MUBC AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2019

What’s inside p2 Interview with the Captain, Gary Butcher Exceptional Results from World Cup 3 p3 Intercollegiate p4 Masters Championships p5 Winter Warriors p6 Awards 1859 Club Lunch p7 Club history p8 Vale former members p9 From the Archives 40 and 60 years ago Australian Boat Race notice

160th Dinner The 160th anniversary of the founding of MUBC The 100th anniversary of the Peace Regatta The 50th anniversary of the founding of MULRC The 20th anniversary of the merging of the men’s and women’s clubs under the name of University Boat Club Friday 30th August The Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne 7:00pm - Midnight Three course dinner with 5 hour drinks package

Cost $199 Current student MUBC members $129 Click here to RSVP RSVP Friday 16 August Gary Butcher - Club Captain

Gary is one of several recent Club Captains who started their rowing career after school at University. That is if you dis- count one “unsuccessful season in a school 9D Quad”. Rowing Intercollegiate for Newman he became an enthusiastic club member rowing in the 2009 and 2010 Uni Games, TransTas- man and the first two Australian Boat Race regattas against Uni.

Rowing in the 2017 Club at the Nationals he decided to stand as Captain as he felt that he had a role in bringing individuals closer together as a club. MUBC he describes as “a life changing experience” where he learnt the close corre- lation between dedication, effort and result. “You may not be the best there is, but you can be the best that you can be.” Gary, following in his wife Jacqueline’s footsteps, is now in the “Teach for ” program where well qualified and dedicated people are fast tracked. Starting with a Law De- gree, Gary then completed a Post Grad Maths qualification, and is now in the two year Teaching Degree with four days a week in the class room. He sees the current club strength as focussing on the core business of developing post school rowers to both club and elite programs. Gary and Jacqueline are expecting their first child in a few months time.

Australia Wins Overall 2019 World Rowing Cup

Australian Rowing Team wraps up World Rowing Cup 3 with five gold medals, three silvers and one bronze.

There are three “World Rowing Cup” regattas which are used by most international crews as prac- tice regattas prior to the World Championships.

Congratulations to all the Australian Athletes that competed in the World Cup 3 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and in particular MUBC members Simon Keenan and Josh Booth in the M8+ (6th, A Final), Alice Arch WLW2x (2nd B Final) and Lucy Stephan W4- (Gold).

We await with great interest the World Championships to be held at Ottensheim, Austria from 25 August to 1 September 2019 which is also the qualifying regatta for boat types for the 2020 Olympics.

Making a silk purse out of a silk purse

The function or “blue” room dressed by Nike for a photo shoot.

2 \ AUGUST 2019 Intercollegiate May 2019

Photo from left to right: Oscar Malone, Rob Corden-McKinley, Fergus Ellis, Cary Foley, Jamima Jamieson, Zane Koso- vich, Scotty Wylie, Tom Page, Hannah Dawes, Eleanor Price, Claire Morrison, Esther Morgan, Bella Logie, Caitlin Rose, Steph Ferrali, Issy Sommers, Gretel Newton-Brown, Will Morri- son, Hamish Rowlands, Sam Watson, Rupert Upjohn, Josh Beaucroft, Fraser Ponsford, Sam Malone, Jed Heslop, Patrice Ciadella, Georgia Bickford, Harry Atkins.

A day full of exhilarating racing, tremendous support and incred- ibly generous volunteering that make it all possible, the 4th of May earlier this year was host to the annual Intercollegiate Regat- ta between the residential col- leges of Melbourne University.

In the preceding weeks, univer- sity students, rowers and new- bies alike, came together for scheduled training sessions in the brisk early morning condi- tions on the Yarra – exchang- ing (some) late night parties for an early alarm and trip down to the river to belt out a session. The unusual recent practice of Queen’s College supporters Some enjoyed the process so wearing watermelon hats. For a humorous look at this prac- tice, watch the video here (sadly you may have to have a much they have since returned Facebook Account to play the short video). to the sheds to jump in boats at club and development level.

Ormond’s Boy’s and Girls’ 1st division crews both came out on top in to-the-line rac- ing, whilst division 2 saw Ormond and Trinity cross the line first in the Boy’s and Girls’ finals respectively. Division 3 also showed great determination and strength hav- ing been combined with the higher division 2 crews to race for a spot in the finals.

Celebrations for the rowers themselves, and the fervent crowd on the banks kicked off after racing and continued throughout the memorable day. It was fantastic to see the sheds buzzing with fresh faces after the Nationals in March. A special thanks to Greg Longden for his continual support and efforts behind this wonderful event.

