A History of Banks Rowing Club | 1866 – 2020 Snapshot View

An icon of Melbourne’s history, Banks Rowing Club was founded in 1866 and is one of Australia’s oldest, continuously operating sporting clubs.

Banks has a rich history of producing Olympians, Commonwealth Games, National and State rowers. Yet excellence manifests itself at all levels of rowing at Banks, in our governance, off-water member activity, and through our focus on having a positive impact on the lives and wellbeing of the entire Banks community.

This ‘snapshot version’ of our history is by no means comprehensive, but provides by way of timeline examples of many memorable moments spanning nearly 155 years. It underpins the pride that flows through the DNA of Banks Rowing Club.

1 Snapshot History Banks Rowing Club (BRC) | 1866 - 2020

1889-90 1867-68

1866-67 BRC purchases its first boats consisting of 2 four-oared gigs, 1 1887-88 pair-oared batswing, 1 pair-oared New Clubhouse opened on 14 BRC founded on Wednesday 29 1888-89 August 1866 at a meeting at the open boat and 2 sculling boats. December 1889 Port Phillip Club Hotel in Flinders Street. Application for the allocation of land 24 September 1888 - The first Interbanks regatta was held on for the purpose of building the BRC calls for tenders for the new Club’s own boatshed. single-story BRC boatshed. the Saltwater River. The 4 oared crews The new boatshed was formally opened Adam Burnes, General Manager, Colonial compete for the Banks Challenge Cup. on 14 December 1889 by Mrs HG Bank of Australia, elected first President The race was won by the crew from the Turner. of BRC. 57 gentlemen became the Bank of Australasia, who won the race At the AGM in 1889, the club uniform inaugural members, paying £1/1/- as a again the following year. became dark blue jerseys and knickers joining fee and £2/2/- subscription pa. On 6 December 1887 the Committee agreed to Successful tenderers awarded £175 and light blue cap for practice. The In the three seat of the winning crew The stated objective of the Club: “The apply to the Secretary of the Lands Department for labour and £188 for timber. Committee recommended discarding the was Henry Gyles Turner, who two years encouragement of amateur rowing on the for an allocation of land on the South bank of practice uniform but this was not later became the longest serving the River Yarra for the purpose of building the Fundraising was in full swing, notably River Yarra among Bank Officers”. adopted President of BRC. Club’s own boatshed. The building application the first of several “Cinderella BRC arranges to hire boats and facilities was granted almost immediately. Dances” (ended at midnight) held at at Edwards Boatshed at that time on the It was noted in July ’87 that the club’s Pink and the Prahran Town Hall. north bank of the Yarra River near the Blue colours were to be used generally rather current site of Federation Square. than just for racing.

50 Years

1898-99 1914-18

1897-98

Donation of Henry Gyles Turner 1909-10 Perpetual Trophy 1910-11 World War I BRC: State Senior Eight Champions October 1909 - Plans approved for 2nd storey of BRC Clubhouse nd 17 December 1910 - 2 storey 59 members enlisted and served in BRC wins the Junior Premiership completed World War I. Sadly 13 members were BRC won the State Senior Eight A perpetual trophy for the Interbanks killed in various conflicts. Championship for the first time. regatta was donated by the President, The crew was H.G Edwards, G.H. Neale, Mr Henry Gyles Turner. G.G. Brown, F.I James, G.H. James, H.J The 2nd storey addition to the boatshed An Honour Board listing the members Hughes, G Lewis, T.Davies (Stroke). A was completed on 17 December 1910 at who served and were killed during WWI smoke night was held to celebrate the a cost of £627. win. hangs permanently in the BRC Plans were tabled at the BRC Committee T. Davies represented the club again, BRC is strongly represented in the Clubhouse. meeting for the addition of a second storey together with HJ Hughes in the winning Victorian Eight crew in 1911. The stroke to the Clubhouse due to overcrowding from 1898 Intercolonial Eight in Brisbane. The of the crew was C.G. Davies, CA James an increase in membership. Virtually all regattas were cancelled. ongoing furore over the amateur rules (3) with J Thomson (cox) and A.J. resulted in only Victoria and Qld EE James rowed in the 7 seat of the Shepherd the coach. The race in competing. Victorian crew that came 2nd to NSW. Sydney was won by NSW ahead of the Victorian crew.

