A Short History of Bairnsdale Rowing Club

Chapter 4: Revival

Bairnsdale RC was reformed in 1986 after having been in recess for over two decades, by a small group of like-minded people to provide opportunity for the youth of the Bairnsdale district to participate in the activity of rowing.

The original Clubhouse had long been removed from the clubs original established site at the Port of Bairnsdale. A new home base was set up at Howitt Park and BRC shared occupancy of a storage shed with Bairnsdale Little Athletics Club

Tom Hoffman, a past three time Victorian Kings Cup rower was appointed Club Captain and held this role for the next 20 years. And his daughter Rosemary Hoffman, also an accomplished rower was always by his side assisting. Initial membership subscriptions of 25 members validated the clubs reformation, however by 2003 membership had dwindled to 5 and was nearly about to fold again.  At this point in time David Rafter, UK expat with a rowing background and successful local businessman Laurie Box happened to join the club.

In 2008 , BRC entered for the first time since the 1960's a competitive entry for the RV Regatta, Saltwater Classic and the clubs original uniform was proudly on display on the rowing waters again. 

As the saying goes active activity creates more activity. St Kevins Rowing School who frequently held annual training camps on the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale and always appreciated Tom Hoffman's generous assistance, made a donation of two serviceable quad boats and four singles plus oars to the club which helped out immensely to serve a now growing regrowth of interest by community members to learn to row.

By 2011 club membership had surpassed 30 members and Laurie and David decided to apply to RV to host a one off Regatta in 2012 to commemorate 140 years since BRC was established in 1872.  In September 2012 BRC hosted the Head of the Mitchell Regatta, and it went on to become an annual regatta until 2024.

In 2013 BRC took over sole occupancy of the shed facility at Howitt Park and in 2016 the boatshed underwent a major extension and upgrade, which coincided with the clubs first appointed Head Coach , Caspar Hammond. Caspar's position was funded by generous member contributions. 

[image of new shed]

Gippsland Grammar Rowing School offered bi partisan support to BRC Head Coach by providing coaching mentoring and invitation to work in their rowing program and set up opportunities to form composite crews with up and coming BRC junior rowers.

BRC in 2017 entered juniors for the first time at the RV State Championships with Lindsay Hamilton claiming the Clubs first State Championship title since reforming in the U15 Single Scull and Patrick Horne picked up a bronze medal in the U17 Men's Coxed Quad by rowing with in a Gippsland Grammar/BRC composite crew. Patrick would go onto row at the 2017 Nationals with Gippsland Grammar and make it through to the semi final.

Mid way through 2017 BRC received a request from the parents of Alexandra Vuillerman asking if it would please consider allowing their daughter who was born with a medical ailment, the opportunity to row. Alex later qualifies as a para PR3 rower. BRC was more than willing to give Alex a go, and for the 2017/18 season she and parents travelled a 4.5 hr round trip from Latrobe Valley home to train at BRC.

At the 2018 State Championships with Caspar Hammond in charge for a second season, Lindsay Hamilton won the U15 Single Scull again and a silver in both the U15 & U17 Men's Double.  Another BRC/ Gippsland Grammar composite crew silver medalled in the U15M4X+ and a BRC/Essendon U15F4X+ crew bronze medalled. And notably Alex Vuillerman partnered with Lynne Broad to finish second in the D Grade Women's Pair.

At the Australian Masters Championships held at Lake Barrington BRC's Lynne Broad represented Victoria in the ISW8+ in which they claimed a silver medal

Alex Vuillerman meanwhile had moved to Melbourne for university joining Powerhouse RC and later Mercantile RC. Alex debuted for Australia at the 2018 World Championships in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four becoming BRCs first grassroots open aged Australian representative rower.

 Later in the year at the 2018 Rowing Australia Gala Awards, Bairnsdale Rowing Club was awarded the inaugural Hancock Club of the Year Award for the club that has made the most significant impact in their local community by driving rowing participation and development during the year. Coincidently BRC had 85 members for the 2017/18 season.

[image of award}

BRC had the good fortune through contact with Gippsland Grammar to secure the services of Harry Roach as Head Coach for the 2020/21season as the effects of the COVID pandemic were being lifted. At the 2021 State Championships BRC won State Titles in the Para Double and U15M2X and collected 3 silver and 3 bronze medals in mostly junior events. The competitive standard of the Masters squad improved and Ron Alexander won the MG1X the Master State Champs and BRC had an impressive 18 crew entries.

The success of the foundation that BRC implemented by creating a Gap Year Head Coach position in 2016 and its relationship with Gippsland Grammar came to bear in 2021 and 2022 when Lindsay Hamilton rowed with Billy Osborne to win the Australian Championships Men’s U19 Double in those consecutive years for Gippsland Grammar. Lindsay became BRC first grassroots under age representative at International level when he was selected to row for Australia in the U19M4- at the 2022 World Junior Championships in ltaly. The crew won their C Final 

[image of 2022 Australian U19 four]

The club is important for the district and has a fine fleet of boats. Let us all hope that the current members can continue to attract further generations of rowers to the sport.