Jennifer Bissett
Newcastle Rowing Club (NSW)
Jennifer joined the club in May 1994, served as Secretary 1994-96: Regatta Secretary, 1996-97 then the President, 1998-99.
Jennifer's home town is Newcastle. While working in Sydney in her twenties she learned to row at Leichhardt Rowing Club then rowed competitively for a season in coxed fours. Her first medal was silver at a Mosman regatta.
On returning to Newcastle, she joined NRC in 1993, where she rowed all types of boat although always harbouring a preference for the single scull. Jennifer competed successfully at local, State and National level. With increasing experience she began to cox and coach competition crews becoming an accredited coach in 1997.
Jennifer ceased rowing in 1999 following surgery for a back injury. She admits to the habit (common with ex-rowers) of checking the conditions of any water she passes to ascertain its suitability for rowing. An efficient administrator with a cheerful and charismatic personality, Jennifer's premature retirement was a great loss for the club.
Jennifer Bissett
Colin Charters
Extracted from his book Just Add Water - The times and tides of Newcastle Rowing Club published by Seaview Press 2009.