3 \ AUGUST 2019 Near perfect conditions for all four days of competition at Champion Lakes helped Australian Rowing WA host a brilliant regatta. Racing highlights include the Men’s and Masters Women’s Championship Club Eight, rowed as handicap events and held on the first af- ternoon. The John Whiting Memorial Tro- Rowing phy, awarded to the winning crews, honours John’s contribution to Masters rowing which includes the 2015 introduction of the Cham- Championships pionship Club Eight event and the concept of the “Fastest Club Crew” medals. The trophy is on display in the cabinet at the Club un- til it returns to the Championships in 2020. The Club, with a comparatively small team, fin- ished the Championships in second place over- Champion Lakes Regatta Centre, Perth all with 458 points, behind Toowong’s winning 22 to 25 May 2019 549 and ahead of Melbourne RC’s 291 points. MUBC was well represented in the women’s Interstate races, with Sam Beveridge, Jus- tine Tonner-Joyce and Geraldine Goss in the Victorian eight, and Bea Klein-van Mullekom in the winning Victorian quad. Nina Kamcev and Samantha Dell added to the points count with medals in the younger category eight events, while Anne Parbury and Patsy Mont- gomery won medals in the sculls and G eight, and Louise de Kosta was the key to the med- al-winning E quad and F eight (silver medal). MUBC also featured in the Women’s Champion of Champions Single Sculls, with Patsy Mont- gomery, Bea Klein-van Mullekom and Jen- nifer Bingham having won their categories. With the MUBC men’s team also numbering only 13, the medals won in the G, H and I cat- egories were vital to the MUBC points count. Peter Harry McKeon, Tony Oakley and Robert Zahara provided fresh legs to the I and the mixed eight, and Tom Wood helped to clock up the points in E, G and H quads, fours and eights. Richard Saul, too young to join the H and I crews, won medals in many composite crews. A huge thank you goes to the trailer driv- ers, Paul Bridgeford, Tim Tindale, Nina Kamcev and Greg Longden. A tremendous effort to get our boats to and from the competition safely. For details of all results, go to the Rowing WA website.

L to R: Back Row - Mike Tim Tindale (obscured), David Graver, Greg Longden, Samantha Beveridge, Justine Tonner-Joyce, Peta Rak, Paul Carter, Richard Parker. Middle Row – Mike Kerin, Jim Morrison, Paul Bridgeford, Geraldine Goss, Jenny Bingham, Flavia Gobbo. Kneeling – Genevieve Chapman, Pamela Whiting, Teesan Koo, Bea Klein-van Mullekom. The long haul across the Nullarbor. Winter Warriors — School Athletes have a taste of MUBC

For the months of May and June, 30 school-aged ath- letes participated in “Winter Warriors”, an on-water and ergo training program that aimed to keep athletes en- gaged in the term break be- tween school rowing seasons.

Three times a week, the Year 9-11 squad were on er- gos ready to hit one of Matt Ryan’s challenging work- outs, such as 30 x 30 second sprints, or 8 x 4 minutes rat- ing 20-24. For coaches Emma Webley, Ben Board, James Smith and Matt Ryan, it was rewarding to see a huge im- provement in both scores and observed technique.

The Winter Warriors squad also experienced a few of MUBC’s frenzied Saturday morning rows, with many athletes trying out the Octo (an eight rigged for sculling) for the first time. In addition to ergos and on-water ses- sions, athletes supplement- ed their training with long and short runs, and a weekly bodyweight circuit program.

With the school pre-season Winter Warriors on the ergos. starting in a few short weeks, we hope that athletes can take Not to be confused with masters doing “Ergo Mania” sessions. what they have learnt in the Winter Warriors program and be leaders in their respective school rowing programs. Big thanks to parents for doing the early morning drop offs, all coaches and Dan Wallace, who organised daily logistics, breakfast and equipment for the squads. Thanks also to Liv Honore who co-coached the on water sessions.

5 \ AUGUST 2019 Club Members Honoured

Kim Brennan James Peters Life Member AM QC

Kim Brennan has been honoured with James Peters has been honoured with Life Membership of Rowing Australia. an AM in the Queen’s Birthday list for Life Membership is our sport’s highest his services to the legal profession honour. It is reserved for those who have and rowing. Jim has been a Permanent demonstrated significant, sustained and Chair, of the Appeal Tribunal, since 2017 high-quality services that enhances the and is a former Vice-President, coach reputation and future of rowing by vir- and current Master’s rower at MUBC. tue of their considerable contribution to Congratulations James. rowing nationally. Congratulations Kim.

