History of Rowing Victoria Inc
- Introduction
- 1: Rowing in a young Victoria 1838-1859
- 2: Formation of the Association 1860-1875
- 3: Growth of the Sport 1876-1889
- 4: Years of great success 1890-1899
- 5: The rise of Australian Henley 1900-1909
- 6: The War Years 1910-1919
- 7: Women's rowing and the modern era 1920-1929
- 8: The Depression Rebuild 1930-1939
- 9: War and rebuilding 1940-1949
- 10: Expansion years 1950-1959
- 11: The search for international success 1960-1969
- 12: Combining the Associations and lightweight success 1970-1979
- 13: The new national program 1980-1989
- 14: Golden years 1990-1999
- 15: Professionalism 2000-2009
- 16: Yet More Growth 2010-2019
- 17: Changing Times 2020-2026
- 1: Life Membership and other important awards
- 2: Patrons and Presidents
- 3: Office Bearers
- 4: Clubs and their histories
- 5: The Oarsmen's Centotaph and WWI Roll of Honour
- 6: WWII Roll of Honour
- 7: Premierships
- 8: State Championships
- 9: Hall of Fame Inductees
- 10: Victorian Olympians
- 11: International representation
- 12: Intercolonial and Interstate Racing
- 13: School rowing
- 14: University rowing
- 15: Histories of Victorian Rowing
- 16: Annual Reports
This chapter is under construction
As with all activities, evolution of the sport of rowing is required to maintain relevance to competitors and others involved with the sport. The addition of Beach Sprint rowing at the expense of lightweight rowing to the 2028 Olympic Games is one obvious example. This example requires associations such as Rowing Victoria to develop this discipline with great speed.
Victoria has good examples of regattas becoming events and evolving to meet the interests of all participants. The Head of the Yarra regatta is already an iconic national event. The Melbourne Head is becoming very popular and likely to also become as iconic. The APS Heads of the River and the Head of the Schoolgirls have become great social successes as well as great competitions.
Innovation in the sport will be the hallmark of this decade and the key to ongoing success.
2019-20
The 2019/20 rowing season in Victoria proved to be one of the most challenging in history, from initial confidence as the season began to uncertainty amid onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a decade of robust growth in membership and participation, marked by an increase in affiliated members to over 8,000 and regatta seats from below 21,000 to just over 40,000, the season was halted, experiencing two distinct halves.
The cancellation of major events, including the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta, APS Head of the River, Australian National Championships, and National Selection Trials, culminating in the unfortunate absence of Victorian State Teams in 2020. Adapting to the new normal of social distancing and working from home, innovative virtual opportunities were cultivated, including a successful marketing campaign for school-aged athletes and a virtual Junior Development program.
Regatta management faced numerous challenges, from environmental factors like blue-green algae which impacted racing grounds, bushfire-related air quality to insurmountable COVID-19 restrictions.
Whilst circumstances did not allow for it, the increasing demand for racing has indeed highlighted the need for more umpires and infrastructure, prompting Rowing Victoria to launch an online, level 1 BRO course to facilitate recruitment and training, emphasizing ongoing support and mentorship for volunteers.
Despite these obstacles, the season's highlight was the vibrant first day of the Victorian Championships at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, attracting 1883 athletes and fostering a carnival-like atmosphere.
Presentations at the Victorian Championships
1956 Olympic medallist Neville Howell was recognised for his services to rowing in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours List. He had achieved much with his masters rowing also and been a great leader of both Bendigo and Nagambie Rowing Clubs serving them as President at different times.
Again the Association lost some key members during the year. Martin Owen, superb cox, rower, national coach, for 15 years Association Executive Committee member and most importantly, motivator of many rowers. He was the key driver behind Mercantile Rowing Club developing back into an elite club in the mid to late 1970s, and was a great leader. Sandy Mitchell was lost far too young after a long illness. A successful cox, then a successful coach and administrator. He a founder of the Argonauts Club and probably our best pathways coach of school age athletes. He was an analytical and deep thinker who took the time to make the correct decisions. He acted as an acting CEO of the Association between appointments. Also, 1962 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kevin Wickham and finally Rutherglen's John Ward, coach and a boat driver for Association regattas. He was a pillar of his club.
