Ron J Jelbart
Ballarat Rowing Club then Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC)
Ron, his brother Peter and his cousins Norman and Lloyd were all the first generation of the Jelbart rowing clan.
The MUBC history "Well Rowed University" by Judith Buckrich and published in 2009 noted that in the late 1930s, Ron and Peter rowed a pair together, as did Norman and Lloyd. The history then goes onto state that [I]n 1937 the four cousins agreed to row as a four. Rowing for MUBC, they went onto win every four-oared race in which they entered until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. They had the opportunity to represent Australia at the 1938 Empire Games, but unfortunately they were unable to finance the trip. All four were strong minded, close knit and virtually uncoachable, and consequently rowed during most of this period without a coach.
Ron in Victorian colours in 1930
1927 - Henley on Yarra, Junior Eight - First
1928 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship two seat – Fourth
1930 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Fourth
1937-39 - Won all major four oared races in Victoria
1938 - Empire Games - selected but his crew were unable to finance their trip
1959 - Victorian men's Eight Championship, coach - Second
1960 – Olympic Games – unofficial coach of Coxless Four
1962 - World Men's Coxed Four Championship, coach - Fifth
Andrew Guerin
June 2021