History of Rowing Victoria Inc

Chapter 7 page 1 2 3 4

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The State Library of Victoria website summarised this decade as follows. In the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the world spiraled into the Great Depression and its impact over the following years was significant. Income from Australian exports fell, local industries came to a standstill and unemployment rapidly increased. Especially so in the cities, with Melbourne's unemployment rate hitting 30% and thousands of families struggling for survival. Primary exports such as wool and wheat halted, Victorian farmers were out of work. The standard of living dropped, and slum communities emerged across the suburbs. ..... 1933 saw the beginning of a slow recovery. Victorians were resilient. Those without work were creative. They made their own products to sell, grew produce and tramped city and country streets selling their wares. The reestablishment of international trade, manufacturing and large-scale public works and projects would spur Victoria’s rebuild.

However, as the economy recovered, Victoria suffered in 1939 with not only the commencement of WWII, but perhaps the most devasting bush fires ever, Black Friday bushfires.

As expected, the sport was not insulated from the impacts. Memberships dropped and members could not afford the luxury of sport, and the 1931 Men's Interstate Championships cancelled as the State Associations could not justify the expense of sending crews to the Championships. The recovery was long and difficult.

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1930

The

1931 

Some extracts from the Victorian Rowing Association annual report.

1932

Some extracts from the Victorian Rowing Association annual report.

The Preston Club requested at the 15th March 1932 meeting of the Ladies Association, and received permission to represent Victoria at the Women's Interstate Championships in Brisbane.² It appears that the support of that Association was limited to approval.

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

General

Until this year, the Victorian Ladies Rowing Association insisted that the winning Victorian Championship Four won the right to represent Victoria at the Interstate Championships. This was changed on the annual meeting of the VLRA and thenceforth, composite crews will could be selected to represent Victoria.^x  

VLRA office bearers for the ensuing year included:— President, Mrs. Rose Pyke; honorary secretary. Miss M. Drewett; honorary as sistant secretary. Miss M. Mason: honorary treasurer, Miss M. Jolly; correspondent, Miss Peters: delegates Y.W.C.A., Miss D. Healey and Mrs. T. Avent; Albert Park, Miss B. Dockrey and Mrs. Mitchell; Warrnambool, Mrs. D. Laird; Essendon, Misses M. Wilson, J. Doolan.^y

1939

Championship racing

The women's championships were conducted by the Victorian Ladies Rowing Association on the lower section of the Henley course on the Upper Yarra as usual. Also as usual, the championship fours were used as the selection event for the Interstate crew.

The Albert Park Ladies Rowing Club were the most successful club taking three of the four events on the program. This led Albert Park to also take the club premiership for the season. The championship pairs was won by Essendon easily from Albert Park.

The winning Albert Park Ladies crew comprised bow: J. Smith (bow) L. Fahey, Jess Manton, D. Pettiona (stroke), D Hassell (cox). A composite Victorian crew was selected to represent the State at the Interstate Championships and comprise bow: Jess Manton (Albert Park), 2: Nell Walsh (Essendon), 3: Merle Bennell (not known), Str: D Pettiona (Albert Park), Cox: R Pyke, Emerg: J Fahey, Cch: Mr E O'Brien. This crew went onto to win the Interstate Championship.

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Footnotes

1. Victorian Rowing Association annual reports
2. VICTORIAN LADIES' ROWING ASSOCIATION. (1932, March 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205093933
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x The Age, Wednesday 15th June, 1938, page 6. 

y WOMEN'S ROWING. (1938, June 15). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206958859

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