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. © Copyright 2020 Banks Rowing Club 2 Snapshot History Banks Rowing Club (BRC) | 1866 - 2020 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. © Copyright 2020 Banks Rowing Club 3 Snapshot History Banks Rowing Club (BRC) | 1866 - 2020 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). © Copyright 2020 Banks Rowing Club 4 Snapshot History Banks Rowing Club (BRC) 1866 - 2020 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.