2020-21
At the 2020 annual general meeting the Association elected Suzie Palfreyman as a Rowing Victoria Life Membership for her contributions to rowing in Victoria, recognizing her part in the establishment of Victorian schoolgirls’ rowing and the establishment of the Head of the Schoolgirls regatta. Hon Patrick McNamara was also elected a Life Member for his contributions to the Association as a President, Executive Committee member, his work in getting the Nagambie Lakes course built and much beneficial work behind the scenes work using his big personality, and political and personal contacts for the sport.
Patrick at Nagambie in 2022
During 2021, the Association elected Reg McKay as a Life Member. Reg had been the Chairman of the Executive Committee of Rowing Victoria and went on to be President of Rowing Australia. As an outstanding umpire, he officiated at the 1980, 1984 and 1992 Olympic Games. Sadly Reg died later in 2021.
Victoria was proudly represented at the Tokyo Games by Olympians and Paralympians, including Gold Medallists Rosemary Popa, Jessica Morrison, and Lucy Stephan.
Amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Rowing Community demonstrated unwavering perseverance throughout the 2020/21 season. Melbourne faced extensive lockdowns, impacting rowing activities and club viability. The season witnessed the cancellation of major events, including the Essendon Rowing Club Salt Water Classic and the Head of the Yarra.
Despite these setbacks, Rowing Victoria showcased determination, and provided creative solutions for racing opportunities. This innovation started in Ballarat with the inaugural Omnium and with the support of the City of Ballarat, Umpires and Schools was deemed a great success, with it ultimately being shortlisted in the VICSPORT annual Awards in the Sport Initiative of the Year category.
The State Championships at Nagambie Lakes saw strong entries, performances, and attendance, reflecting the community's resilience. The Interstate Regatta at Lake Barrington, Tasmania, showcased outstanding performances by the Victorian Senior State Team, securing victories in the Kings Cup, Queens Cup, and Men’s Youth Eight. Although narrowly missing the Australia Cup, Victoria's achievements were notable, considering the months of limited water access.
Victorious King's and Queen's Cup winners
A new funding agreement with Rowing Australia led to the creation of the Victorian Pathway Program, supporting the talents of emerging athletes.
The retirement from the Association's Board of Honourable Patrick McNamara marked the end of a significant era, acknowledging his monumental contributions to the sport at various levels over many decades.
The sport was pleased to read the news that Jossie Millard had been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queens Birthday Honours List in June 2021 for her services to rowing, and that John Harry received the same recognition for his services for the community, rowing and legal profession.
In addition to the aforementioned Reg McKay, the Association lost the following important members, King's Cup cox Bill Bailey, Mercantile's Andrew Evans, Derek Marley, Cliff Restarick, Richard Stanley, John "Jimpy" Shears and Rob Strang and Corio Bay's Robert Purnell.
2021-22
Joseph Joyce stepped down as President at the 2022 in favour of Deb Spring of Power House Rowing Club. Joe had been one of the hardest working, consultative and diligent Presidents of the Association.
The 2021/22 rowing season in Victoria faced initial challenges navigating pandemic restrictions while prioritizing safety and meeting the Victorian rowing community’s desire for competition. Despite this, membership numbers increased, athletes participated in more events (the highest since 2018), and seats entered rose by 19% compared to the previous year, showcasing a gradual rebound from the pandemic.
The season concluded unexpectedly yet successfully with Victoria hosting both the Australian Rowing Championships (ARC) at Nagambie and the Australian Master’s Rowing Championships (AMRC) at Ballarat due to flooding in Sydney. The Victorian rowing community, in collaboration with partners, ensured the success of these events on incredibly short notice.
