Harry Maitland Hay, the swimming coach, died early yesterday at St. Ronan's Hospital, Manly. He was 59.
He had been admitted to the hospital after a heart attack on Thursday.
Hay represented Australia as a swimmer at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, and attended every subsequent Olympic Games at his own expense.
He had arranged to leave on May 2 to attend this year's Games at Helsinki, Finland where he intended to coach the Australian 110 yards champion, Rex Aubrey.
Hay had offered to look after other Australian Games swimmers.
The swimming team manager, S. B. Grange, said last night that this offer would have been accepted.
Grange, who is honorary secretary of the N.S.W. Amateur Swimming Association, said last night. "Mr. Hay was received overseas as a world figure—in fact, he was the best-known coach in any sport."
The Manly swimmer Andrew ("Boy") Charlton, first brought Hay prominence as a coach.
Under Hay's tuition, Charlton represented Australia at the 1924, 1928, and 1932 Olympic Games. He broke record after record.
Since then Hay had groomed many of Australia's best swimmers, including Noel Ryan, Bill Kendall, Robin Biddulph, Warren Boyd, Garrick Agnew, and Rex Aubrey.
Agnew and Aubrey have both been selected for this year's Olympic Games.
Hay is survived by Mrs. Hay.
The funeral to-day will leave St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Manly, for Northern Suburbs Crematorium, after a service starting at 2 p.m.
'Hay, Harry Maitland (1893–1952)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/hay-harry-maitland-14390/text25463, accessed 14 March 2025.
30 March,
1952
(aged ~ 59)
Manly, Sydney,
New South Wales,
Australia
Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.