History of Bendigo Rowing Club

21. 1980s and Beyond - Page 3

Chapter 21 page 1 2 3 4 5

The Christening of the Cochrane, Griffiths, Burnett and Nihill.

Harold Griffiths had resumed his long association with the Club by taking up the Presidents chair.

In 1985/86 a group of young rowers who were to make a big impact on the Club first wet their blades. Darren Poyser, Damian Badman, Jason Day, Blair Hall and Nicholas Edward competed successfully at School and Novice level. The Poyser/Badman combination went on to row and win a Victorian Junior Coxless pairs title and rowed at the Nationals in N.S.W. and W.A.

L - R Darren Poyser, Elisa Dickenson, Damian Badman

Womens Eight-First time at our Regatta,1985.

Cox: Jacinta Nolen, Stroke: Sandra Curnow, Christina McKendry, Alison Tuddenham, Megan Brooks, Lesley McKarney, Bronwyn Smith, Vickie Nolen, Bow:Michele Monteith.

Following the death of long-time Club mentor, coach and friend Glen Heazelwood, a new boat was ordered immediately and named to further perpetuate his memory. The Memorial Aggregate Trophy was also instituted.

Bill Parkinson retired after serving for many years as our delegate to the V.R.A. He gave a country perspective to their deliberations on our behalf.

Janice Barnes won the treble at Mildura and Wentworth in an amazing performance in Senior C Scull, Pair - with Megan Brooks and Four which included Alison Tuddenham and Vickie Nolen. With Sandra Curnow in the crew at Ballarat, they won the State Senior C title to the delight of coach Jim Peoples.

Bus trips to the Nagambie and Essendon Regattas were always popular and helped to build Club spirit. Club stalwarts Jim Peoples, Fred Hillman, Denis Nihill, Jim Ryan, Bill Barton, Jeff Sellers, Keith Riley and Joanne Peterson continued their excellent work coaching crews and repairing boats and equipment. Behind the scenes workers like Cheryl and John Nolen, Mavis Burnett, Bernice Hillman, Wendy Nihill, Carmel and Ken Moore, Ruth Griffiths, Isla Wende and Fran Triolo gave the Club great service.

In 1987 we repeated the effort of '84 by again holding a 'multiple' christening of five new boats including a fibreglass eight - "Bill Parkinson".

In 1988 Genazzano College commenced a series of very successful rowing camps with our Club on Lake Weeroona. New boats continued to arrive and in order to transport our new fleet, we acquired an old trailer from St. Kevins College.