1951-52 1924-25

1919-20 1932-33 First BRC towing vehicle purchased BRC wins Amateur Junior . 1937-38 Neville Howell transfers to BRC Premiership of Victoria BRC wins State Senior Four Death of Henry Gyles Turner Championship BRC: State Lightweight Eight Sir Leslie McConnan became Neville Howell transfers to BRC from The Club purchases a truck to tow the Champions Sadly, Henry Gyles Turner passed away President taking over from Maurice Preston RC and rows in the 1952 boat trailer. on 30 November 1920 following a record Williams winning Victorian Kings Cup crew.. 49 years as President of BRC - a record One of the coaches, Mr HG Yeo, spends Neville would go on to row in 10 that still stands in 2020. He was also several weeks in hospital after a bike Victorian Kings Cup crews between President of the Victorian Rowing accident on the rough track along the Alan Jacobsen joins BRC and along 1952 and 1962 for 5 wins. Association (now Rowing Victoria) for 38 side of the River Yarra. with Ken Crossley wins the State The Club wins the State Lightweight BRC wins the Victorian Senior 4 years. Senior 4 Championship. Jacobsen There is also angst about members Eight Championship for the first time. strokes the Victorian Kings Cup Championship with the crew – L. Pollock BRC Member WL Pincott represents using the Club’s hose to wash their cars. The crew includes Ken Crossley and crew. (bow), J. Bolton, J. Schejbal, N. Howell Victoria in the 1920 Kings Cup, coming The club was painted again. Much Noel Wilkinson, both of whom would (Stroke), W. Perry (cox) and coached by th Jacobsen would later become a 5 . discussion was held about the staging become legends of BRC. G. Whittaker. The crew won 5 races maintenance. legend of BRC. from 5 starts in the season. The Club JC Bowden and AH Vaile first noted as Two cricket matches and a game of also won the Victorian Champion L/W being omitted from the WWI honour football were held against Footscray Pairs with D. Ferguson, I. Treeby and D. board. City RC. Williams (cox).

1965-66 1960-61

1956-57 Neville Howell, Brian Vear & Ian 1961-62 Johnston (cox) represent Australia at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games 1963-64 BRC wins State Senior Premiership Neville Howell wins Bronze Medal in the Eight at the 1956 Olympic BRC wins State Senior Premiership for the Games first time, and the State Senior Eight BRC wins State Senior Eight Neville Howell and Ian Johnston (cox), Championship for the first time since 1898. Championship & Lightweight Premiership along with future BRC member Paul 6 members of the crew and their coach win of Victoria; and is strongly represented in Guest, represent Australia at the Rome BRC wins the State Senior Premiership Neville Howell rowing in the 6 seat in the the Kings Cup, and later the gold medal in the winning Kings Cup crew for Victoria Olympic Games in the coxed pair, with after dominating races throughout the Australian Eight at the Melbourne Olympics the Eight at the 1962 Commonwealth and the Australian Olympic Eight in Tokyo Brain Vear in the Australian coxless four. season. BRC also wins the State Eight wins the bronze medal at Lake Wendouree. Games Championship At the time of the Rome Olympics, Ian The Club won the State Senior Eight Charles Lehman and Dushan Stankovich, had just celebrated his 13th birthday and The Senior Eight comprised Ian Douglas, Championship, and was represented in The Banks Senior Eight comes 2nd to both of whom would go on to row for he remains Australia’s youngest ever Brian Vear, Jack Donaldson, Charles the winning Kings Cup crew by Terry New Zealand and defeats the Australian Australia and become Life Members, win Olympian. Lehman, Dushan Stankovich, Terry Davies, Paul Guest, David Ramage, Brian Eight in the final of the series of test their first race in a Novice Four. Davies, Paul Guest, Neville Howell and Vear, Kevin Wickham (cox) and Alan races. Dushan Stankovich selected as Reserve The first Head of the Yarra was held and Graham Norton (cox). The Kings Cup and Jacobsen (coach). This crew, with Charles for 1961 Victorian Kings Cup crew. Geoff Hardie wins the WS Escott Trophy BRC crew included Derrick Wilson, Brian Australian crew included Ian Douglas, Lehman as emergency, went on to row in for a third year in a row. Vear and David Jones, finishing 4th. Retirement of HDT Williamson and Charles Lehman, Dushan Stankovich, the Australian Eight at the Tokyo appointment of HF Clarke as President Terry Davies, Paul Guest and Neville Olympics finishing in 8th place. The Club Paul Guest and David Ramage are joint Brian Vear and Peter Fraser, both of whom Howell with Coach Alan Jacobsen also won the Lightweight Premiership of winners of the EJ Fulford Cup. would later become Life Members, row their Victoria first race for BRC.

