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Edward T Bradsaw

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

Ted Bradshaw was a long serving servant of the Club and Victorian Rowing. His son Bill followed in his footsteps, becoming "the King of Regattas" in Victoria and a great innovator in regatta administration.

The following paragraph is extracted from the Club's history, Mercantile, a Century of Rowing.

At the 1937 annual meeting, Ted Bradshaw (father of Bill) was elected a life member of the club. Ted Bradshaw had been a member of Mercantile since 1887 and his election as life member marked the completion of his 50 years membership of the club. For over 40 years he was the official timekeeper for the Victorian Rowing Association for all Championship events, including the Australian and University Interstate races when rowed on the Y arra. He was also honorary timekeeper of the Melbourne Amateur Regatta Association (Henley) from its foundation. Mercantile has always jealously guarded the election of honorary life members of the club and at no stage have they exceeded approximately 10.At the time of his election, Ted Bradshaw joined the select band of Alec Clarke, Arch Dobbie, Stan Guinn, Percy Ivens, Wally Joseph, Ted Kenny, Sir Stephen Morell, Bill Potter and Alex Sloan, all of whom had devoted many years of their lives to the service of Mercantile in a rowing or administrative capacity, and in many cases in both spheres.

Ted's obituary appeared in the 1941-42 Club annual report as follows.

Mr. E. T. Bradshaw joined the Club in 1887, and on 24th July, 1937, was elected a Life Member to mark the completion of his 50 years of membership. For over 40 years he was the official timekeeper for the· Victorian Rowing Association for all championship events, including the Australian and University eight-oared championships rowed on the Yarra. He was also the honorary timekeeper of Henley Regatta from its foundation.

Turn of the century image in front of the Edwards Boatshed with Ted Bradshaw third from the left
From left to right: Stephen Morell, unknown Ted Bradshaw, James Edwards, James and Ted Kenny

Andrew Guerin
January 2023

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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.

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