History of UTS Haberfield Rowing Club
Committees
Committee meeting attendances
On the ever important subject of the history of Haberfield Rowing Club Committees, future club officials would do well to recall the thoughts voiced by Lord Burghley famous British Athlete when previous to the 1948 Olympic Games he delivered an address honouring J. Sigfrid Edstrom who he was succeeding as President of the International Olympic Athletic Federation. Said Lord Burghley:-
I have wondered sometimes exactly where our strength really lies, and what principles we should make sure never to lose hold of, to ensure the success and progress that we all desire. I think it is that all who are in the administration of amateur sport are interested in what they put in, not what they take out. At the same time I feel that it must be a cardinal rule to all of us that we must keep an ear close to the ground – we must never forget that we are in fact administering sport for the thousands of active young competitors of the day and, although we may advise and strongly advise from the deep well of our experience, yet, in the long run, and rightly so in my opinion, the wishes of youth must prevail. In the third place I urge that we should do all that we can to draw competitors into the administration of sport when they retire from active competition. Not only will we thereby ensure a great fund of technical knowledge, but also we will maintain that vital confidence of the active athletes in the administrators of their particular sport.
Haberfield has been fortunate in having had several Committee men of the high standard suggested by Lord Burghley. Perhaps the best known of these men is Charles Davison who has attended more than 200 meetings of the Club Committee since 1928 (or more than half a year of nights he has devoted to Club administration).
“Charlie” Davison joined Haberfield Rowing Club in February 1928 while living at Dulwich Hill. He has since that date laboured long, assiduously and without interruption to his interest, to promote the sport at Haberfield Rowing Club and with the New South Wales Rowing Association.
Despite Davison’s retiring and modest demeanor he is a fighter, no matter what the objective the Club Committee has had in mind, Charles never quits working until that objective has been achieved.
During his early rowing days, Davison, never a heavy weight oarsman, always gave all he had, winning many races for Haberfield in the days when the new club had to work so very hard to score even one win.
As his rowing career closed, Charles turned to the administrative side of the Club. He has now been a member of the Club Committee for twenty-two years and in that time, he has missed on an average of only one Committee meeting a year.
In 1933 and in the following year he served as Secretary of the Club. In 1935 he was elected by the members to the position of Captain. In the years that followed as the Club’s Senior Committee man he served as the right hand man to three Club Presidents, F. J. Herlihy, M.C. Kent and D. I. Jones.
It must be remembered that during this period Charles Davison has retained many outside interests, being Secretary and Treasurer of the Maloola Tennis Club of which he is an active left hand player, a member of a Bowling Club, the local P. & C. Association, and the Lands Department Social Club.
Today Charles lives with his wife, Beryl and family in Summer Hill, works at the Lands Department in Sydney and is an elected member of the New South Wales Rowing Association. A great lover of the Art of rowing and a recognized expert in Club affairs, Davison has commanded the respect and admiration of the hundreds of young oarsmen who have passed through the Club since Charles Davison joined in 1928.
The Club’s first Committee formed in 1925 has been in existence as long as the Club itself.
1925-26
(First Committee) F. Wheeler, M. Kent, G. Carlson, J.J. Walsh, B. Williams, J. Cogle, S. Budd, A. Gillam-Murphy, J. Daly, L. Ball, H. Silvester, F. Herlihy, G. Gormley.
1926-27
M. Kent, G. Carlson, F. Herlihy, J. Walsh, B. S. Williams, E. S. Pratt, J. Asley, K. Gormley, A. Gillam-Murphy, E. J. Cork, N. Elphinstone, J. McVane.
1927-28
B. S Williams, H. Coulson, F. Herlihy, A. Clanville, Harry Crow, M. Woolett, C. Coleman, J. Daly, E. L. Gillroy, B. Iverach, M. C. Kent, E. Pratt, J. Scott, C. Wilson.
1928-29
H. Boland, C. Coleman, J. Day, E. Gilroy, B. Iverach, M. Kent, E. Pratt, C. Kiel, C. Wilson, A. Clanville, H. Coulson, F. Herlihy, B. S. Williams, L. Jacobs.
1929-30
L. Jacobs 13, C. Kiel 13, M. Woollett 12, R. Rees 11, B. Williams 10, J. Daly 4, J. Scott 9, H. Coulson 9, H. Boland 8, N. Elphinston 8, F. Herlihy 7, A. Glanville 6, B. Bull 6, H. Schafer 5, M. Kent 4, G. McKay 2, H. McCann 2.
