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australian rowers profiles and history

Thomas Finney M.L.A.

Commercial Rowing Club (QLD)

Finney was a founder, Vice-President and then Patron of Commercial Rowing Club. Working with Denis O'Connor, he assisted the Club in gaining the site on which the current boatshed stands. He also assisted Denis O'Connor establish himself commercially into the hospitality business.

Commencing in 1906, the Finney Memorial Shield for the Club with the most points at the Queensland Championships was presented.

He was also a Vice-President of the Queensland Rowing Association.

Jack Pritchard in his book Rowing in Queensland summarised his work as follows.

Another outstanding personality of this era was Thomas Finney, M.L.A., a principal of Finney Isles & Co., Drapers, which now exists as the David Jones Brisbane department store. He was a founding vice-president of Commercial R.C. in 1877 and one of the founding committee of Toowong R.C. in 1889. He was Patron of Commercial R.C. from 1898 until his death in 1903. He was a vice-president of the Queensland Rowing Association. He was either Patron or President of the following:- Brisbane Gun Club, Brisbane Bicycle Club, National Cricket Union, Queensland Amateur Athletic Association, Brisbane Gymnasium and Toowong Harriers besides being a member of the Queensland Turf Club. 

Andrew Guerin
January 2023

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