Huon Valley Council formally take honour from rowing coach convicted of rape

A rowing coach awarded for his contribution to sport has been formally stripped of his Australia Day honour by a Tasmanian Council six years after it was presented.

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A TASMANIAN council has formally stripped an award winner of an honour due to his post-honour criminal conviction.

The Huon Valley Council decided at its meeting on Wednesday to officially withdraw the Australia Day Sports Award that was presented to Timothy Brown – a rowing coach - in 2015.

This council said the decision was taken in view of Brown’s criminal conviction in 2019.

Deputy Mayor Sally Doyle said the council recognises the ongoing impact on victims of sexual abuse crimes.

Breaking News Breaking News Timothy Brown. Pic: Huon News

“The council wishes to state emphatically that it does not condone criminal behaviour in

any form against any individual,” she said.

“When the council considered this matter in June it had accepted that as Mr Brown had returned the award it had essentially been relinquished. However due to recent concerns expressed by members of the community, council now accepts there was also a need for the award to be formally withdrawn.”

The issue was first raised by former mayor Peter Coad who said the award should have been taken away as soon as he was convicted.

Brown was convicted in 2019 after he was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of rape.

The crimes took place in March 2018 at a school rowing regatta at Lake Barrington.

The victim woke up to Brown entering her tent before he assaulted her despite the woman saying no more than 20 times.

He was sentenced to four years in prison and was eligible for parole after serving half.

Originally published as Huon Valley Council formally take honour from rowing coach convicted of rape