1859 Club Inaugural Dinner

On 12 June the inaugural function for the 1859 Club was held – a lunch at the Athenaeum Club in Collins St. The 1859 Club has been established to recog- nize the support of those members of the MUBC community who have made a bequest to the Club in their will.

So far we have 20 members in the Club and we had an excellent roll up for the event, with 13 being able to at- tend on the day, including two of the Patrons of the MUBC Foundation Sir James Gobbo and Sir Rod Carnegie.

Adrian Maginn gave an extremely interesting presentation on Clive Disher and the events surrounding the 1919 Henley Peace Regatta which led to the donation by King George V of the King’s Cup trophy.

Clive was the stroke of the No 1 AIF crew which won the regatta and he petitioned the King to support the Cup becoming the perpetual trophy for the Interstate Eight Oar race. The King’s intervention in response to Clive’s petition brought that about. There is a copy of the Petition on page 285 of Well Rowed University. Clive went on to become Patron of MUBC for, in Harvey Nicholson’s words, ‘as long as we can remember.’

The lunch was a most convivial occasion, enjoyed by all, and a similar event will be held each year from now on. If you would like information on how best to leave a bequest in your will to the club please look at the MUBC web site here.

6 \ AUGUST 2019 MUBC — History Article

Lex Rentoul

“I will go down to the river every night for a month and coach anybody that wants coaching”

MUBC has been well served over the last 160 years by a huge range of experienced coaches. Unlike the professional system that we have in place now, in the past our coaching ranks were filled with individuals who had actively served the club in their youth and now they were giving back.

One such member was Alexander (Lex) L. Rentoul.

Up until the early 1930’s the boat club had relied upon the services of Charles Donald as its primary intervarsity coach. A lack of success, however, over a number of years had start- ed to cut deep and a new and fresh approach was required. 1934 seems to have been a key turning point when the MUBC crew could only manage third place in the intervarsity race. Things had to change.

Lex Rentoul was a well-known figure around the club at the time having represented Ormond College in six crews from 1924. He was called to the bar in 1931 while at the same time he managed the ‘New Embassy’ which was the equivalent of a modern night club. He had an impressive pedigree. In his final year at Geelong College, he was both school captain Lex Rentoul in 1939 relaxing at cards with and captain of boats. When he offered his services to MUBC the Penrith River in the background. in 1935 he did so with the following philosophy:

“I will go down to the river every night for a month and coach anybody that wants coaching.”

His enthusiasm and smart rowing mind started to see the club compete successfully throughout the regular inter-club rowing seasons as well as culminating in intervarsity wins in 1939 and 1940.

Lex had been stationed at the Air Ministry in London, firstly as junior, and later as senior liaison officer between the RAF and RAAF. In this role, he saw a good deal of Mr S. M. Bruce (ex Austral- ian Prime Minister and then Australia’s High Commissioner in London). Bruce had a rowing back- ground, and had coached the Cambridge University crew at the 1919 Peace Regatta.

At the European war’s end Bruce sent for Lex and said in a very British way:

“Rentoul, I want an Australian Eight to row in the first post war Henley – if only to emulate the example of the First AIF crew and the King’s Cup.”

Rentoul was a little dumbfounded by this and replied that he did not in fact know one single ser- viceman in England who had rowed. Bruce’s response was beautiful:

“That is your problem, not mine – get cracking.”

To his credit, Lex managed to get two eights on the water while coaching the number one crew himself. There were 24 eights in the Open event and his crew did exceptionally well to get to the final where they were beaten by London University by half a length.

He summed up the regatta by saying that they had only eighteen rows together and while he did have 5 King’s Cup men and 3 Intervarsity Blues in his crew, he felt that three races in one day was a bit too much. This was especially so for his bow and six man who were ex prisoners of war and who only just lasted the distance.

7 \ AUGUST 2019 Vale Former Members

John (Jack) Edwards 18 Aug 1929 – 15 Feb 2019

Jack stroked the 1951 Intervarsity Eight that famously dead heated with Sydney. This was an extraordinary outcome after racing for three miles (just under 5k) on the Huon River in Tasmania. He was awarded a Blue that year.

Jack had been a regular attendee at the Reunion Lunches held over recent years at the club and was a Har- vey Nicholson Associate having made a significant gift to the MUBC Future Fund corpus in June 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Erica Jane known as Jane, four children and six grand children.

