Geoff Barden
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
It was a great joy to interview Geoff for his profile as his infectious enthusiasm and love of the sport and his Club engulfed your correspondent.
To illustrate, I quote from our discussions. “As a starting point, I am a tragic nostalgic, even the smell of the river and its changing seasons can take me back nearly 40 years. I love it’s wonderful boats that I rowed to win whose bows adorn the walls of the [Mercantile] club including the Tomanovits to win the Head of the Yarra with BGS in 1983, the Sprigg to win Senior B Championships, various sprint races and Club Sprigg time trials, the Atkins to win Grand Challenge Cup and State Championships”. Geoff has a great sense of Club history and its members, and interestingly of the boats in which he rowed.
In case you have not got my drift, I quote further from his recollections: “My first race was along Herring Island in a tub four. I can recall rowing at the club as a BGS schoolboy in the early 1980s. On a Sunday morning learning to tap the keg downstairs in the cool room so that we could enjoy drinking the Carlton beer that seemed to be the life force of the Club. We would enjoy playing Billiards in the corner of the club which today is occupied by Women’s change room and used the sauna in the area that is now the Schoolgirls change room. Today the walls within the club have moved and it has changed its outward appearance, however Mercantile’s soul remains intact protected by the wonderful people that continue to support our great rowing club. I am so proud that my sons have had the opportunity to race for Mercantile as Junior members, Oliver winning the Sprigg Time trial and Harry collecting medals at the 2018 VIC State Championships”.
Geoff in the three seat of the winning Ladies Plate crew at Henley Royal Regatta
Geoff in the bow seat of the Australian Champion four in 1990
Despite a couple of disappointments in his rowing career, Geoff’s enthusiasm did not wane and his rowing record is impressive.1983 Head of the Yarra – BGS first crew three seat – First
1984 Head of the River – BGS Third
1985 Victorian State Championship Men’s Junior Coxed Four – First
1985 Australian National Championship – Men’s Junior Coxed Four – Gold
1985 World Junior Championships, Brandenburg East Germany – Men’s Coxed Four – Fifth
1987 Victorian State Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight- First
1987 Victorian State Championship Under 23 Coxless Pair- First
1987 Australian National Championship U23 Men’s Eight three seat – First
1997 Luzerne International, Men’s Coxed Four bow seat – eliminated in Rep
1997 World University Games, Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Men’s Coxed Four – sixth
1988 Australian National Championship U23 Coxless Pair stroke – Gold
1988 Australian Development Eight – USA and UK tour
1988 Henley Royal Regatta, Winners Ladies Plate 8+ – three seat
1989 Victorian State Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight – First
1989 Victorian State Championship – Men’s Senior Coxed Four – Bow
1989 Australian University Championships – Men’s Eight, RMIT second *by invitation.
1989 Australian Under 23 Trans-Tasman team, Lake Ruataniwha, NZ
1990 Victorian State Championship Men’s eight Bow – First
1990 Australian Henley Regatta, Grand Challenge Cup – Bow
1990 Australian National Championship – Men’s Coxless Four Bow – Gold
1990 Interstate Men’s Eight Championship emergency (VIC)
Geoff in the bow seat of his Australian 1985 junior four
He then raced with some the greatest rowers in the world at Mercantile in under 23 and senior crews. It was a great time at Mercantile with so many great rowers – it would have been very difficult to get a seat in any boat.
Geoff was an excellent Captain, engaging the members to work for the Club and work well together. The Club thrived and many of those people have continue their strong contribution today. In addition, Geoff’s time as Captain saw the professionalisation of the Club with the introduction of a Head Coach and considerable fund raising efforts to match the costs of a growing club.
Geoff continues to enjoy and celebrates his association with the club and the great friendships that continue. His fellow masters rowers can attest to this. He was Club Captain from 1998 – 2000, and Head Coach of the Firbank Grammar School Rowing Club 1984 – 2000. Geoff is a Landscape Architect and senior manager at City of Melbourne. He is married to Fiona and has two children who have had the opportunity to race for Mercantile as Junior members.
Geoff as Mercantile Rowing Club Captain
Geoff ended our discussion in the same positive manner as it had begun: I enjoyed my time in the sun, racing and winning with club men and competitors that proved themselves to be the best in the world.
Andrew Guerin
Dec 2018