Early years
Hubert was born on 29 May, 1904 in Rochester in northern Victoria. His family background was British and German, and he was the eldest of five children.
Competitive cycling was popular in the early twentieth century. It was also the most used form of transport for the working classes. Oppy's father bought him a bicycle and encouraged his interest in this popular sport.
Cycling career
When he was 17, Oppy won a Malvern Star bicycle in a race. Malvern Star Bicycles was a fast- growing business run by Bruce Small. Small, later a politician (‘Think Big Vote Small’) and mayor of the Gold Coast, realised Oppy’s potential. He gave Oppy a job and financial support.
Small used advertising well, coining the slogan ‘You Travel better on a Malvern Star’ to sell his bikes. Oppy learned a great deal from this successful businessman.
In 1927, Melbourne and New Zealand newspapers decided to fund a team to compete in the Tour de France. They selected Oppy to compete. With only four riders on their team (most teams had ten), the Australian team was disadvantaged from the start. But they staged a wonderful effort and Oppy came 18th. He competed again in 1931 and came 12th. The French public loved him and he received great press both there and in Australia.
Some riders saw Oppy as a serious threat. When he attempted to compete in the 24-hour Bol d’Or velodrome race, someone sabotaged his bikes. He rode for 17 hours straight on his interpreter’s heavy, old bike and won by 30 minutes. Then, in 1931, Oppy won the Paris-Brest-Paris race in a record 49 hours in the wind and rain. It was the longest race in the world at the time. This achievement made him world famous.
Political career
Oppy joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) when war broke out and served between 1940 and 1945. Although he rode after the war, he retired from racing after 1947. He then took up politics, becoming federal Liberal member for Corio in 1949. He held that seat for 17 years until he became High Commissioner for Malta. He was Parliament Whip in 1955 and Cabinet Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1960.
Personal life
He married Mavys (nee Craig) in 1928 and they had 2 children, one son and one daughter.
Death
Oppy died in his retirement village in 1996 aged 91; a year after his wife had forbidden him from continuing to ride on the roads. Both he and his wife Mavys had their ashes scattered at Altona Memorial Park.
Bibliography
Adapted from material supplied by historian Dr Jan Penney, GMCT Trust member 2010-2020.
FitzSimons P (2006) Great Australian Sports Champions, Harper Collins
Oakden D (2018) Oppy: the life of Sir Hubert Opperman, Melbourne Books
Opperma H (1977) Pedals, Politics and People, Haldane Publishing
Image source
Image from the Herald Sun.