100 Years 1980-81 1967-68

1966-67 15 September 1980 - BRC David Ramage and Paul Guest welcomes its first five Women represent Australia at the 1968 1978-79 members Mexico Olympic Games 1979-80 29 August 1966 . A “Wake” held for the old clubhouse BRC celebrates its Centenary

BRC wins State Senior Premiership David Ramage and Paul Guest BRC wins State Junior Premiership represented Australia at the Mexico Plans for new clubhouse of Victoria The first female members of BRC were Olympics in the coxless pairs. David and Nichole Feely, Jayne Kelly, Connie Paul win 21 races this season in both commence The club celebrates its centenary on 29 Reardon, Jane Robinson and Victoria coxed and coxless pairs. August 1966 in the Princeton Room at the BRC wins the State Junior Premiership of Winter. Victoria. Exhibition Building. High altitude oxygen debt made for a On 19 July 1980 a black tie ‘wake’ was BRC Annual Dinner held at the Dorchester challenging row in the semi-final of their held at the club as the timber boatshed was Justice Reginald Smithers presided over Hotel. event at the1968 Mexico Olympics, but to be vacated the next day in preparation the event attended by 170 BRC members Plans for new BRC clubhouse Geoff Matheson combines with Monash they went on to win the B final in a faster for its demolition and replacement by a new and guests. commence as do fundraising efforts. RC and MUBC to win Victorian State Eight time than recorded by the gold medal brick boatshed. Jack McBean awarded Life Membership. winning crew. BRC wins the State Senior Premiership Championship. Mathew Pringle wins Noel Wilkinson The ‘wake’ lasted all night and the next Banks becomes one of the leading rowing 100th running of the Interbanks Regatta. with another strong season Trophy for Mens Youth Eight at Interstate morning two Mens’ Eights went out with the clubs in Australia by the time of its Regatta crews still wearing their dinner suits. Centenary, with 290 members. Reintroduction of basketball as winter training.

1987-88 1982-83

1981-82 BRC wins Men’s Senior Premiership, Women’s State 1983-84 Premiership and Women’s Junior 1985-86 BRC wins Men’s Champion Club of New Clubhouse opened on 29 Premiership of Victoria Victoria November 1981 BRC wins Men’s Senior Premiership and Ion Popa and Jim Lowe selected to BRC wins Women’s Champion Club represent Australia at the Los Angeles of Victoria for the first time in its Olympic Games. Hamish McGlashan and history, and wins the Women’s BRC win the Men’s Champion Club of Chris Dane (coach) selected to represent The Club has an outstanding season, Open Eight in the Head of the Yarra Victoria for the first time. winning the Men’s Senior Premiership, Australia in the Trans Tasman series. On 29 November 1981 the new clubhouse Brian Richardson races in the America’s the Women’s State Premiership and the Ion Popa wins his second Kings Cup for is officially opened by Sir Billy Snedden, Cup on Australia II – and wins Women’s Junior Premiership of Victoria. Emma Scott, Sheena Wilson, Sue Bartlett, Victoria and is selected for the 1988 Speaker of the House of Representatives. Leeanne Whitehouse and Julie Slattery are Ion Popa selected in the Australian Eight Seoul Olympic Games. among key contributors to the winning of President Charles Rennie, Captain Jack to compete at the 1983 World Rowing Ion Popa wins Bronze in the Eight at the the Women’s Champion Club of Victoria. Bennett and a host of members were in Championships in Duisburg, Germany. 1983 World Rowing Championships. In the Leeanne Whitehouse wins the Victoria attendance for this significant event. Interstate Regatta Leeanne Whitehouse Cup for Women’s Lightweight Fours at Five members competed at the FISA World Ken Crossley and Charles Rennie CBE wins the Victoria Cup (Lightweight Four) the 1988 Interstate Regatta Masters and the inaugural World Masters awarded Life Membership and David Fogarty wins the Men’s Youth Eight for the Noel F Wilkinson Trophy. Games in Toronto in August 1985, winning Alan Jacobsen awarded Life a number of medals with a Gold medal in Membership. Colin Rawson, Hamish McGlashan, Jim the E Coxed Four of Alastair Eddie, Derrick Lowe and Ion Popa with Chris Dane as Wilson, Don Todd and Bob Stephenson. coach come 3rd in Kings Cup.

