Graham John Jennings Dunn

Graham Dunn enrolled at High in 1962 from the OC class at Woollahra Public School. He lived in Kingsford where his father was a bank manager.

Dunn proved to be a swimming prodigy from his first school swimming carnival, in 1962, when he won every swimming event in the 13 years division, all in record time. In subsequent years, 1963-1967, he won all or almost all events in his age division, often in record time. Two of his open event records (50m freestyle and 100 butterfly) stood until 2004. He was similarly successful at zone CHS carnivals and also enjoyed success at the CHS finals.

Dunn was vice captain of the 13B Rugby team in 1962, but he did not play in later years for risk of injury.

In 1967, he took out the W W Ivo Wyatt Memorial Trophy for the Senior Swimming Champion. He received an SHS swimming blue in 1966 and 1967, a CHS blue in 1967. He was also a member of the first grade water polo team in 1966 and 1967.

After a raft of Australian junior records, and while still at School, he competed at the 1966 Commonwealth Games, in Kingston, Jamaica. He swam in the 110yd and 220yd butterfly events and took out silver in the 110yd butterfly.

After leaving school, Dunn took time off his studies to compete in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He swam in the 100m and 200m butterfly events, finishing fourth in a heat for the 100m.

Having obtained a Commonwealth University Scholarship, he enrolled in medicine at Sydney University and achieved outstanding results. However, he turned to alcohol and medication after his sister died in 1971. He sought treatment on a number of occasions. Attempts to resume his medical studies were unsuccessful and he died from an overdose of morphine in his Balmain apartment. The Coroner declared his death to be a “shocking waste and a great loss to the community”.