1930-31
Eleven Committee meetings were held during the year with the attendance as follows:-
B. V. Bill 1, H. Coulson 8, J. Daly 8, C Davison 11, C. Ellis 6, N. Elphinston 8, E. F. Firth 4, F. Herlihy 6, M. C. Kent 11, C. R. Kiel 5, H. J. McCann 10, R. W. Rees 10, V. Mossong 9, B. S. Williams 6, C. G. Wilson 11, M Woollett 9.
1931-32
B. Bull 1, H. Coulson 8, J. Day 8, C. Davison 11, C. Ellis 6, N. Elphinston 8, E. Firth 4, F. Herlihy 6, M. Kent 11, C. Kiel 5, H. McCann 10, V. Mossong 9, R. Rees 10, B. Williams 6, C. Wilson 10, M. Woollett 9.
1932-33
H. Coulson 3, T. Croker 3, J. Daly 3, C. Davidson 11, C. Ellis 2, N. Elphinston 5, D. Ferguson 2, E. Firth 7, F. O. Hedger 2, F. Herlihy 5, W. Holmes 5, D. Jones 3, M. Kent 8, C. Kiel 8, H. McCann 7, N. Parsons 10, R. Rees 10, B. J. Williams 3, C. Wilson 11, M. Woollett 9.
1933-34
H. Coulson 2, T. Croker 1, J. Daly 5, C. Davidson 10, E. Firth 5, F. Fullerton 5, F. Herlihy 2, W. Holmes 10, D. Jones 9, M. Kent 4, D. McCallum 3, S. McGilvray 8, V. Mossong 9, R. Rees 10, M. Woollett 4, C. Wilson 10.
1934-35
C. Davidson 11, E. Firth 9, V. Mossong 7, E. Howlett 10, W. Bradley 11, R. Rees 5, M Woollett 4, D. Jones 9, S. McGilvray 10, G. McGilvray 8, W. Holmes 10, C. Kiel 5, M. Kent 3, F. Herlihy 3, T. Croker .3
1935-36
F. Herlihy 2, G. Cronin 5, E. Howlett 6, C. Kiel 1, D Hoskins 2, S. McGilvray 2, E. Firth 5, C. W. Holmes 9, R. Rees 1, M. Kent 6, F. Hargraves 2, C. Wilson 6, R. Curry 2, V. Mossong 6, F. Kidd 5, D. Jones 8, R. Collins 5, T. Croker 3, R. Webb 1, J. Andreini 9.
1936-37
Twelve Committee meetings were held during the year.
F. J Herlihy 4, E. Firth 11, D. Jones 10, C. W. Holmes 12, R. Halpin 5, R. Curry 8, C. Wilson 9, V. Mossong 9, R. Collins 9, T Haskins 4, J. Kidd 11, J. Andreini 2, M. Kent 7, S. V. McGilvray 1, H. Collins 2, K. Halpin 3, W. Casben 3, R. Alt 6, C. Lockwood 3.
1937-38
R. Alt 4, A. Blunden 7, W. Casben 5, A. Colebrook 5, R. Collins 10, C. Davidson 8, A. Eddie 13, E. Firth 9, R. Halpin 12, W. Holmes 12, D. Jones 7, M. Kent 8, C. Kidd 13, V. Mossong 13, R. Ward 14, C. Wilson 8.
1938-39
Thirteen Committee meetings were held during the year and the attendances were as follows.
R. Collins 7, C. Davidson 7, A. Eddie 12, J. Eddie 12, E. Firth 4, R. Halpin 8, D. Jones 8, M. Kent 8, C. Kidd (part-time) 5, D. Marks 4, V. Mossong 8, L. Robinson 13, M. Ruffels 10, W. Taylor (part-time) 6, R. Ward (Part-time) 2, C. White 12, B. Williams 8.
1939-40
Thirteen Committee meetings were held during the year.
J. W. Westcott 13, C. H. White 13, A.A. Eddie 12, Bruce Williams 11, J. Eddie 11, K. Williams 9, C. Lockwood 8, A. Colebrook 8, C. Kidd 7, V. Mossong 7, W. Taylor 7, C. Davidson 7, R. Halpin 6, D. Jones 6, F. J. Herlihy 5, M. Ruffels 4. G. Harrison 3.
1940-41
Ten Committee Meetings were held during the year.
