T F Brennan
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
The following obituary appeared in the Mercantile Rowing Club annual report for the 1950-51 season. Mr Brennan was one of the pioneers of the Club having joined in the first couple of year of the Club's existence.
Mr. Brennan's association with the Club extended over no less than 68 years. He joined it in 1893, and at the time of his death was one of our Vice-Presidents. During that long period he saw the Club grow from a modest beginning to its present status, and was associated with such enthusiasts as Sir Stephen Morell, Alex Sloan, Percy Ivens, and those other stalwarts who did such great work in establishing the Club on the sound foundations on which it has been built up.
His active rowing career was cut short when he joined the Victorian Railways about 1896, where he used to be Chief Accountant, but he rendered fine service to the Club as Hon. Treasurer, which office he filled most capably for a number of years. On his retirement from this office he was the Club's Hon. Auditor for an extended period, and was succeeded by Mr. F. R. Browne.
During his many years as Vice-President, although an infrequent visitor to the Club, he still maintained his interest in it, and his name figured regularly on the list of Donors.
His death removes yet another of the pioneers of the Club, to whom present day members owe so much.
Extracted by Andrew Guerin
October 2020