Jeanette Gasson (nee Hall)
Black Mountain Rowing Club (ACT) (both currently and under the earlier version Eastern Suburbs Rowing Club (ACT)), ANU Rowing Club (ACT) and also The Red Shed (ACT)
Originally from Victoria, Jeanette came to Canberra in the early 1980s. She joined the Eastern Suburbs Rowing Club and enhanced her rowing under the watchful eye of her future husband John and the well known Canberra rowing identity Peter Wright. On the recommendation of Peter, she then joined ANU under the influential coach David Bagnall. Her partnership with Brigid Cassells in the pair and four under David Bagnall, brought great results in the period 1981-84. She represented Australia at 1984 FISA World Lightweight Championships in the exhibition lightweight eight event. Such was the international support of women's lightweight rowing, it became a World Championship event in 1986. Jeanette was part of the group who helped create this result.
In the 2011 Black Mountain Rowing Club history written by Vincent McMahon, the following summary of Jeanette's rowing career is provided:
Jeanette learnt to row with coach Gary Deane at Easts Rowing Club in 1979 in a women’s Eight, which included Brigid Cassells (future pair partner) in the crew.
The following year Peter Wright recommended she join coach David Bagnall’s squad of lightweight women at ANU Boat Club. She rowed with Lesley Paton in a Lightweight Women’s Pair and combined with Kate McLoughlin and Sue Donoghoe in the four. The pair came second at the Aust Champs, and the four came fourth. The 1982 Aust Champs were less successful, finishing fourth in the semi-finals of the pair, and making the final in the four (Jeanette, Lesley, Kate and Julie Ellett, coach David Bagnall).
In the 1982/83 season she rowed with a new pair’s partner, Brigid Cassells, and combined with Denise Rennex and Julie Ellett for her most successful Nationals campaign in Perth, where Jeanette and Brigid came first in the pair with Denise and Julie in second place. The four came second behind Melbourne University Boat Club.
1984 was Jeanette, with Brigid, was selected to represent Australia in the Lightweight Women’s Eight at the FISA World Lightweight Championships in Montreal, Canada. At the Nationals at Lake Barrington, Tasmania, the pair finished in second place and the four was sixth. This was her last and most successful season with coach David Bagnall.
Jeanette didn’t compete in 1984/85 but attempted an uneventful comeback the following season, making the final at Nationals in the four. In about 1995 Jeanette joined Black Mountain Rowing Club when Evelyn Sommer formed a Masters Women’s Squad to compete at The Australian Masters Games in Canberra in 1997.
Rowing has continued to be a strong part of her life ever since, both on and off the water.
The enthusiasm and support of rowing did not stop there. Jointly with her husband John, they became great innovators and benefactors of the sport, firstly with the creation of The Red Shed. The Red Shed is a community rowing program with the goal of enabling rowing for all Canberra residents, specifically bringing rowing to government schools. It derives its name from the rusted tin Nissan shed from which the Telopea Park High School commenced rowing in Kingston. This initiative required an enormous amount of money, energy and inspiration to build The Red Shed and fully equip it with equipment and fleet. It brings the best ideas from other community rowing models from around the world. The aim is to make this program self sustaining through a pay to play model, commercial catering and gym memberships. These activities will not only maintain the facility, but provide cheap access to rowing for young people who could not otherwise gain access to the sport.
Having successfully established The Red Shed, the John and Jeanette embarked on creating a festival of rowing which they named "Golden Oar". This innovative regatta is held over two days, over three distances (3000m, 1500m and 450m), in four categories, (open, under 19, masters and PR3), with only mixed crews and a $100,000 prize pool. It is a great family and rowing festival with activities for all. Again this was a matter which required John and Jeanette to provide the leadership, vision, initiative, resources and contacts to make successful - and it is a great success.
We can expect much more innovation and beneficial change for the sport from this dynamic and successful couple. Thank you Jeanette and John.
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Jeanette in the four seat of 1984 Australian lightweight eight whilst training in Melbourne
Known rowing history
1981 - NSW Championships, Women's Lightweight Pair -First
1981 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Pair, stroke - Second
1981 - Interstate Championships, Victoria Cup, three seat - Third
1982 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Four, two seat - finalist
1982 - National Championships, Women's Eight, six seat -Second
1983 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Pair, stroke - First
1983 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Four, three seat - Second
1983 - National Championships, Women's Eight, four seat -Second
1983 - Interstate Championships, Victoria Cup, three seat - Third
1984 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Pair, stroke - Second
1984 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Four, three seat - Sixth
1984 - Interstate Championships, Victoria Cup, three seat - Fourth
1984 - World Championships, Women's Lightweight Eight, stroke - Silver
2024 - Co-founder with husband John of The Red Shed, Canberra
2025 - Co-founder with husband John of the Golden Oar Regatta
John (on the left), Governor General, Jeanette (second from right) at the 2025 Golden Oar regatta
Andrew Guerin
November 2025