Length and drive, six and five

Over two separate weekends, more than 400 people came and visited WARC. It was a great chance not just to have new people come and visit the club, but for those who have not seen the inside of the club in a decade (or five) to come and reconnect with WARC and her athletes.

I was particularly thrilled to meet Esther Perozzi - a woman who, for most of my time at Wests, was nothing but a name on a boat. Esther told how they had spent weeks and weeks fundraisiung for the club so it wouldn't be closed during the 90s, and how the current condition of the deck was reminiscent of what the floor of the club itself was once like. Of course, we're hoping Esther comes back to row, and might bring back some of the other familiar names of Wests... like Andrea Smith (here's hoping you both read this blog).

Speaking of old WARC names, above is a picture we were sent this week from Jim Booker, who is the fine rowing specimen in six seat pictured above.

Jim wrote:

Hi Peta

To supplement the scanned copy of "The Poppet" dated 11.3.1968 I attach a West Australian photograph of the Maiden Eight Crew that went to Henley

• Cox            T. Scook
• Stroke        D.Ninham
• 7                 R.Spurling
• 6                 J. Booker
• 5                 R.House (who couldn't make the shoot was substituted on the day and his face photoshopped at WANP)
• 4                 R.Hambley
• 3                 R.Webber
• 2                 G.Power
• 1                 B.Smith 

Terry Scook's  Henley Report on page four and five of "The Poppet" described our valiant efforts.We weren't victorious but I'm sure we had a lot of fun.I vaguely recall some tight squeezes getting the boats through the very narrow archways of the many bridges on the course.

I can easily recall Terry's megaphoned shouts for "length and drive, six and five". Too bad it rhymed so well; it seemed to Richard House and myself that it was like a tune Terry couldn't get out of his head.  

Jim Booker

Take the weather with you

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, here is the gorgeous, beautiful, talented Angels Tsun reading the news from the balcony at WARC.

The WA Rowing Club has been quite the media starlet of late with appearances in the West, on Channel 7, and both ABC and 6PR radio stations.

We are thankful to all the journalists and media types who have taken an interest in our story, and even more grateful to more than 400 people who visited WARC during her open days, both Heritage and architecture-related.

The weather in this clip might be out of date, but Angela is still awesome.

And the award goes to...

The Annual Dinner on Friday night just gone was a kickarse event recognising the very (very) many of athletes who worked to make 2014 a stellar year.

We had a few interesting new highlights. Of course, Dean Neal's incomparable movie work was much anticipated and so we post it here for those who missed out. This amazing footage covers 16 regattas, from four different types of cameras, 831 video clips, and one fairly big edit for 12-minutes.

Sit back, put it on full-screen HD, crank the music and enjoy, we are so lucky to count Dean as one of our members.

We also need to recognise those who couldn't make it on the night. To Joe Morris, who got married - and some of his crewmates who were there to support him, congratulations.

To the Boston Four, you were certainly not forgotten on the evening and we look forward to a beverage or six when you get back.

And to Kevin Wall, who was in Sydney for the next Time Trial, we wished you the absolute best of luck.

To Rhett Ayliffe who recounted the power of motivation (as inscribed on a coaster), the challenges facing Western Australians to make it to the Olympics and his reflections on training and club life, we also thankyou (and say welcome back to WA!)

And to Janet, Amelia and Stef who organised the evening, fantastic work. I think the "Night Garden theme resulted in probably one of the best set-ups we've ever had. Congrats.

In terms of a photo gallery from the night, I'm sure we'll have more pix come trickling through in coming days. In the meantime, you can see photos from the night on Instagram by searching #warcdinner.

Now, here are the award-winners:

Most Improved Male Rower:

• Nominees: Jono and Lewis
• Winner: Scuba Steve Harman

Most Improved Female Rower:

• Nominees: Alison, Kirsty and Nan Sammut
• Winner: Lauren Reeves

Most Improved Sculler:

• Nominees: Dean Neal, Joe Morris, Peter Klemm
• Winner: Kirsty Augustson

Most Consistent Male Rower:

• Nominees: Joe Morris, Deano and Matt Cochran
• Winner: Darryl Salisbury

Most Consistent Female Rower

• Nominees: Kirsty Augustson, Deb Mason, Nel Austin
• Winner: NAN SAMMUT (needs caps, she was possibly the most stoked award winner we've ever had)

Most Consistent Sculler

• Nominees: Matt Cochran and Wakeford
• Winner: Nel Austin

Most Prominent Coxswain

• Nominees: Darryl Salisbury, Jono, Nel Austin
• Winner: Genevieve Vinciguerra

Young Member of the Year

• Nominees: Gen, Bella Lie and Lewis
• Winner: Jono Ashby

Club Member of the Year

All nominees received a coveted WARC gold (bowside) oar blade keyring in recognition of going above and beyond the call of duty.

