Rob Hamill Explained

Rob Hamill
Birth Date:1964 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Whakatāne, New Zealand
Full Name:Robert Miles Hamill
Spouse:Rachel
Website:www.robhamill.com
Sport:Rowing
Country:New Zealand
Show-Medals:yes

Robert Miles Hamill (born 4 January 1964), also known as Robbie Hamill,[1] is a former New Zealand rower and political candidate. He came to public attention when, in 1994, he won a silver medal in the World Rowing Championships. He went on to win the first Atlantic Rowing Race in 1997.

Hamill was a candidate at the 2008 general election for the Green Party. However, he was not elected. His oldest brother, Kerry, was imprisoned and killed by members of the Khmer Rouge in 1978, after straying into Cambodian waters. Rob testified in court against the leader of the prison, Duch, in 2009.

Early life

Rob Hamill was born on 4 January 1964 in Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty.[2] [3]

Hamill considers boxer Muhammad Ali his role model, "his skill, athleticism, courage, arrogance and self-belief all had a huge influence."[4]

Rowing career

At the 1994 World Rowing Championships at Eagle Creek Park, Indianapolis, United States, Hamill won a silver medal in the lightweight men's double sculls with Mike Rodger.[5] [6] Hamill also took part in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics on behalf of New Zealand.[7]

Atlantic Rowing Race

He is most well known for his winning of the inaugural Atlantic Rowing Race with Phil Stubbs in 1997, with a world record time of forty-one days, two hours and fifty-five minutes.[8] [9] In the 1999 New Year Honours, Hamill and Stubbs were both appointed Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to ocean rowing; however Stubbs died in a plane crash before the honours were officially announced.[10] [11] Hamill wrote a book about this experience, The Naked Rower.[12] [13] In the next two such races, in 2001 and 2003, Hamill managed the New Zealand teams who won those races.[14]

Other involvements

Hamill achieved a world record on an indoor rowing machine,[15] and established and co-organises The Great Race.[7] He also set up a trans-Tasman race in 2008,[14] which he hopes to become biennial,[16] and manages rowing teams.[17]

Politics

Hamill stood in the Taranaki-King Country electorate in the 2008 New Zealand general election for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, and at 56 on the Green party list.[18] He came third, with 8.41% of the vote, and losing to the incumbent, National's Shane Ardern.[19] However, he stated that his intention was not to win the seat, and did not "think that would be realistic." but campaigned for the Green party vote.[20] Hamill describes the Green Party as "the only party with a commitment to driving policy towards a sustainable future".[21]

Hamill is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic, endorsing Member of Parliament Keith Locke's Head of State Referenda Bill, a private member's bill.[22]

Hamill was an ambassador for WWF's Earth Hour in 2010.[23]

He is a member of the WEL Energy Trust,[24] and is considering standing for Environment Waikato in the 2010 local body elections.[25]

Brother's death

While on a trip from Singapore to Bangkok,[26] Hamill's older brother, Kerry, was captured, tortured, interrogated and killed in the S-21 prison by the Khmer Rouge in 1978,[27] after being caught in a storm on his yacht, Foxy Lady,[28] and straying into Cambodian waters.[29] He was aged 28 at the time of his death.[30] Hamill was 14 when he learned of his brother's fate.[31] The news of his brother's fate caused Hamill's other older brother, John, to commit suicide.[32] In July 2009 Hamill testified against Duch, the leader of the prison,[33] in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and Kerry Hamill's alleged killer,[34] who was on trial for crimes against humanity and premeditated murder.[29] Hamill called the experience as "going to be quite scary"[35] and "an opportunity to find [information] out",[36] but stipulated that he is against the death penalty, and did not want to see Duch killed,[37] but that an ideal sentence would be forty years of imprisonment, "anything less than that would be a victory to the [Duch] defence team, I suspect".[38]

Hamill also wants to research Kerry's last few days in Northern Territory, asking Darwinians for any "precious" information about him, saying that "just anything would help".[38] [39]

Aftermath

Hamill's search for his brother's story has been made into a documentary film entitled Brother Number 1,[27] funded by NZ On Air and TV3, and the New Zealand Film Commission, directed by Annie Goldson, and produced by Hamill, Goldson and James Bellamy.[40] It was pitched at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto.[41]