A. Colebrook 3, J. Clark 6, *W. Creaser 2, C. Davidson 3, A. Eddie 9, J. Eddie 8, K. Govan 8, R. Halpin 5, N. Honson 2. D. Jones 2, *A. Jolley 1, *R. Moloney 4, *O. Ruffels 2, M. Ruffels 2, *K. Regan 2, L. Robinson 6, R. Stubbs 9, W. Taylor 2, *W. Twigg 1, *B. Williams 5, *J. Westcott 1, C. White 7, *K. Webb 8.
*Part of the year only.
1941-42
Eleven Committee meetings were held during the year.
W. Chapman 1, J. Clarke 1, W. Creaser 7, J. Daly 3, C. Davidson 2, A. Eddie 11, J. Eddie 10, D. Jones 4, L. Kent 1, W. Litchfield 3, M. Ruffels 7, R. Stubbs 7, R. Swain 2, E. Taffa 5, W. Twigg 1, K. Webb 10, C. White 6, R. Maloney 2.
1942-43
M. Ruffels, O. Ruffels, A. Neilson Teasdale, W. Shepherd, W. Litchfield, W. Winkworth, R. Stubbs, D. Jones, C. Davidson, F. Smith, K. Williams, V. Aitken.
1943-44
M. Kent, M. Ruffels, A. Neilson Teasdale, W. Shepherd, R. Hall, W. Litchfield, O. Ruffels, L. Robinson, C. Cogle, K. Williams, C. W. Winkworth.
1944-45
Ten Committee meetings were held during the year.
V. Aitken 5, W. Crossing 6, C. Davidson 9, R. Hall 3, R. Hansen 2, D. Jones 8, M. Kent 7, L. Robinson 8, M. Ruffels 10, O. Ruffels, 6, W. Shepherd 9, F. Smith 3, N. Teasdale 2, W. Winkworth 4, R. Holman 4.
1945-46
This year we held four of our meetings on the second Sunday of the month and seven meetings on the first Wednesday night of each month. It can be readily judged from the extent of our activities throughout the year that many important matters were discussed at these meetings, which were always well attended, and we were very fortunate to have men of the calibre of Milton Kent, Dave Jones and Charlie Davidson to attend these meetings and give us the benefit of their administrative experience.
Attendances at the Committee meetings were as follows:-
M. Kent 11, R. Holman 7, D. Evans 10, C. White 6, K. Vale 4, W. Crossing 10, C. Kidd 3, O. Ruffels 3, C. Williams 5, M. Ruffels 6, V. Aitken 4, S. Kayess 4, K. Webb 5, C. Davison 7, K. Williams 7, W. Winkworth 11, D. Jones 7, W. Shepherd 6, H. Gilbert 9.
1946-47
Thirteen Committee meetings were held during the year.
W. Chapman 12, E. Eder 10, K. Webb 13, W. Creaser 12, H. Gilbert 11, J. Westacott 13, C. Davison 10, R. Holman 5, C. White 3, A. E. Eddie 8, D. Jones 6, K. Williams 3, J. W. Eddie 12, W. Litchfield 12, W. Winkworth 12, K Halpin 6 vice D. Evans (part-time).
1947-48
Twelve Committee meetings were held during the year.
W. Chapman 10, W. Creaser 12, C. Davison 8, A. Eddie 12, J. Eddie 11, D. Jones 9, E. Eder 9, H. Gilbert 8, K Halpin 5, W. Litchfield 9, L. Montgomery 9, V. Mossong 11, L. Robinson 8, W. Shepherd 8, K. Webb 10, J. Westacott 11, W. Winkworth 11.
1948-49
Ten Committee meetings were held during the year.
D. Jones 10, C. W. Winkworth 10, D. Malligan 7, J. Eddie 9, E. Eder 8, H. Gilbert 8, L. Montgomery 8, A. Eddie 8, N. Thomas 10, R. Sims 10, W. Creaser 7, H. Brown 5, A. Lownds 8, C. Davison 7, V. Mossong 6, W. Litchfield 3, N. Cannon 9.
1949-50
Twelve Committee meetings were held during the year.
D. Jones 10, J. Eddie 11, L. Montgomery 11, R. Sims 8, A. Lownds 10, R. Jones 8, R. McKinnon 11, W. Winkworth 11, E. Eder 11, A. Eddie 10, C. Davison 11, N. Cannon 11, L. Howell 11, N. Thomas 9, V. Mossong 11, K. Webb 10, K, Gee 10.
