Stewart Derwin
Sydney Rowing Club (NSW)
Stewart Derwin was a life long supporter of his club, state rowing association and the national rowing association. He was generous to the sport on so many levels and enjoyed it. He was an important rower, coach, administrator and boat builder.
Sydney Rowing Club President Keith Jameson published the following tribute on the club's website upon his death.
We have been advised of the passing of Stewart Derwin in Hawkes Nest.
Stewart was very well known as the proprietor of the Ausrowtec boat building business and former President of Rowing NSW.
Stewart rowed in the Club’s senior crews in the 1960s winning many championships including the Champion Eights of NSW in 1962 and 1964 and representing NSW in the King’s Cup in 1962. He was later a successful coach and vice-captain of the Club, and a masters rower. Over the period 1996 to 2006 Stewart served on the Board of NSWRA as a director, Deputy President, and President, and also as the Association’s delegate to the council of Rowing Australia. He guided NSWRA through some very difficult years and made an enormous contribution of time and effort. Through Ausrowtec, Stewart provided much support and assistance to crews and scullers using his equipment.
Stewart received the club’s Honour Blazer in 2007.
Stewart died on 27 May 2026. He will be fondly remembered by his many friends in the sport.
Stewart in the four seat of the 1962 NSW King's Cup crew
Stewart is mentioned several times in the 1970 history of Sydney Rowing Club written by Alan May. Firstly winning the most improved oarsman award in 1959-60, being a significant contributor to the club's premiership win in the 1959-60 with a string of maiden four wins, service as Vice-Captain and junior coach in the mid 1960s, club's most meritorious coach in the 1964-65 season, his NSW champion eight wins in 1962 and 1964, his 1963 NSW Champion Four win, his interstate representation in 1962, and coach of 1965 Champion Junior eight.
Separately he coached the NSW women's four in 1966. In 1992 he coached a winning under 19 sculler and future Olympian Robert Jarhling, winning schoolboy sculler Sinclair Taylor and the second placed under 19 double. He continued coaching to the national championship level for several years for Sydney RC and Scots College.
Michael Morgan recalled that - "Stewart was the perfect coach for a young boy straight out of school. He very quickly had me dreaming of Olympic endeavours. He taught me how to enjoy rowing, although as an 18-year-old boy, maybe too much at times."
Whilst serving as NSW President and Board member, he also served as the NSW Councillor to Rowing Australia from 1996-2006. As Jameson mentions above, he did all tasks with distinction. And having a bit of fun rowing was also fitted in with a win at the National Masters Championships in a D Pair in 1989 noted.
He served on the organising committees of several Australian Championships.
As a boatbuilder, he was generous to the sport with acknowledgements published at the Rowing Australia, several state associations and at several clubs. He was a great friend of the sport.
Andrew Guerin
August 2026