Paul F Rowe
Haberfield Rowing Club (NSW)
PAUL FRANCIS ROWE 22.2.1949 – 25.7.2015
The following obituary was written by Phil Sharp and published on the Sydney University Boat Club website.
Paul was an outstanding sportsman having rowed internationally and coached at Commonwealth (Games) Regatta, World Championships and Olympic Games. More importantly he was a good husband and father and a great friend to many.
Raised in Young, I think he got his panache for life dodging the steam trains on the bridge over the river. He was educated at St Josephs College, Hunters Hill. I first met Paul at St John’s College at Sydney University in 1965.
In 1968 he became interested in rowing – the start of a stellar career – winning the intervarsity lightweight fours, his first race. Coached by Roger Moore and Dr John Matheson; John Boultbee (a future Secretary General of the International Rowing Federation and Director of the Australian Institute of Sport) was the cox.
Paul developed his sculling prowess rowing to work from Haberfield Rowing Club to Ryde where he made oars for Howard Croker.
At Haberfield Rowing Club he won numerous National titles in sweep and sculling as a lightweight and heavyweight representing Australia in the lightweight sculls at the 1975 World Championship in Nottingham, UK. The weather conditions were not kind for him. Whilst in Europe he cycled the Tour de France route for something to do before working with Melchior Bürgin at Stämpfli the Swiss boat builders.
Paul started coaching at St George Rowing Club in the early 1980’s. Tim McLaren, now a successful International coach, was an early protégée. Many followed.
In 1985 Paul started with the AIS as a scholarship coach. He was the AIS sculling coach from 1990 to 1994. During his time at the AIS Paul coached Australian teams at the 1991, 1993 and 1994 World Championships. In 1992 he coached the Australia women’s double scull at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
Paul is survived by his wife Lizzie, children Kate, Jane, Maud and Jack, and grandchildren. We have lost a good friend.
Rowing summary
1968 - Australian University Championships, Men's Lightweight Four, bow - First
1970 - Interstate Championships, Men's Lightweight Four, emergency
1971 - Australian University Championships, Men's Scull - Third
1972 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Pair, bow - Second
1972 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Four, two seat - First
1972 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Eight, five seat -Third
1974 - National Championships, Men's Double Scull, bow - First
1974 - Interstate Championships, Men's Scull, Second
1975 - National Championships, Men's Quad Scull, bow - First
1975 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Scull - First
1975 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Scull - First
1975 - Interstate Championships, Men's Scull, Second
1975 - World Championships, Men's Lightweight Double Scull - Sixth
1976 - National Championships, Men's Double Scull, bow - First
1976 - National Championships, Men's Quad Scull, stroke - First
1977 - National Championships, Men's Quad Scull, stroke- First
1977 - National Championships, Men's Pair, stroke- First
1983 - National Championships, Men's Scull, coach - DNF
1983 - National Championships, Men's Double Scull, coach - First
1983 - National Championships, Men's Quad Scull, coach - First
1983 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Scull, coach - Second
1983 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Double Scull, coach - Second
1983 - National Championships, Schoolgirl Scull, coach - First
1983 - National Championships, Women's Under 19 Scull, coach - First
1984 - National Championships, Women's Quad, coach - Second
1984 - Trans Tasman Series, men's lightweight sculling coach
1985 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Double Scull, coach - Fifth
1985 - National Championships, Women's Under 23 Scull, coach - First
1985 - Interstate Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Fifth
1986 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Pair, coach - First
1986 - National Championships, Women's Lightweight Four, co-coach - Fifth
1986 - Interstate Championships, Men's Lightweight Four, coach - Third
1986 - Trans Tasman Series, Men's Sculling coach
1987 - National Championships, Men's Under 23 Scull, coach - First
1987 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Eight, co-coach - First
1987 - Interstate Championships, men's Lightweight Four, co-coach - First
1988 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Pair, coach - Second and Fourth
1988 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Four, coach - Second
1988 - National Championships, Men's Lightweight Eight, co-coach - First
1988 - Interstate Championships, men's Lightweight Four, coach - Second
1990-94 - AIS Sculling Coach
1990 - National Championships, Women's Scull, coach - First
1990 - National Championships, Women's Double Scull, coach - First
1990 - National Championships, Women's Quad Scull, coach - First
1990 - Interstate Championships, Women's Scull, coach - Second
1990 - World Championships, Women's Double Scull, coach - Fifth
1991 - National Championships, Women's Scull, coach - Second
1991 - National Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Third
1991 - Interstate Championships, Women's Scull, coach - Fourth
1991 - World Championships, Women's Double Scull, coach - Seventh
1992 - National Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Sixth
1992 - Interstate Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Fifth
1992 - Trans Tasman Series, Men's Sculling coach
1992 - Olympic Games, Women's Double Scull, coach - Eighth
1993 - National Championships, men's Scull, coach - Third
1993 - World Championships, Women's Scull, coach - Tenth
1993 - World Championships, Women's Double Scull, coach -Ninth
1994 - National Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Third and Sixth
1994 - National Championships, Men's Double Scull, coach - Sixth
1994 - National Championships, Men's Quad Scull, coach - Second
1994 - Interstate Championships, Men's Scull, co-coach - Fourth
1994 - Trans Tasman Series, Men's Sculling coach
1994 - Commonwealth Regatta, Men's Double Scull, coach - Second
1994 - World Under 23 Championships, Men's Scull, coach - Ninth
1994 - World Championships, Men's Double Scull, coach - Ninth
2002 - National Championships, Men's Under 19 Quad Scull, co-coach - Third
Andrew Guerin
December 2022