The death of his brother, Kerry, inspired him to become an ambassador of WWF and to oppose human trafficking.[42] [43]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Robbie Hamill . . 30 September 2016.
  2. Rob Hamill . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102144836/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ha/rob-hamill-1.html . 2 November 2012 . 16 July 2010 . dead .
  3. Web site: Robbie Hamill . . 3 October 2015.
  4. Book: Hamill . Rob . Whyte . Rob . Wall . Michael . The Naked Rower. 2003 . 2000 . Hodder Moa Beckett Publishers . Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand . 1-86958-766-9 . 17 . The Ali Way.
  5. Web site: Lightweight Men's Double Sculls – Final . 3 October 2015 . FISA.
  6. Web site: World Championship medallists . . 3 October 2015 . 8 September 2015.
  7. Web site: Brotherly love: Rob Hamill wants justice for brother killed by Khmer Rouge . Susan . Pepperell . . . 5 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110226115256/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2315038/Brotherly-love-Rob-Hamill-wants-justice-for-brother-killed-by-Khmer-Rouge . 26 February 2011 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  8. Web site: Rower Rob Hamill turns attention to Cambodian genocide trial . 3 News. 8 April 2009. 30 May 2010.
  9. Web site: Rob Hamill. Talent Online. 29 May 2010.
  10. Web site: Stubbs died knowing of his award. The New Zealand Herald. Fiona . Barber. 31 December 1998. 30 May 2010.
  11. Web site: New Year honours list 1999 . 31 December 1998 . Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . 31 August 2019.
  12. Book: The Naked Rower : How Two Kiwis Took on the Atlantic—and Won!. 978-1869587666 . Hamill . Rob . 10 February 2024 . Hodder Moa Beckett .
  13. News: Rower feared mate would kill. . Darrel . Mager . New Zealand Press Association . New Zealand Press Association . 22 March 2000 . 16 July 2010.
  14. Web site: Aussie challenge for four in a row . . . 29 January 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165621/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/242468 . 13 June 2011 . 1 June 2010 . dead .
  15. Web site: Cool Kiwis: Rob Hamill . https://web.archive.org/web/20100525230915/http://www.tki.org.nz/r/wick_ed/cool/archives/rob_hamill.php . dead . 2010-05-25 . . December 2004 . 30 May 2010 .
  16. Web site: An oarsome challenge of two bridges. Alanah May. Eriksen. The New Zealand Herald. 30 January 2008. 30 May 2010.
  17. Web site: Shark terrorises NZ rowing pair. The New Zealand Herald. Julie. Ash. 21 December 2005. 30 May 2010.
  18. Rob Hamill to Stand for the Green Party . . 14 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100522183751/http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/rob-hamill-stand-green-party . 22 May 2010 . 29 May 2010 . Alt URL
  19. Web site: Official Count Results  - Taranaki-King Country. Elections New Zealand. 22 November 2008. 29 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100525010326/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-49.html. 25 May 2010. dead.
  20. Web site: Hamill puts on celebrity Green face . . 14 October 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165636/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/archived-sections/vote-08/672221/Hamill-puts-on-celebrity-Green-face . 13 June 2011 . 1 June 2010 . dead .
  21. Web site: Trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill stands for Greens. The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2008. 30 May 2010.
  22. Web site: Stars back poll on NZ republic . . Anthony . Hubbard . . 28 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100302143007/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3384830/Stars-back-poll-on-NZ-republic . 2 March 2010 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  23. Helen Clark urges all Kiwis to take part in Earth Hour 2010. World Wide Fund for Nature. 5 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100522214701/http://www.wwf.org.nz/?3261/Helen-Clark. 22 May 2010. 1 June 2010. Alt URL
  24. Web site: Rob Hamill . WEL Energy Trust . https://web.archive.org/web/20100602084705/http://www.welenergytrust.co.nz/trustees.cfm?page_obj_id=7&staff_id=5&obj_list=1,6,2,3,4,5 . 2 June 2010 . 1 June 2010 . dead .
  25. Web site: Hamill's passion still in water around him . Bruce . Holloway . . . 20 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165100/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3479022/Hamills-passion-still-in-water-around-him . 13 June 2011 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  26. Web site: Editorial: Rob Hamill's act of courage . . . Bryce . Johns . 21 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165114/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/2774675/Editorial-Rob-Hamills-act-of-courage . 13 June 2011 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  27. Web site: Rob Hamill faces brother's killer . . . Jeff . Neems . 18 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613165158/http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2762707/Rob-Hamill-faces-bothers-killer . 13 June 2011 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  28. Web site: Brother Number One  - About the film . https://web.archive.org/web/20100525225534/http://www.brothernumberone.co.nz/about.htm . 25 May 2010 . 16 June 2010 . dead .
  29. Web site: Rob Hamill to be heard at Khmer Rouge trial. New Zealand Press Association. The New Zealand Herald. 1 April 2009. 30 May 2010.
  30. Web site: Khmer Rouge trial may see justice for slain NZer. The New Zealand Herald. 19 February 2009. 30 May 2010.
  31. Web site: Rob Hamill confronts his brother's killer . . . 18 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090821023429/http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/2762071/Rob-Hamill-confronts-his-brothers-killer . 21 August 2009 . 30 May 2010 . dead .
  32. Web site: Khmer Rouge torturer asked to confess his crimes in full. The New Zealand Herald. Jane. Phare. 29 November 2009. 30 May 2010.
  33. Web site: Hamill confronts Khmer Rouge commander . . . 18 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613115230/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/hamill-confronts-khmer-rouge-commander-2925212 . 13 June 2011 . 1 June 2010 . dead .
  34. Hamill set to testify at Khmer Rouge trial. Pan Pacific Films. 27 July 2009. 29 May 2010.
  35. Web site: Kiwi rower heads to Cambodia to find justice . . . 9 August 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090811002950/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/kiwi-rower-heads-cambodia-find-justice-2897155 . 11 August 2009 . 1 June 2010 . dead .
  36. Web site: Rob Hamill's post-testimony interview. The Phnom Penh Post. Robbie Corey. Boulet. 18 August 2009. 30 May 2010.
  37. Web site: Hamill does NOT want to kill Duch. Rob Hamill. 18 August 2009. 30 May 2010.
  38. News: Hamill seeks clues to murdered brother's last days . . 16 July 2010 . 16 July 2010.
  39. News: Khmer murder leads to quest . . Nadja . Hainke . 16 July 2010 . 16 July 2010.
  40. Web site: NZ On Air to fund Rob Hamill's doco on his brother. Radio Live. 3 News. 3 March 2009. 30 May 2010.
  41. Brother Number One to be pitched at Hotdocs. Pan Pacific Pictures. 30 April 2009. 30 May 2010.
  42. Web site: Rob Hamill . https://web.archive.org/web/20100430102755/http://www.wwf.org.nz/earth_hour/ambassadors/rob_hamill.cfm . dead . 30 April 2010 . . 30 May 2010 .
  43. Web site: Rob Hamill helps to raise awareness of Trafficking. Hagar. 5 April 2010. 30 May 2010.

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