Marty (Marty) Owen 7 Oct 1950 – 15 July 2019

Rowing great and former MUBC lightweight coach Martin (Marty) Owen died in his sleep after a long illness.

Marty, who was a life member of Mercantile, occupies a curious place in the success of MUBC. He is per- haps best remembered at this club for his role as senior coach of the MUBC lightweight squad from 1988 to 1991. His MLW4- (Tim Brew, Simon Pringle, Bill Peden, Nick Weston) was undefeated in domestic season 1989. He represented Australia as men’s lightweight coach at the 1989 World Championships in Bled, craft- ing Brew, Pringle and Weston into finalists, with Peden selected in the U23 Australian boat. He produced many Australian oarsmen at Mercantile also.

He was wise, sincere, and fun. He gave freely of his time, skill, money and enthusiasm to contribute to our sport. Already a legend at Mercantile, he was an Australian under 23 coach for three years before being ap- proached in the winter of 1988 to step in at MUBC.

Marty brought to the squad new levels of meticulous preparation and his own speedboat; he was generous to a fault, both pioneering and subsidising the first ever training camps on the Tambo River at Metung and Rocky Valley Reservoir at Falls Creek. He instilled what he referred to as a “zero frigging around” mental- ity. Time was precious to Marty, who had often been at work in his St. Kilda Road office for two hours prior to coaching us at 6:00 a.m. He gave a lot and expected a lot.

Stanley Barclay Spittle 12 April 1941 – 17 July 2019

It is with regret that MUBC informs you that Stanley Spittle, a passionate member of the MUBC died on July 17th after a long battle with cancer.

Stan was born in Cairns and then spent most of his childhood in Wagga before attending Ballarat Grammar as a boarder for his last four years of education. He studied law at the University of Melbourne and had a successful career at the Victorian Bar.

He was an outstanding athlete. In 1963 he not only won the mile and 880 yards at the intervarsity compe- tition but he also broke the University of Melbourne records for both events, eclipsing John Landy’s mile record by 4 seconds.

His rowing career started at Ballarat Grammar. While an undergraduate at the University of Melbourne, he rowed in Trinity College’s first eight in 1965 and in the same year won the maiden pair at Henley on Yarra with Richard Larkins.

After a 45 year break, he resumed rowing with the MUBC Masters squad. During the next 8 years he had much success, both in small boats and eights. Highlights included gold medals in fours at Henley on Yarra in 2011 and at the World Masters Games in Torino in 2013 and numerous medals including gold in H divi- sion eight at the Melbourne Head and Head of the Yarra, the Japanese Masters and state and national mas- ters events.

Stanley will be remembered as passionate, loyal, generous and a load of fun. MUBC extends its condolenc- es to his wife Rosemary and sons Richard and Cameron and their families.

8 \ AUGUST 2019 From the Archives

40 Years Ago “Mubc” Newsletter No 66 June 1979

“The one hundred and twentieth year in the history of the Club can well be claimed as its most successful with thirteen members selected to represent Australia [at the World Championships] at BLED, numerous State and National Championships to its credit and a double success at Inter Varsity where Melbourne University Men’s and Women’s Team won five of the nine Championships.”

“The Boatshed additions have been in use for part of the season and we have had to face up squarely to the task of raising [the funds] we borrowed from the Sports Un- ion.”*

“…unveil the portrait in oils of the late Dr Clive Disher which Sir William Dargie was commissioned [by the Club] to paint………We are truly grateful to the special donors for their generosity which was surely a mark of respect for Clive Disher”**

*the Club paid the bulk of the money to build the western bay addition to provide boat space and upstairs changing room facilities for the growing women’s club **Sir William Dargie won the Archibald prize on eight occasions, a record

60 Years Ago “Mubc” Newsletter No 5 June 1959

“Inter Collegiate 1959 For those who followed in cars, buses and bicycles there was a clash and re-row for the second year running, giving once again an opportunity for a brief sojourn in the Riverside Inn” (Standing on Punt road close to the north bank of the Yarra, now sadly demolished)

“Inter Varsity 1959 The inter Varsity Dinner was held at the Log Cabin a new feature being the at- tendance of two members of the Penrith Constabulary whose appearance half way through proceedings has a depressing effect on some of the diners.”

Australian Boat Race

The annual Australian Boat Race hotly contested between Melbourne and Sydney Universities returns this year to the Yarra.

Mens and Womens University crews will be racing on: Saturday 12 October 2019

Details to follow

9 \ AUGUST 2019