Peter David William Wright (born 11 March 1943) is an Australian born
Squash
Squash most often refers to:
* Squash (sport), the high-speed racquet sport also known as squash racquets
* Squash (plant), the fruit of vines of the genus ''Cucurbita''
Squash may also refer to: Sports
* Squash (professional wrestling), an extr ...
Champion and sports administrator/entrepreneur.
[Birth Certificate, District of Melbourne, Victoria , Australia, No.7517 of 1943]
Wright won the
World Masters Squash Championships
The World Masters Squash Championships are an international squash competition organised by the World Squash Federation and played between players for athletes over the age of 35 years. World Masters are divided into ten categories — Over 35, Ov ...
three times.
[Baylis, Danni, Legend of MCC Squash Section 2019 -Peter Wright OAM, 7 February 2020, MCC News, Publisher: Melbourne Cricket Club] In addition, he has been Australian, New Zealand and Victorian Masters Squash Champion.
[Willaton, John: The Sunshine Recorder, Publisher: Sunshine and District Historical Society, Series 5 No 35 September 2015, ISSN 1834-7215][
Described as an “''outstanding administrator''",][
]
Early life
Wright was born in Sunshine, Victoria
Sunshine is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, west of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the City of Brimbank Local government areas of Victoria, local gove ...
in the middle of World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. His father, David Stanley Wright was a munitions worker and his mother was Lorna Edna Wright (nee Martin).[ His life time sports career began in his home suburb of Sunshine where he played in many junior competitive sports.][ At 15 he joined the Sunshine Park Tennis Club and sometime before 1962 the Sunshine Squash Club. Wright suffered “terribly” from asthma as a youngster, but his asthma went away when he began playing squash.][Kerville,Ian, Recognition for champion “Squashie”, 14 February 2011, Words -Squash Victoria, Publisher: Melbourne Cricket Club]
Kerville states that Wright has always believed deeply in the benefits of sport for every human being. Wright further believes that all persons, including lower grades and "oldies", particularly benefit from the competitive and social side of squash and any kind of sport.[
]
Sporting career
Peter Wright has been three times World Masters Squash Champion. His victories were in 1985 in Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
, Canada, in 1993 in the over 50s division in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
, Scotland, and in 1999 in the over 55 division Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
, England.[ He was runner-up in 1989 in Arhus in Denmark, in 1994 in Brisbane, Australia, in 1995 and 2001 in Melbourne, Australia.][
* Australian Masters Squash Champion five times.][
* Australian Masters Games Squash Champion four times.][
* New Zealand Masters Squash Champion five times][
* Victorian Masters Squash Champion six times.][
* Represented Australia twelve times in World Master’s Team events.][
]
Career as an Administrator
Notwithstanding his outstanding sporting achievements Peter Wright is far better known for his organising and administrative flair and ability. Authoritatively described as “''highly regarded throughout world squash as an outstanding sporting administrator''”.[
For 34 years (1986–2020) he has been –
* President of the Australian Masters Squash Association][
* Member of the World Squash Federation Masters Committee for 10 years.][
* Executive Committee Member for Squash for the 2006 Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne.][
* Tournament Director of the Australian Masters Squash Association and the Victorian Masters Squash Association for 9 years (1983–1992)][
* Tournament Director of the Melbourne Cricket Club Squash Club for 15 years.][ In his 32 years as a member of the squash section, Peter has played 668 competition matches.][
]
Honours
He has engaged in many other significant administrative roles for which he received
* The Medal of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
(OAM) for services to the sport of squash and for a range of executive roles.[
* Hans Ebeling Award winner of the Melbourne Cricket Club.][
* Life Member of Melbourne Cricket Club Squash section (2006).][
* Life Member 1998: Australian Masters Squash Association.][
* Legend Status at the Melbourne Cricket Club Squash Section and the Award for outstanding club person of the year.][
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Peter
Australian male squash players
1943 births
Living people
People from Sunshine, Victoria
Squash players from Melbourne
Sportsmen from Victoria (state)
Australian sports executives and administrators
Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia
Commonwealth Games Australia officials
20th-century Australian sportsmen