• Nominees: Janet Smith, Jess Coyle, Matt Cochran, PBR
• Winners: Kirsty Augustson and Dean Neal

Best Rower of the Year

• Nominees: Hannah Vermeersch and Nel Austin
• Winner: Matt "Butz" Cochran

For the curious (basically Su Guy and Marie Limb who I know will read this post right to the end) the coaches gifts were a very speccy watch for Shaun from the women; and a carton of Emu Export for Jimmy plus a voucher of some description from the men; a pair of Tiffany earrings for Gen in recognition of her coxing; a set of George Jensen candlesticks for Wakeford for being captain which is, as we all know, a job for mugs.

(the Blog Boss isn't sure not sure what the development squad gave Deb and Nick but we're sure it was awesome.)

And I should give a special mention to Kirsty, who presented Shaun with his award and titled her speech about his exploits: "Redemption." Well done champ.

Until we do it all again in 2015,

Row well WARC. 

Boston, heritage and masters

Bit of a random blog post for you today: Heritage, Boston and masters!

Firstly let's get into the Boston event. Kevin Wall rowed in an LTA boat for Balmain Rowing Club, he's pictured above in his spiffy Balmain jacket although truth be told, we can't wait to see him back in the cardinal and gold.

Pictured from left, Bill Hutton, Peter Klemm, Peter Panizza and Darryl Salisbury (did you mean to stand in height order guys?) competed in the men's coxed four event and placed a pretty good 12th. I think.

We're very sad the guys won't be with us for Friday's annual dinner but we are sure to drink a toast (or five) to them in recognition of being the athletes to travel the furtherest for this event.

On to more media stuff: I (PBR) did an interview on Saturday for the Perth Heritage open day. A huge thanks to everyone who helped out - particularly Su Guy who I forgot to thank on Facbeook. Dee, Vossy and the team were particularly chuffed to meet Graham Norton, who at 89 is still going strong and had rowed "back in the day". He is in at least two photographs that are in the River Room and Dee assured him he was quite the spunk back when he was rowing.

And finally, here's a collection of 50 of Dean's best photographs from World Masters. It was an absolutely fantastic trip for the 12 WARCers who took part, but it really was Dean Neal who made this happen, from lining up the boats to recording the whole thing so we have a memento of the journey.

Viva la WARC.

A little bit more about our heritage grant

From left: WARC Life member Clem Williams, Vice President Jessica Donnelly, Heritage Council chair Marion Fulker, Heritage Minister Albert Jacob and WARC President Peta Rule with the "Wimmera" MQR single scull and Su Guy's "Hanz Off" Croker oars.

Representatives from some of the 43 organisations to recieve a heritage grant attended the announcement of the grants at the WA Rowing Club on Wednesday, October 15.

This is what Vice President Jessica Donnelly had to say:

Clem Williams, as he appeared in the West today. Read the story here

Since then, I've (PBR) fielded phone calls and emails from all sorts of different people saying how happy they were to hear about the grant, and offering assistance and advice. I'd particularly like to thank Amalia Long who wrote the successful application (thanks champ!) and Clem Williams who was such a spectacularly good sport and appeared in photographs and all sorts of things.

You can hear Clem's interview with Paul Murray on 6PR here:

Of course, with great luck comes great responsibility. This heritage grant comes with quite a few requirements so in reality, this is the start of a process, and not the end.

We look forward to bringing you more updates on our work to build new slips at WARC.

Major grant a life saver for the WA Rowing Club

The following is a press statement issued by the WA Rowing Club today, Tuesday October 15:

• WA’s oldest rowing club to receive much-needed funding boost
• $57,828 grant will be used to replace a rowing boat launch deck
• Rowing will now be able to continue in Perth’s central business district

The State Government’s 2014-15 Heritage Grants Program has given WA’s oldest rowing club a last-minute reprieve from closure.

West Australian Rowing Club Vice President, Jessica Donnelly, said today the 146-year-old sporting institution had been granted $57,828 for a new project to replace the Club’s aging rowing boat launch deck, which had reached the end of its useful life.

