Just weeks short of his 83rd birthday, one of the legends of Australian cycling, Keith Oliver, passed away after a health battle.
– By Phill Bates (photos: Stu Baker)
There is little doubt that Keith Oliver was a true legend of our sport. His ventures in cycling started as an amateur but, many years ago, the professional racing scene lured him to the cash ranks even before he could race in the senior ranks. Keith followed in his father’s footsteps as a pro cyclist who was also well known in cycling circles through his feats in the 1930s.
Keith Oliver kept his attention on the domestic scene in preference to chasing races around Europe and he was a rider capable of strong performances both on the track and the road.
In his first serious season as a pro racer, Keith Oliver (nicknamed ‘KO’) finished second in the Australian road championship – a title that eluded him over the next decade but this was an event in which he excelled nonetheless, picking up three podium placing (in 1968, 1970 and 1973).
In 1967 Keith showed his talents as a Madison rider finishing second in his Maryborough Six-Day and this proved to be his favourite event. In the following year he won both the Whyalla Six and Launceston Six (an event he won a further three times later in his racing career).
Intermingled with the outstanding wins on the track – especially the biggest wheelraces in Australia, always from scratch – were big wins in the Herald Sun Tour (1969) and back-to-back wins in the NSW Sun Tour.
One of his favourite partners in Madison racing was Rome Olympic cyclist Rob Whetters and their partnership won the first three Bendigo Madison from 1972 to 1974; years later, they were both at Bendigo to witness the 50th running of the feature Madison in Australia. No other team has achieved what Oliver and Whetters did winning the hat-trick.
Keith Oliver never ventured too far away from cycling and, after his elite racing days, he worked with Swift bicycles alongside Carl Wilson; the two were seen on numerous occasions riding – and racing – penny farthings to help promote the sport they love. Keith was also a regular visitor of bike shops as a sales rep well into his late 70s.
Keith overcome some tragedy in his life with Keith Snr passing away after a motor cycle accident in 1978 at Camperdown Velodrome whilst assisting Alex Fulcher and his preparation while racing with the Australian team at the Commonwealth Games. His own son, Gary, would also suffer a horrendous leg injury after he collided head-on with a car. Gary bounced back after long treatment to show the Oliver spirit and become a representative cyclist.
The emergence of Masters racing on the world stage encouraged Keith to pursue his bid for an elusive world title and he ended up bagging a gold medal tally that reached into double figures in the last 20-odd years.
There are many people who would be able to testify what a great guy Keith Oliver was – and how supportive his wife Sally has been over so many decades. There is also little doubt that many in the bicycle trade will miss his friendly disposition and love of cycling and bikes.
Keith Oliver was a legend of the sport and one of the great cyclists of his time.
– By Phill Bates AM