Interstate Championships Trophies

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Nell Slatter Trophy

Dating back to 1901 at the Great Federation Regatta staged on Albert Park Lake, Cassie Woolly McRitchie representing Victoria and using a skiff loaned to her by the then Governor of Victoria, Lord Brassey, defeated her challenger from Sydney, Elizabeth Messenger, and was presented with a magnificent pearl and ruby bracelet by the Duke of Gloucester. So great was the public interest in the female scullers that police were required to keep the inquisitive spectators at bay.

Cassie McRitchie is justifiably known as the "mother" of Victorian women's rowing and as the founder of the first all women's rowing club at Albert Park in 1907. In 1973 at the great age of 96, she passed away.

Despite this great start to women's interstate sculling in 1901, the first interstate championship was not conducted until 1963 in Brisbane and has continued annually since that date.

The Nell Slatter Trophy was presented by the Queensland Women's Rowing Association in 1963 to be the perpetual trophy for the Championship as a tribute to the then Queensland President Nell Slatter.

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Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:



Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.