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Home > Rowing Profiles > Williams, Donald F

Donald F Williams

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

Don was a one of those club rowers who make up the rich fabric of rowing clubs. Despite not being a champion rower, he greatly enjoyed the camaraderie and sport of the rowing club and always held fond memories of that time.

After being brought up in Brisbane and Sydney, he moved to Melbourne aged 18 in November 1946. A year later he was racing for Mercantile. This would indicate that Don had probably rowed elsewhere prior to joining Mercantile as he was placed immediately into the number one maiden eight.

Whilst his first season in 1947-48 was largely unsuccessful other than a winning double at the Easter Regatta. 

One of his lasting memories was the 15 eights across at the Ballarat Regatta. His crew finished second. For those wondering how this was run. it started near where St Patrick's boatshed stands today and finished to the north east of the Ballarat City RC boatshed, thus accommodating a large number of crews in a line.

Finish of Maiden Eights at Ballarat Regatta won by Power House with Mercantile finishing second from 15 starters

Perhaps due to other commitments, Don commenced sculling in the next season. In late September 1948, Don heroically, albeit unsuccessfully, attempted to save another sculler on the Yarra River. His daughter Jenny Williams recalls that he said it was one of the scariest things he’d done as there were cables in the water and no visibility. [As an aside, the Swan Street Bridge construction commenced pre WWII and was designed in the 1930s, hence the art deco appearance. The bridge was not completed until the early 1950s due to labour and material shortages after the war. The construction caused enormous disruption to the sport for a very long time.] The Sun newspaper reported the incident as follows:

Sculler Drowned In Yarra

Ernie Bushby, 18, of Dimboola, was drowned in the Yarra near the new Swan-street bridge site yesterday morning when a scull turned over. Bushby had swum only a few yards towards the south bank when he disappeared. It is thought he may have been seized with cramp. Another sculler dived in but was unable to find Bushby. Police recovered the body later. Bushby was a member of Dimboola Rowing Club and Wimmera junior champion sculler. He came to Melbourne on Friday for coaching.

His sculling highlight was a junior scull win at the Ballarat Regatta in 1949.

One of his memories is of Mercantile Rowing Club members giving blood after training. The lure was not only doing the right thing, but the steak that was offered to donors afterwards. It was an offer far too good for young rowers. However his recurring memory of this time was of how nice it was to be out on the river - something we all appreciate.

Don’s rowing career spanned only three season but he maintained his membership until 1954. His granddaughters Laura and Maddie Cordner continued the Mercantile connection subsequently rowing for the club. They both studied and rowed in the US.

His working career was far longer, being a 44 year veteran of the Commonwealth Bank. Donald died in 2024 at the age of nearly 96.

Known rowing record

1947 – Joined Mercantile Rowing Club

1947 – VRA Regatta, Maiden Eight No.1, three seat – unsuccessful

1947 – Australian Henley, Maiden Eight No. 1, three seat – unsuccessful

1948 – Upper Yarra Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat – unsuccessful

1948 – Albert Park Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat – unsuccessful

1948 – Ballarat Regatta, Maiden Eight No 1, two seat – Second

1948 - Barwon Regatta, Maiden Eight No. 1, two seat – Finalist

1948 – Mildura Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat – First

1948 – Wentworth Regatta, Maiden Eight, five seat – First

1949 – Ballarat Regatta, Junior Scull – First

1950 – Upper Yarra Regatta, Maiden Four, two seat – unsuccessful

1950 – Albert Park Regatta, Maiden Four, two seat – unsuccessful

1950 – Ballarat Regatta, Maiden Four, two seat – unsuccessful

1950 – Barwon Regatta, Maiden Four, two seat – unsuccessful

Andrew Guerin
September 2025

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