Almanac Book Reviews – RITV: ‘That Race’ by David Griffin

 

 

 

 

2026 NRL Round 13 – South Sydney: BYE 

 

That Race by David Griffin

Wilkinson Publishing (2026)

136 pages

 

 

 

 

 

That Race focuses on Cathy Freeman’s famous win in the 1996 Stawell 400m, as well as the other six runners in that historic race. 

 

The foreword to David’s book was written by Lord Sebastian Coe, the President of World Athletics, double Olympic 1500m gold medallist (1980 and 1984), and former long standing 800m world record holder. Coe held the 800m world record for 16 years, 1981-1997. 

 

David provided his own story, which provides great perspective and the lens through which the writer sees the world. In a sign of the times in 2026, David pointed out that his interviews were conducted the hard way, with no use of AI. 

 

The book then has a section written by long standing Herald Sun journalist Jon Anderson. He provides detail around Cathy’s international career, spanning from the 1990 Commonwealth Games to beyond the Sydney Olympic Games, including the two wins at Stawell in 1995 and 1996. Anderson concludes that Cathy is Australia’s greatest ever athlete.   

 

Each runner in that famous 1996 Stawell 400m gift was interviewed for David’s book, a 14-year project. 

 

Fittingly, Cathy is first cab off the rank. 

 

Cathy rates the best two races of her life to be: the 1996 Atlanta Olympic final, where she ran 48.63 seconds in finishing second to the French woman Marie Jose Perec, and the 1996 Stawell 400m. Cathy’s winning time in Sydney was 49.11 seconds. 

 

The other competitors in the 1996 Stawell 400m have their stories told in the book:  

 

2nd place: Shanie Singleton (Coutts) 

 

3rd place: Tara Gleeson (Gately)

 

4th place: Jackie Chehade (Lewis) 

 

5th place: Emma Yeomans 

 

6th place: Kim McDonough (Holloway) 

 

7th place: Debra Tomsett 

 

The overriding sediment amongst the other competitors in the race was the respect they all have for Cathy, and the realisation, with the help of time, of the significant roles each athlete played in the historic 400m at Stawell in 1996. 

 

The remaining chapters in the book contain wonderful detail about the following identities: 

 

Tom Deane/Cyril “Goldie” Heath: Cyril won the 1933 Stawell Gift, Deane was the 1946 champion, boxer William Hadlow, Australian Rules footballers Tim and David Clarke, The Cosmic Psycho (punk band) front man and weight lifter Ross Knight, Hawthorn premiership player Max Bailey, boxer Susie Ramadan, indigenous leader Belinda Duarte, and the 1972 Munich Olympics experiences of: Charlene Rendina, Erica Hooker, Pam Ryan and Judy Pollock. 

 

These chapters provide a variety of life stories: including the Bali bombing experience of David Clarke. Tim Clarke ran the 2013 Boston marathon in 2 hours and 32 minutes, the year of the bombings. 

 

David has written a book I would describe as a wonderful collection of human stories. A celebration of humanity, on several different levels. 

 

Cathy Freeman’s famous win in the 1996 Stawell gift is the central story of the book. David also acknowledges Cathy’s two 400m world championship wins (1997, 1999). 

 

Quite understandably, September 25, 2000, takes centre stage in the Cathy Freeman story. Cathy was Australia’s great hope in our home Olympics. It was the race that stopped the nation. Bruce McAvaney has previously described his race day nerves in the build up to commentating the race for television. 

 

I will always remember the great Tim Lane’s famous line on the ABC radio coverage: “beneath the Olympic flame, 130m to run … “ 

 

 

I found David’s book to be a different and refreshing perspective around Cathy Freeman. The 1996 Atlanta Olympic final was won by Marie Jose Perec in 48.25 seconds. Perec won three Olympic gold medals. Her outstanding sequence began at the 1992 Barcelona games where she won the 200m and 400m.     

 

  

Earlier this year, whilst on a teaching contract for term one, I had a Year 7 class for History, including an Indigenous Australia unit. They were a great group of young people. On day five of the Sheffield Shield final, Victoria v South Australia, we spent some time on the Trinity College oval. I was prepared with my measuring wheel and markers. We watched the 1996 Stawell 400m on YouTube, along with a brief explanation of handicap running. I measured the handicap marks around the boundary line of the oval, then many students volunteered to be a part of the race reenactment. It was a Bill “it’s all happening” Lawry moment. By the time we walked from the oval back to the classroom, South Australia had won the cricket over Victoria to claim back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles. Much excitement at Travis Head’s old school. 

 

That Race. 

 

A great read. Great stories about a variety of fascinating people. Highly recommended. 

 

Barossa Valley red wine of the week

 

 

2022 Chaffey Brothers GSM

Grenache-Syrah-Mourvedre

 

 

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