Graeme ‘Zom’ Knox: Tributes flow for rugby league player, surf boat stalwart and commentator
Tributes are flowing in for local sporting legend, Manly Daily columnist and boat race commentator Graeme ‘Zom’ Knox, including touching messages from former Sea Eagles players, following his death on Wednesday.
Manly
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A former sporting legend and a stalwart of the northern beaches community Graeme Knox has died.
The 73-year-old also known as ‘Zombie’ or ‘Zom’ because of his hulking physique died on Wednesday after a short battle with oesophagus and liver cancer.
Tributes have been pouring in from the surf lifesaving and junior rugby league communities, as well as from a raft of former Sea Eagles players including John Jones who wrote, “Wow. Old Zombie. What a trooper. RIP legend”.
His son-in-law Elton McKay, 48, who first met him aged 15 through surf lifesaving, said Mr Knox was a personal mentor, a “big presence and a man with a heart of gold”.
“In sport he was a hard man and a competitor to the end, but outside of that he was a gentle giant.
“He loved to contribute and give back.
“He was a tremendous community contributor.”
Mr McKay said his father-in-law, who grew up in Harbord, was a talented sportsman in his time playing first grade for rugby league and competing as a rower for Freshwater, South Curl Curl and Manly surf clubs.
But he didn’t just compete, he also volunteered.
In 1984 he was sent a letter by Prince Charles for his work and support of the Welsh Surf Lifesaving team.
He also supported local, young talent through coaching, refereeing rugby and commentating boat races, as well as holding various posts within the two organisations. His reward being a few schooners after all the hard work.
Many people got to know Mr Knox through two columns he wrote for the Manly Daily one of which was called Between the Flags with Zom, where he often successfully picked rising stars.
Former sports editor Adam Lucius said Mr Knox was one of the “peninsula sport’s great characters”.
“Every Friday without fail, Zom would thunder into the Manly Daily office with his surf lifesaving or junior league column,” he said.
“Even in the email age, he still liked coming down for a chat.
“He was so passionate about the two sports that you couldn’t help but be swept up in it.”
As well as being adept at the written word he was a brilliant commentator for major boat races at all levels including the Australian and World Championships, according to friend Mike Tamblyn, who described him as being “built like a brick dunny”.
“Zom’s voice and unique, laid-back, humorous and entertaining style of calling has become synonymous with surf boat racing,” he wrote in a tribute.
“His researched knowledge of the crews and their achievements was encyclopaedic as he knew most of the sweeps by name and could recall a story for each of them.
“In the last few seasons Zom has been proud to watch his grandson Julian McKay rowing at a highly competitive level with his beloved South Curl Curl.
“It’s not easy to provide an unbiased commentary for a boat race when it’s your own flesh and blood out there in front.”
Mr McKay said his father-in-law continued to contribute to the sports he loved right up until the end and his final appearance as an announcer was at the NSW State Titles at Blacksmith’s Beach in March.
“We don’t know how he managed it but he convinced the hospital to discharge him and his daughter drove him straight to Newcastle,” he said.
After the racing Mr Knox shared as many schooners of black with his extended boating family as he could knowing it would probably be the last time he would commentate.
Mr Knox, who was married to his wife Jennifer for 52 years, leaves behind three children and seven grandchildren.
The family will hold a small funeral, but also plan to hold a celebration of his life later in the year when COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.