Rob Hamill
Encyclopedia
Robert Miles Hamill, MNZM
, (born 1964) is a New Zealand
rower and political candidate. His brother was a victim of the Khmer Rouge
in 1978.
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
, after straying into Cambodia
n waters. Rob testified in court against the leader of the prison, Duch, in 2009.
, Bay of Plenty
.
Hamill considers boxer Muhammad Ali
his role model
, "his skill, athleticism, courage, arrogance and self-belief all had a huge influence."
in the 1994 World Rowing Championships in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, winning a silver medal
.
Hamill also took part in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics
on behalf of New Zealand.
with Phil Stubbs in 1997, with a world record
time of forty-one days, two hours and fifty-five minutes. Hamill was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
, however Stubbs died in a plane crash before officially receiving the honour. Hamill wrote a book about this experience, The Naked Rower. In the next two such races, in 2001 and 2003, Hamill managed the New Zealand teams who won those races.
, and established and co-organises The Great Race
. He also set up a trans-Tasman
race in 2008, which he hopes to become biennial, and manages rowing teams.
electorate in the New Zealand general election, 2008
for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
, and at 56 on the Green party list. He came third, with 8.41% of the vote, and losing to the incumbent
, National's
Shane Ardern
. 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. Hamill describes the Green Party as "the only party with a commitment to driving policy towards a sustainable future".
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
.
Hamill was an ambassador for WWF's
Earth Hour
in 2010.
He is a member of the WEL Energy Trust, and is considering standing for Environment Waikato in the 2010 local body elections
.
to Bangkok
, Hamill's older brother, Kerry, was captured, tortured, interrogated and killed in the S-21
prison by the Khmer Rouge
in 1978, after being caught in a storm on his yacht, Foxy Lady, and straying into Cambodia
n waters. He was aged 28 at the time of his death. Hamill was 14 when he learned of his brother's fate. The news of his brother's fate caused Hamill's other older brother, John, to commit suicide
. In July 2009 Hamill testified against Duch, the leader of the prison, in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
, and Kerry Hamill's alleged killer, who was on trial for crimes against humanity and premeditated murder
. Hamill called the experience as "going to be quite scary" and "an opportunity to find [information] out", but stipulated that he is against the death penalty, and did not want to see Duch killed, 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".
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".
titled Brother Number 1, funded by New Zealand On Air
and TV3
, directed by Annie Goldson, and produced by Hamill, Goldson and James Bellamy. It was pitched at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto
.
The death of his brother, Kerry, inspired him to become an ambassador of WWF
and to oppose human trafficking
.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, (born 1964) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rower and political candidate. His brother was a victim of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
in 1978.
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
Atlantic Rowing Race
The Atlantic Rowing Race is a challenging ocean rowing race from the Canary Islands to the West Indies, a distance of approximately 2,550 nm . The race was founded by Sir Chay Blyth and first held in 1997 with subsequent races roughly every two years since. The early races were run by Challenge...
in 1997.
Hamill was a candidate at the 2008 general election
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
for the Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
. However, he was not elected.
His oldest brother, Kerry, was imprisoned and killed by members of the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
, after straying into Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n 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 WhakataneWhakatane
Whakatane is a town in the eastern Bay of Plenty Region, in the North Island of New Zealand, and is the seat of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Whakatane is 90 km east of Tauranga and 89 km north-east of Rotorua, at the mouth of the Whakatane River.The town has a population of , with...
, Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name...
.
Hamill considers boxer Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
his role model
Role model
The term role model generally means any "person who serves as an example, whose behaviour is emulated by others".The term first appeared in Robert K. Merton's socialization research of medical students...
, "his skill, athleticism, courage, arrogance and self-belief all had a huge influence."
Rowing career
Hamill competed for New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the 1994 World Rowing Championships in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, winning a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
.
Hamill also took part in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
on behalf of New Zealand.
Atlantic Rowing Race
He is most well-known for his winning of the inaugural Atlantic Rowing RaceAtlantic Rowing Race
The Atlantic Rowing Race is a challenging ocean rowing race from the Canary Islands to the West Indies, a distance of approximately 2,550 nm . The race was founded by Sir Chay Blyth and first held in 1997 with subsequent races roughly every two years since. The early races were run by Challenge...
with Phil Stubbs in 1997, with a world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
time of forty-one days, two hours and fifty-five minutes. Hamill was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, however Stubbs died in a plane crash before officially receiving the honour. Hamill wrote a book about this experience, The Naked Rower. In the next two such races, in 2001 and 2003, Hamill managed the New Zealand teams who won those races.
