Harold Alderson

Alderson was born 18 August 1890 at Balmain, a suburb in the Inner West of Sydney. He was the second child of James Bull Alderson, architect, and his wife Lilias Maud, . Alderson attended Mosman Public School and Fort Street Model School. In 1919, he opened a public accountancy business in the city. He died on 4 October 1978 at Mosman and was survived by his second wife Hilda Nancy Buddee and a daughter. ==Sports administration career==

Rowing In 1911, Alderson became a member of the Mosman Rowing Club and in 1915 was the club captain. He was President of the New South Wales Olympic Council from 1926 to 1970. In 1936, he was Vice President of the Australian Olympic Federation (AOF) Alderson believed that Australia should focus n the British Empire Games rather than the Olympics. As President of the AOF, he played an important role in Melbourne's bid for the 1956 Summer Olympics as he was a member of the four-man bid delegation. Commonwealth Games Alderson was Chairman of the various Australian Commonwealth Games Committee's from 1949 to 1973. Alderson's served on the 1938, 1962 and 1966 British Empire Games and Commonwealth Games Committees. Alderson also served as Chairman of the New South Wales Sports Club, Rothmans Sports Foundation and New South Wales Council of National Fitness. Alderson was the honorary treasurer of the St John Ambulance Australia New South Wales Division for over 30 years. ==Honours==

• 1938 Birthday Honours Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), for role General Manager of the Australian team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. • 1956 Birthday Honours - Knighted for services to amateur sport. • Life Member of the Australian Olympic Committee. • Life Member of the New South Wales Olympic Council. • Life Member of Commonwealth Games Australia. == References ==