2002-03 1992-93

1988-89 BRC wins State Junior Premiership. Hannah Every strokes the Peter Fraser elected President of BRC. 1996-97 Australian Lightweight Quad Scull Matt McCardle represents Australia at 1998-99 to a Gold medal in World record Leanne Whitehouse wins Silver the 1992 Olympic Games time at 2002 World Rowing medal at the 1988 World Rowing Championships Championships in Milan Justine Joyce (coached by David Hannah Every and Amber Halliday Matt McCardle (as Reserve for the Men’s Ocherrt), and Al Isherwood win (AUBC) win a Gold medal at World Eight) comes 13th in the Men’s Coxless Pair Gold medals at the 1997 World at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. U23 Championships in Germany, in At the 2002 World Rowing Championships Leanne Whitehouse wins a Silver medal Rowing Championships in France world record time in Seville, Spain, Hannah Every stroked the for Australia in the Lightweight Coxless Peter Fraser is elected President - the first Australian Lightweight Quad Scull crew to a Four at the 1988 World Rowing time in the Club’s history that the position is Hannah Every wins the Victoria Cup for Gold medal in world record time. Championships in Milan. not held by the head of one of Melbourne’s Lightweight Quad Sculls for Victoria at the Brenton Terrell employed as first Head banks. Justine Joyce and Eliza Blair (MUBC) Ion Popa comes 5th in the Mens Eight at with coach David Ochert win the Gold 1999 Australian Rowing Championships. Coach at BRC. the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. BRC wins the State Junior Premiership. medal in the Lightweight Coxless Pair at Launch of the BRC website. Later that year Hannah and Amber Halliday Michael Terzini and Robert Flocas Richard Shenfield and Anthony Ellis win the the World Championships in France, in BRC Masters men win numerous medals at were selected to row at the World U23 selected in the 1989 Victorian Youth 1993 Kings Cup for Victoria. World Record time. World Masters Games in Ballarat. Championships at Hamburg, Germany in Eight to compete at Wellington Dam, Brian Vear invents alpha-numeric bow Eight members (J Baker, C Evans, R Al Isherwood wins the Gold medal as a the Lightweight Double Sculls where they WA. Unfortunately a cyclone prevents numbers for use at the regatta. Cretney, M Magarey, J Nevins, A Levey member of the Australian Lightweight won the Gold medal in world record time. all Interstate races being held. (cox) and B Grodski & T Derham (coaches) Men’s Eight. Geoff Hardie awarded Life Membership. in the Victorian Youth Eight, come second by Neville Howell awarded Life Membership. 0.01 seconds.

