History of Cardross Rowing Club 1947-52

Chapter 3 - 1947-48 Season 

Early in September the club appointed Mr. R. Ledo, a well-known South Australian coach as honorary coach. He was stationed at the local aerodrome. He immediately went to work coaching on Sunday mornings and several days during the week. The club now had access to two boats and were negotiating with Albert Park Lake to obtain another practice four.

September 13, 1947, saw a combination regatta organised by the club to mark their official opening. Oarsmen from other local clubs competed in mixed crews. It was held in “perfect” weather, although the Sunraysia Daily reported that only about 100 people attended including rowers which was disappointing. Crews from Mildura, University and Wentworth joined Cardross members in combined pairs and fours events over the 600 yards straight course. The pairs and fours consisted of 11 heats and a final. The pairs final was won by Lindsay and Les Storer (Mildura RC) and the final of the fours was won by Don Mackay (Cardross), H. Hassall (Mildura), Lindsay Storer (Mildura) and Bruce Midgley (Cardross).

The annual Dimboola Regatta held on November 8, the crew that had raced in Novice last season now had to step up and row in maiden fours. They recorded the club’s very first win. The report in the Sunraysia Daily, November 11, lauded their efforts, beating a strong field competing in their first “distant” regatta.

Picture from November 4,1947, Sunraysia Daily

Except from Sunraysia Daily, November 11, page 3

Cardross did not attend any other regattas before December. VRA Melbourne and Henley on Yarra were held in November a week apart and a couple of weeks after Dimboola Regatta. At the 1947 Henley, in a very strong field, the Maiden four from Ballarat City RC won the Elswick Challenge Cup. The crew contained Albie McGuire who had won the Maiden pairs at Dimboola Regatta when Cardross had won the Maiden fours.

There is also an interesting note, in a report of the VRA Regatta in the Burnie Advocate November 24, a statement was made about the coach of the winning Corio Bay senior eight. It states that George Rogers, the coach, along with Ben Kelly from Melbourne RC were-“the oldest active oarsmen in the world!” Times have changed with many oarspeople not only coaching but racing into their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s!

Cardross then attended the Berri and Renmark Regatta in South Australia on the December 28 and 29. Mercantile Rowing Club and Mildura were the only other Victorian clubs competing. In the Maiden fours race at Berri, Port Adelaide again proved to be the Cardross crew’s nemesis but only defeating them by a mere 6 inches in the heat. The regatta also included a swimming race-Swim across the river- and a yacht race. The following day at Renmark Mildura beat the Cardross crew in their heat and they were beaten by Murray Bridge in the final by 7 lengths!

In January 1948 the club received delivery of a racing four purchased from Mercantile Rowing Club. They competed in their new boat on January 26 at Wentworth Annual River Carnival. The regatta was a not “largely attended” due to the excessive heat. Cardross raced Wentworth in the half mile challenge, dead heating with them. In the half-mile race for first year rowers, Cardross was beaten by Mildura after Cardross broke down before the finish. The race was re-run as a sporting gesture by Mildura and they went on to win the race by four lengths. Other events at the carnival included swimming, running races, decorated boats, a “duck scramble” and motorboat race!

The Maiden four competed at Henley at Mildura, on 27 March,1948 but was beaten by a Wendouree Rowing Club crew. The four also competed at Wentworth on Easter Monday.

The first annual meeting of the club was held on July 16,1948 and the following officers were elected for the 1948-49 season; President Syd B. Webb; vice-presidents, R. Harris, and W. Bildstein; Captain and Secretary, Bill (William) Mackay; vice-captain, Jack Harris and Treasurer, Peter Stubbings. A sub-committee of three was elected to develop a plan for the further beautification of the lake. The club proposed holding as a fundraiser a monster bonfire held at the Lake on Guy Fawkes night November 5. Crews were in training over winter to attend Dimboola Regatta and Henley on the Yarra also in November at the start of the1948-49 rowing season.

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