Vale Neale Lavis OAM
The Australian Equestrian Community is deeply saddened by the passing of Neale Lavis.
Neale Lavis was a member of the four-man Australian equestrian team that made history by winning gold in the three-day eventing team event at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.
Lavis, 30 at the time, was the youngest of the Rome Olympic team. Riding 'Mirrabooka', he was almost faultless over the three days of competition. He bought the horse in Cooma for £100, and after the Olympics was offered £10,000 for him but refused to sell him.
Lavis won the inaugural Australian three-day event in Sydney in 1957 and the Great Auckland one-day event in 1960. He went to England in 1960 and competed successfully in jumping, fox-hunting and team events in Surrey, White City, and Badminton.
Lavis competed again at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. In 1999, Lavis was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the equestrian sports as a competitor, coach, and administrator, and to the community.
Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1989, Neale Lavis was one of our countries greatest ever equestrians.
Our deepest condolences to Neale's family.
Photos courtesy Equestrian Australia.
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