Drummoyne Rowing Club
| Drummoyne Rowing Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Drummoyne, Sydney, Australia |
| Home water | Iron Cove, Sydney Harbour |
| Founded | 1 September 1919 |
| Affiliations | NSW Rowing Association |
| Website |
www |
Drummoyne Rowing Club, formed in 1919 in Sydney, Australia is one of four rowing clubs on Iron Cove in Sydney Harbour. It has occupied its current site at Sister's Bay, Drummoyne since its foundation. The DRC is a community based competitive and recreational rowing club with a long history in welcoming women members. It offers programs at club and master's level and leases it facilities for some schools' programs.
History
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 7 March 1896 that a committee was appointed to form Drummoyne Rowing Club.
Nothing progressed until 20 January 1919 when again a meeting was held on forming a club.
The minutes recorded: A meeting of a number of prominent rowing men of the district was held on Monday last for the purpose of forming a rowing club at Drummoyne. It was decided to petition the Mayor with a view to his calling a public meeting in the local Town Hall on February 3, when a scheme drawn up by the meeting will be discussed. The sum of £50 has already been given. The following officers were elected :- Hon. Secretary, Mr. F. Cronin; Assistant Hon. Secretary, Mr. N. Barrell; Honorary Treasurer Mr. J. Huston. [1]
Later, A.C Ingham, a Drummoyne Alderman and Quarton Deloitte Sydney Rowing Club President and Mr W.A Hence of the NSW Rowing Association presided over a public meeting at the Drummoyne Town Hall on 28 August 1919 which was called for the purpose of forming a rowing club at Drummoyne. The Enterprise Rowing Club on the other side of the Iron Cove at Balmain had been destroyed by a fierce gale on 19 September 1917. A number of Enterprise Club members were Drummoyne residents and there was an interest in rebuilding across the river. Fred Cronin, Wally Kolts, Bill Witt Senior and Junior, George McKenzie, Lance Wearne & Norm Barrell were the Enterprise members instrumental in the DRC's foundation.
The first committee was elected on 1 September 1919 with Ingham as President and Cronin as Secretary. The club chose to welcome women members from its inception.
By 29 November 1919, three concrete piers, forming part of the foundation of the boat house, were placed in position in Sister's Bay on the Iron Cove. The building took two years to complete, work being done on Saturday afternoons and holidays only. The new boathouse was officially opened by Sir Walter Davidson on 24 September 1921.
Mr A.C. Ingham owned a timber yard and supplied materials at cost as well as standing as guarantor for the club to its bank lender.
The club's first boat purchase around that same time was a four-oared boat from George Towns & Sons. Much of the building work was done by volunteers and the clubhouse was finally completed in September 1921 and opened by the Governor Sir Walter Davidson.
The club won the Junior Pennant in its first two years of existence and was runner-up in both pennants in its third year, all this notwithstanding the fact that the fleet consisted only of one racing eight and one regulation four.
In March 1923, the NSW State Eight crew prepared for the Interstate Rowing Championships at the new boatshed.
In 1966 a liquor license was obtained by which stage membership numbers had grown to 205 and a new licensed clubhouse was opened in 1968 with dining room extensions completed by 1975. A new boathouse was rebuilt in the mid 1980s. The licensed club ran into financial difficulties in the new millennium and ceased operation from 2010, although rowing continued.
The rowing club and its members continue to compete in club, state and national regattas.
Club Presidents
- A.C Ingham (1919)
- Graham Wearne (1980s)
Members
Notable past members include:
- Graham Wearne was a national champion and represented at the 1979 World Championships. He commenced his senior club career in 1971 and is still competing in Masters events.
- Peter Stroud was a national champion in 1980.
- Club coach Rusty Robertson was a top national coach in the late 1970s.
Olympic representative members include:
- Brian Denny was the club's 1st Olympic selection, picked to stroke the IV+ for Munich 1972. Sadly he was electrocuted and died weeks before leaving for the Games.[2]