2015-16 2007-08

B Jim Lowe elected President 2005-06 Paul Guest elected as President 2010-12 Hugo Berry represents Australia at Lisa Szatsznajder wins Silver medal 2012-14 2016 World U23 Championships in at World Under 23 Championships Bulgaria Lisa Szatsnajder wins Queens Cup Rosie Popa’s first Australian Team Paul Guest is elected President of the Club BRC excels at Henley Royal Charles Rennie CBE (Past on the retirement of Brian Vear due to President 1970 – 1991), passes nd Regatta illness. Brian passed away on Feb 2 away on 11 April 2014, age 101 Hugo Berry selected in the Australian 2008, aged 71. Lightweight Quad Scull that comes 10th Lisa Szatsnajder wins the Open Women’s Inductees into Rowing Victoria in the World U23 Championships in Single Scull at the Victorian Lisa Szatsznajder wins the National U23 Hall of Fame Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In 2012-13 BRC won numerous medals at Championships and the Queen’s Cup for Sculling Championship and a silver medal the National Championships in Penrith, Victoria at the 2006 Interstate Regatta. at the World Rowing Under 23 Paul Guest awarded Life Membership. including Gold in the Women’s U23 double Championships in Strathclyde, Great The BRC Masters record 30 crews BRC members excel at the Henley Royal (Chelsea Frawley) and the Men’s U21 Quad Britain, as a member of the Australian Quad Rosie Popa comes 8th in the Women’s medalling from 38 entries in the Australian Regatta wining the Frawley Challenge Cup for (Nick Sanders, Callum Nott, Jon Benjamin, Scull, with Brenton Terrell as Coach. Eight at the World Championships in Masters Championships. BRC has 4 Junior Men’s Quad Sculls in a composite Michael Wicks). Chelsea Frawley also Aiguebelette, France members in the winning Victorian Banks/MUBC crew in 2010, and winning the rowed in the winning Women’s Youth 8 and Lauren Battaglie, Rachel Thomas, Michelle Masters Eight. Brittania Cup for Club Coxed Fours in 2011. the Women’s U21 double. Yann and Rachel Miller win Bronze medal Harry Ross-Soden, Ian Douglas, Charles Nick Mitchell appointed Head Coach. The Alan Jacobsen Club is formed to for Victoria in the Women’s Youth Eight and Lehman, Dushan Stankovich, Terry Davies, raise funds for the purchase of new boats Charles Rennie CBE, who was President of the Bicentennial Cup at the interstate Paul Guest and Alan Jacobsen inducted into David Ramage inducted into Rowing and oars. BRC from 1970 to 1991, died after a short Regatta. Rowing Victoria Hall of Fame Victoria Hall of Fame. illness aged 101.

150 Years 2020-21 2017-18

2016-17 Banks Rowing Club again comes a close 2nd in the President’s Cup for 2018-19 BRC launches new Vision BRC holds its 150th celebrations; Rosie the most successful Club at the 2019-20 Statement Popa and Alex Hagan win the Redgrave Victorian Championships Vase at the Women’s Henley Regatta, Rosie Popa wins the Remenham Challenge and 4 members win Gold medals in the Cup for Women’s Eights at Henley Royal Rosie Popa wins Gold medal at World Regatta, wins the Coxless Four at World Lightweight Eight in Amsterdam Cup II and Silver medals at World Cup III Cup II & World Cup III regattas, and the BRC again performed extremely well at and the 2019 World Championships in Bronze medal in the Australian Eight at the The BRC Committee spends significant the Victorian Championships, winning 21 the Australian 8 BRC held its 150th celebrations at the MCG on 2 2018 World Championships in Bulgaria. time formulating and preparing a 5-year September 2016. 329 past and present members events (an increase from 14 wins on the Jim Crouch wins the Penrith Cup for Strategic Plan, with goals articulated out to and guests attended. prior year). Victoria Rosie Popa selected in the Australian Squad to 2025. Robert Blair, Don McCabe and John Rosie Popa and Alex Hagan win the Redgrave compete in the lead up regattas prior to the Jopling awarded Life Membership Vase for the Elite Women’s Pair at the Women’s For the third year in a row BRC came 2nd Tokyo Olympic Games. The Vision 2025 Statement Adopted: Henley Regatta in the President’s Cup. Jim Crouch, Guy Velik Sam Oostendorp and BRC records 7 wins at Australian Henley Ed Manton, Sam Bongiorno, Hugo Berry and Four members represented Victoria at the Lachlan Szigeter selected in the 2020 Victorian Our aim is to be the club of first choice on Regatta Penrith Cup crew. Charlotte Lawrence (cox) win the Gold medal in 2018 Interstate Regatta, with Rosie Popa the banks of the Yarra – recognised widely Ralph Howard celebrates 100 years on 22 Rosie Popa and Thea Adamson selected in the Lightweight Eight at the Holland Beker winning a Silver medal for the Queens for our inclusive culture; our Regatta in Amsterdam. April. Victorian and WA Queen’s Cup crews Cup (8); Jim Crouch winning the Gold professionalism and success at all levels of Acquisition of an Empacher Eight for the respectively, and Angus Thornton is Reserve for BRC come a close 2nd in the President’s Cup for medal for the Penrith Cup (L4-); and rowing; and our positive impact on the lives Women’s crews SA Kings Cup crew. the most successful Club at the Victorian Maddie Carman & Mim Ghali winning the For the 4th year in a row, BRC came a close 2nd and wellbeing of the Banks Community Championships Bronze medal for the Women’s Youth 8. in the President’s Cup.