Other involvements
Hamill achieved a world record on an indoor rowing machineIndoor rower
An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right...
, and established and co-organises The Great Race
The Great Race (rowing)
The Great Race is an annual rowing race between the men's eight from the University of Waikato, New Zealand and a prominent university team from outside New Zealand...
. He also set up a trans-Tasman
Trans-Tasman
Trans-Tasman is an adjective used primarily in Australia and New Zealand, which signifies an interrelationship between both countries. Its name originates from the Tasman Sea which lies between the two countries...
race in 2008, which he hopes to become biennial, and manages rowing teams.
Politics
Hamill stood in the Taranaki-King CountryTaranaki-King Country
rightTaranaki-King Country is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Taranaki-King Country is Shane Ardern of the National Party...
electorate in the New Zealand general election, 2008
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
, and at 56 on the Green party list. He came third, with 8.41% of the vote, and losing to the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, National's
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
Shane Ardern
Shane Ardern
Philip Shane Ardern is a New Zealand politician. He is a member of the National Party, representing the electorate of Taranaki-King Country.-Early years:...
. 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. Hamill describes the Green Party as "the only party with a commitment to driving policy towards a sustainable future".
Hamill is a supporter of New Zealand becoming a republic
Republicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a republic...
, endorsing Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Keith Locke's
Keith Locke
Keith James Locke is a current New Zealand MP representing the Green Party who was first elected to parliament in 1999. he is the Green Party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Ethnic Affairs, Pacific Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration, Police and Auckland Transport...
Head of State Referenda Bill, a private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
.
Hamill was an ambassador for WWF's
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
Earth Hour
Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global event organized by WWF and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change...
in 2010.
He is a member of the WEL Energy Trust, and is considering standing for Environment Waikato in the 2010 local body elections
New Zealand local elections, 2010
The 2010 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to select local government officials and district health board members. All elections are conducted by postal ballot, with election day being Saturday 9 October 2010.Elected were:...
.
Brother's death
While on a trip from SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Hamill's older brother, Kerry, was captured, tortured, interrogated and killed in the S-21
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 by the Khmer Rouge communist regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979...
prison by the Khmer Rouge
Khmer Rouge
The Khmer Rouge literally translated as Red Cambodians was the name given to the followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot, Nuon Chea, Ieng Sary, Son Sen and Khieu Samphan...
in 1978, after being caught in a storm on his yacht, Foxy Lady, and straying into Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
n waters. He was aged 28 at the time of his death. Hamill was 14 when he learned of his brother's fate. The news of his brother's fate caused Hamill's other older brother, John, to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. In July 2009 Hamill testified against Duch, the leader of the prison, in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, commonly known as the "Khmer Rouge Tribunal", is a national court established pursuant to an agreement between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the United Nations to try senior members of the Khmer Rouge for serious violations of Cambodian...
, and Kerry Hamill's alleged killer, who was on trial for crimes against humanity and premeditated murder
Premeditated murder
Premeditated murder is the crime of wrongfully causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so, in order to either increase the likelihood of success, or to evade detection or apprehension.State laws in the United States vary as to definitions...
. Hamill called the experience as "going to be quite scary" and "an opportunity to find [information] out", but stipulated that he is against the death penalty, and did not want to see Duch killed, but that an ideal sentence would be forty years of imprisonment
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....
, "anything less than that would be a victory to the [Duch] defence team, I suspect".
Hamill also wants to research Kerry's last few days in Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, asking Darwinians
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
for any "precious" information about him, saying that "just anything would help".
Aftermath
Hamill's search for his brother's justice will be made into a documentary filmDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
titled Brother Number 1, funded by New Zealand On Air
New Zealand On Air
NZ On Air is an independent New Zealand broadcast funding agency. It is an autonomous crown entity separate from central Government and governed by a Board of six appointed by the Minister of Broadcasting...
and TV3
TV3 (New Zealand)
TV3 is a New Zealand commercial television network, owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. Launched on 26 November 1989, the first private television network in New Zealand...
, directed by Annie Goldson, and produced by Hamill, Goldson and James Bellamy. It was pitched at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
The death of his brother, Kerry, inspired him to become an ambassador of WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
and to oppose human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
.