Julie Orr

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

Julie first came to rowing through her daughter Annabelle who coxed at school. When Annabelle joined Mercantile in 2010, so did Julie. Julie describes her arrival a “package with her daughter”.

As soon as she heard about the Saturday Morning Breakfasts in 2011, she was down and was hooked. Julie just loves the busy activity and great atmosphere of the Saturday mornings, “it is a great feel”. She has been a breakfast Mum since that time and clocked up 5 years. Julie enjoys meeting that other Mums from both Mercs and St Catherines and enjoys making the newbies feel welcomed and part of the team.

Breakfast Mums

She has hosted rowers at the Orr family, the first being Alex Hagen for some 18 months and more recently Chloe Deyermond from Northern Ireland.

Why rowing? Camaraderie, friendships created, meeting diverse and interesting people, providing a good reason to go to places like Henley Royal Regatta to Annabelle row.

Above: Team BBQ at Henley 2015, Julie seated far right

Mercs? Obviously because my daughter joined here. However more importantly, it is a club that is not purely for young athletes and you don’t feel excluded because you are older or have not rowed.

Most memorable times at the Club? Watching 2012 Olympic Games at the Club and attending Henley Royal Regatta in 2014 and 2015 when Mercantile competed.

Andrew Guerin March 2016

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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