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Coe family

Yarra Yarra Rowing Club (VIC)

This club has been blessed with four generations from this one family.

Charles (Joe) Coe joined Yarra in 1930/31 moving from the Sandy Bay Rowing Club in Tasmania.

He had 2 sons:

Des
Horace (Dick) married Margaret another rower, from the Albert Park Ladies Rowing club. Margaret’s brother Gordon Nicholson was the club’s Photographer for many years.

Horace and Margaret had 4 children

Andrew
David
Margaret
Malcolm

All have been involved in the Yarra Yarra Rowing Club

With 4 generations of the Coe family at Yarra Yarra over more than 90 years, there have probably been more individuals involved than from any other family.

From the Yarra Yarra Rowing Club newsletter 'Yarra Yabbie' no 81 2000-10-20:

From the section Nuts Bolts and Thumbscrews:-

Several Yarra members helped celebrate Margaret Coe’s 70th birthday at Ivanhoe. The Coe family has a long and important association with the club. Joe Coe came from Sandy Bay Rowing Club, Tasmania in early 1930’s. In the 1940’s club numbers came very low due to the war. Our constitution stated that the club could be sold between financial members. Joe rallied around with his son Des and out voted the four shifty members. Joe and Des taught many rowers until H. (Dick) rowed until he joined the air fleet and crashed. He returned to Yarra to become a very successful coach and hold down many committee positions.

Dick’s children rowed at Melbourne High School before joining Yarra. David was in the four for the 1979-1980 seasons winning 19 races 2 seasons running. He also coached. Andy rowed ubtill he joined the Navy. Malcolm became a very successful lightweight rower before he joined Powerhouse and held every position in the club.

Jim Skidmore
June 2024

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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