Motivation is the key to any goal and Jack Standen’s life is living proof.

Shoal Bay Resident Graham Standen brought out scrap books full of memorabilia from his Dad, Jack Standen’s life when News Of The Area visited him earlier this week.

Jack Standen was born in Camperdown NSW on 20 February 1909 and passed away 29 October 1973.

At the age of 13 years, Jack cut out articles on his hero cyclists from the local newspapers and stuck them into scrapbooks, creating a vision board to feed his passion for cycling.

He was an Australian junior cycling champion at the age of 15 and was very passionate about the sport.

Jack became a stand out at most events and the newspapers of the day took great interest in documenting this young man’s achievements.

Each week Jack would have articles written regarding his own triumphs and victories and filled more than six scrap books with the cut outs, each page keeping his motivation alive.

“When I go to a big professional track meeting, I do not merely sit down and enjoy the fun,” Jack Standen told a Sydney Mail journalist back in 1926.

“I watch every move, the position a rider has and the finessing that takes place, I have gained no end of hints in that way,” Jack said.

“It is the dream of my life to represent Australia at the 1928 Olympic Games and I can assure you that if hard work and perseverance have anything to do with it, I shall not be found wanting.”

Finally his passion, hard work and talent came together when he was invited to represent Australia to compete, as one of two cyclists, in the sprint event at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam.

Although Jack didn’t achieve a Gold Medal he went on to have a successful cycling career inspiring everyone he met.
Later in life Jack married Dulcie and had three children, Joan, Bruce and Graham.

Jack Standen was one of our elite athletes who envisioned what he wanted and through hard work, determination and enthusiasm achieved his goals.

By Jewell DRURY