George Millar Armit was a member of an Otago family closely identified with sport. Born in 1880 at Kaikorai, he attended Kaikorai School, and later was associated with several sporting organisations in the region.

Ha was a member of the Kaikorai senior rugby team and represented Otago in 1908 against Canterbury. George was also a keen follower of cricket and played for the Roslyn-Wakari team in the second-grade competition, being a member of the side when it won the Shield in 1906. He played second-grade soccer for the Roslyn-Wakari team and represented the Otago province in 1903 against Southland.

After he was appointed to the position of Charge Attendant at the Seacliff Mental Hospital, a position he held for 22 years, Armit continued to take an active interest in sport, first playing for Seacliff at soccer and then coaching the side in 1923 when they won the inaugural Chatham Cup.

He also coached the Seacliff rugby team that played in the Otago Sub-Union competition. George also belonged to the Kaikorai Bowling Club. He was a brother of the famous “Barney” Armit, who lost his life in tragic circumstances on the football field.

Picture: The Seacliff Football Club team, which won the Chatham Cup in 1923.