“I can say without a shadow of a doubt, without this grant the WA Rowing Club would be at risk of closure as the deck has become increasingly hazardous to our athletes,” Miss Donnelly said.

“The deck was last replaced during a major refurbishment in 1990s and it has been repaired many times due to high tides and rough storms. This year, however, it has deteriorated more rapidly due to age and our athletes are at risk every time they launch a boat.”

The Club has already started planning and fundraising for the new deck, which will include a design that will allow swimmers to easily enter the water from it.

“The rowing deck is also the starting point for the annual BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series open water swim, so it is important to us that it not only caters for our rowers, but also for other users such as swimmers and triathletes,” Miss Donnelly said.

The WA Rowing Club was founded in 1868 and the current clubhouse was built in 1905. The Club for current Australian representative Hannah Vermeersch.

Life Member Clem Williams said  the building, which was designed by member Felix Whitwell at the turn of the 19th century, had been an important part of the Perth landscape for generations.

“Many West Australians would be familiar with this club, even if they don’t know the name of it. Perhaps they’ve celebrated weddings or a birthday, or participated in the annual Lord Mayor’s Cup regatta,” Mr Williams said.

“It has been here on Perth’s foreshore for almost 150 years so has certainly stood the test of time. The building itself was condemned during the 1960s and again in the 1990s, yet both times was painstakingly renovated by volunteers, most of whom were club members. This project will be no different, with club members planning to put in a great deal of the elbow grease needed to get this new deck completed.”

FACT FILE:

• The West Australian Rowing Club hosts the only rowing regatta in Perth’s central business district, the Lord Mayor’s Cup in February each year
• The club’s oldest member, Alan Salisbury, 81, last week won a gold medal at the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Ballarat
• On October 19, the Club will be participating in Perth Heritage Days from 10am to 4pm
• For  pictures, a full history of the club or for the next Learn to Row course dates, visit warowingclub.org

For interviews or media opportunities, please call Peta Rule, 0428 923 661

Pulling a Genie (and a trailer)

This is the car that will be towing more than $200,000 worth of carbon across the nation for the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Ballarat. Thank you, Genie Exhaust.

The Western Australian Masters Rowing fraternity in general and the West Australian Rowing club in particular – would like to thank Genie Exhausts WA for their amazing generosity, in supplying a tow-vehicle for the rowing contingent heading to the World Rowing Masters Regatta, to be staged in Ballarat, Victoria – this weekend.

“What can I say, thanks so much to Genie Exhausts WA for their support,” said trip co-ordinator Dean Neal.

“To Tony & Gillian Argentino… words cannot adequately express our gratitude for their amazing generosity.”

Tony's "Hitman" supercharged car

You can find Genie Exhausts WA at:

60 Norma Road

Myaree WA 6154

Phone (08) 9330 6900

genie-exhausts.com.au

Tony Argentino is a popular Drag Racer, known for his iconic ‘Hitman’ Supercharged car, that is a family favourite around Australia.

“I saw there was a need for a car from Dean and his rowing friends and we are just happy to help out,” Gillian said in response to their fantastic support.

For well over 30-years, Genie Exhausts WA has been and is Perth’s number one choice for:

• Exhaust components and systems
• Dyno testing
• Mechanical repairs and servicing
• Performance work
• Diagnostic services
• Custom exhaust fabrication
• Cold air inductions
• Zoomies
• Custom Headers

…for all makes and models!

We will feature the distinctive Red Genie Exhausts WA Holden Colorado Ute as it criss-crosses the country in the coming days on our 3000km adventure to Ballarat.

AGM: October 1

The ad in the West Australian advising of WARC's upcominb AGM

Download the agenda for the 2014 AGM of the WA Rowing Club

6pm: Boat naming of the two new fours

6.30pm: Annual General Meeting, including

1. Tabling of financial documents 
2. Voting on the Life Members criteria and the finance policy
3. Elections

7pm: Celebratory drinks at Lucky Shag

In preparation, please download the agenda.

Nominations have been received for:

• President: Peta Rule
• Vice Presidents: Peter Klemm and Jessica Donnelly
• Captain: Nick Wakeford
• Vice Captains: Sam Hughes (men) and Janelle Austin (women)
• Secretary: Michael Smith
• Treasurer: Kirsty Augustson
• Assistant Treasurer: Philippa Midler 
• Committee members: Matt Cochran, Amelia De Long, Janet Smith, Dean Neal
• See nomination documents here

You may also wish to refer to the constitution here.