Officers
From its inception the Club has always had a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Captain. The position of Vice-Captain and the position of the Vice-President were created soon after the first meeting.
From the organization of the Club in February 1925, it has been the custom to hold the nominations and the election of officers at the Annual General Meeting.
It is interesting to note that in the twenty-five years existence of the Club it has had but five Presidents. Mr. R. Stanton who held the position until 1927, being the first. Ald. F. O. Hedger then held office until 1934, when former Club Secretary, Frank J. Herlihy became President, which position he held until 1943. He was followed by Milton C. Kent until 1948 when David I. Jones became the Club’s fifth President which office he holds, in this, the Club’s twenty fifth anniversary year. The combined record of service by these five members has probably seldom been equalled.
The officers and their terms of service have been as follows.
President
R. Stanton 1926 to 1928
F. O. Hedger 1929 to 1934
F. J. Herlihy 1935 to 1943
M. C. Kent 1944 to 1947
D. I. Jones 1948 to 1950
Secretary
G. Carlson 1925 to 1926
F. Herlihy 1927 to 1929
C. Kiel1 930 to 1931
H. McCann 1932
C. Davison 1933 to 1934
G. McGilvray 1935
J. Andrieni 1936
R. Alt 1937
R. Ward 1938
C. White 1939
J. Westacott 1940 to 1941
R. Maloney 1941 (part)
A. Eddie 1942 to 1943(part)
A. Teasdale 1943 (part) to 1945 (part)
W. Shepherd 1945 (part)
W. Crossing 1946
J. Westacott 1947 to 1948
R. Sims 1949 to 1950
Treasurer
J. Walsh 1925 to 1926
E. Pratt 1927
H. Crowe 1928
L. Jacobs 1929
R. Rees 1930 to 1934
W. Holmes 1935 to1937
A. Blunden 1938
R. Collins 1939
C. White 1940 to 1941 (part)
J. Eddie 1941 (part)
W. Creaser 1942
A. Teasdale 1943 (part)
W. Shepherd 1943 (part) to 1945 (part)
W. Winkworth 1945 (part) to 1950
Captain
F. Wheeler 1925 to 1926
B. S. Williams 1927 to 1929
M. Woollett 1930 to 1931
C. Wilson 1932 to 1934
C. Davison 1935
E. Firth 1936 to 1937
V. Mossong 1938 to 1939 (part)
R. Ward 1939 (part)
B. Williams 1940 to 1941 (part)
C. White 1941 (part) to 1942 (part)
J. Eddie 1942 (part) to 1943 (part)
M. Ruffels 1944 to 1946
J. Eddie 1947 to 1950
Vice Captain
M. Kent 1925 to 1927
H. Coulson 1928 to 1929
H. Boland 1930 to 1931
B. Bull 1932 (part)
E. Firth 1932 (part)
T. Croker 1933 to 1934 (part)
D. McCallum 1934 (part)
V. Mossong 1935 (part) to 1936 (part)
D. Hoskins 1935 (part)
D. Jones 1936 (part) to 1937
R. Collins 1938
R. Halpin 1939 to 1940
W. Taylor 1941
J. Eddie 1942
R. Stubbs 1943
O. Ruffels 1944
V. Aitken 1945
D. Evans 1946
K. Webb 1947 to 1948
L. Mongomery 1949 to 1950
Hon. Auditor
Burns H. Clive 1925 to 1933
W. Simpson 1933 to 1939
W. S. Isles 1940 to 1942
S. Simpson 1943 to 1945
H. Brown 1946
W. Simpson 1947 to 1950
To Messrs. Clive, Simpson, Isles and Brown, the Club owes a very sincere thank you for the great and honorary job you have carried on for the Haberfield Rowing Club since 1925.
Property Master
H. Schafer 1930
V. Mossong 1931 to 1932
N. Parsons 1933
F. Fullerton 1934
T. Croker 1935 to 1936 (part)
R. Curry 1936 (part) to 1937
C. Kidd 1938
M. Ruffels 1939
C. Kidd 1940
K. Regan 1941 (part)
J. Clarke 1941 (part) to 1942 (part)
W. Litchfield 1942 (part) to 1944
R. Hall 1945
C. Kidd 1946 (part)
K. Williams 1946 (part) to 1947 (part)
W. Litchfield 1947 to 1949
R. McKinnon 1950