Geoff Henke

Biographical information

RolesOther
SexMale
Full nameGeoffrey John "Geoff"•Henke
Used nameGeoff•Henke
Born3 October 1927 in Melbourne, Victoria (AUS)
NOC Australia

Biography

Geoff Henke was originally an ice hockey player, playing with the Golden Bears in the Victorian Ice Hockey League in 1949 and then helping the Raiders win five straight premierships from 1950-54. He represented Victoria nine times, winning Goodall Cups in 1952, 1953, 1954, and captaining the team in 1959.

Henke later became involved in sports administration as the first Alpine director of the Australian Ski Federation (ASF) from 1972-79. He was chef de mission of Australian teams at six consecutive Winter Olympics, from 1976 Innsbruck to 1994 Lillehammer. He was an Australian representative on the Federation Internationale de Ski (FIS) and served as councilllor to the FIS from 1977-2006. Henke was an Executive Member of the Victorian Olympic Council (VOC) from 1977-85, Vice-President from 1985-93, and President from 1993-2001. He represented the ASF on the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and was made a life member of the AOC in 1992.

Henke was an Executive Board Member of the Melbourne Olympic Bid Committee in 1996, and the Sydney Olympic Bid Committee in 2000. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (1987) and an Officer of the Order of Australia (1999) for his service to sports administration and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1993. Henke received the Olympic Order in 1998, and in 2008 he became the first Australian lifetime member of the International Ski Federation.

Henke’s wife and daughter both competed at the Winter Olympics, his wife Gweneth Molony in figure skating at 1952 Oslo, and his daughter, Joanne Henke in Alpine skiing at 1976 Innsbruck.

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
Other AUS Geoff Henke

Olympic family relations

Special Notes