2022 Interstate Women's Championship podium
Rowing Victoria celebrated an overall 2nd place finish in the Australia Cup at the 2022 Interstate Regatta, with notable achievements such as the 14th win in 15 starts for the Women’s Senior Eights.
High-performance athletes excelled, filling 36% of Australian Teams from U19 to senior levels. The St Catherine’s eight's victory at the Henley Royal Regatta highlighted the strength of Victorian and Australian schoolgirl rowing.
The retirement of the highly experienced Eric Waller, Field of Play Manager, will leave a significant void in the Victorian rowing community.
Both Lucy Stephan and Jessica Morrison were recognised in 2022 Australia Day Honours List for service to sport as gold medallists at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
Sadly more prominent Victorian rowers died during the year. These included Monash's Chris Dane QC, Olympic coach and great supporter of university rowing, world champion Charles Bartlett who was also a coach and long serving member of the Association's Executive Committee, Bank's Terry Davies an Olympian and stroke of many successful King's Cup crews, Penrith Cup rower Ken Hume from Mercantile, Yarra Yarra's Kim Luff, MUBC's Anne Nicolay and Richmond's Rod Stewart.
2022-23
At the 2022 annual general meeting, the Association elected Noel Donaldson as a life member of the Association. Noel's long and continuing coaching and high performance roles in Victoria, Australian and overseas were all undertaken at a high level. His successes include coaching the Oarsome Foursome to two Olympic gold medals and also coaching Olympic Champion New Zealand's Murray and Bond.
The 2022-23 rowing season in Victoria marked a return to post-COVID normalcy, yet faced challenges due to record-breaking La Nina-induced rain, resulting in the cancellation of six regattas. Despite this, as the season gained momentum Rowing Victoria could be proud of high achieving athletes on the domestic and international scene.
The season featured over 40 regattas in Victoria, introduced the state's first Coastal Regatta, and marked rowing's planned return to the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a 40-year hiatus, featuring Coastal Rowing Beach Sprints. Due to the cancellation of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games by the Victorian government, this did not eventuate in 2026, but is likely to be added at future Games.
Victorian athletes filled 29% of international representative seats, representing in part seven crews for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Victoria claimed an overall 2nd place in the Australia Cup at the 2023 Interstate Regatta held at Champion Lakes, Western Australia.
Highlights included wins in the Queen’s Cup and Penrith Cup, the latter being Victoria’s second in five years. Notably, the Women’s Senior Eight achieved 17 wins in the last 19 starts, with Lucy Stephan securing her 10th individual Queen’s Cup victory.
Lucy Stephan with 'her' trophy
Additionally, the season celebrated the bronze medal at the Under 19 World Championships of Katie Jackson and Lucy Richardson of Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club.
Two Victorian rowers were honoured in the 2003 King's Birthday Honours list. Hon Patrick McNamara gained Membership of the Order of Australia for significant service to rowing, to the Parliament of Victoria, and to the community through a range of roles. Andrew Guerin was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to rowing, and to sports history. Former Rowing Australia Director Sally Capp became an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the people of Melbourne, to local government, to business, and to the community through various organisations. In the Australia Day Honours List Bob Duncan was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to rowing.
As usual, the Association noted the passing of members. This year the death of Eric Waller shook the rowing community given his extraordinary contribution to Victorian rowing. He was posthumously award the Medal of the Order of Australia. Also Essendon's Stephen Pennicott who served as the Association Regatta Secretary with distinction. 1956 Olympian John Cockbill, 104 year old WWII Lancaster pilot Arthur Atkins DFC, Footscray City's Peter Bright and Hawthorn's Bob Maasdijk.
2023-24
In the Australia Day Honours List, recently retired Deputy Chairman of Rowing Australia and Victorian Flavia Gobbo was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to business, and to public administration.
2024-25
2025-26
Footnotes
1. Primary source has been the Victorian Rowing Association annual reports - refer appendix 16
2. All images from the Guerin collection
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