History of Cardross Rowing Club 1947-52

Chapter 7 - 1951-52 Season 

At the start of the 1951-52 season Cardross again entered Dimboola Regatta in November 1951. The Dimboola Regatta was the biggest held yet with 62 crews and 8 scullers and a total of 208 competitors racing. Torrens Rowing Club from Adelaide attended for the first time. The Prime Minister Mr. Menzies also attended to watch the racing. Cardross appear to only have a maiden four competing where they scored a second place in the Maiden fours by 1 ¼ lengths from South Melbourne.

There were no entries at VRA or Henley Regatta and no entries for the Mildura and Wentworth Regattas in April 1952.

By the end of the season in July 1952, memberships had declined to just three active members and so sadly the decision was made to disband the club at the Annual Meeting on July 24.

The club had had a brief existence but made an impact on Victorian rowing. Most of their racing was at local Victorian regattas Mildura, Wentworth and Dimboola as well as South Australian Regattas at Berri and Renmark. They made the long trek to Melbourne to the VRA regatta usually held a week before Henley on Yarra. They were only a small club but all their crews put in great performances at every regatta they attended.

The Cardross Junior four ensured that Cardross Rowing Club will be remembered for posterity, winning Elswick Challenge Cup and having their names inscribed on it. The club also entered crews in the same event in 1949 and 1950 placing second by 1 length one year and 2 feet the next year. It was an exceptional crew by any standard and the fact that they achieved this from a tiny town like Cardross is outstanding.

Don Mackay went on to join Mildura Rowing Club and in 1958 was coaching. He later was vice-president and then served as President from 1968-1971.

Sunraysia Daily, July 26, 1952, page 6

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