorong region. He competed internationally for Great Britain, representing them in the sport of rowing. Gregory won gold medals at the Olympic Games in both 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) as a member of the men's coxless four crew. He is widely regarded as one of the best rowers in his discipline.
7. Katrina Nitschke (b. 1977)
Katrina Nitschke is a former Australian cricketer who was born in Tailem Bend near Coorong. She represented the Australian women's cricket team from 2005 to 2010 and was known for her all-round skills as a batswoman and off-spin bowler. Nitschke played a crucial role in Australia's success during her career and received numerous accolades for her contributions to the sport.
