Mary Renouf

Artemis Rowing Club (VIC)

Mary was a Geelong sculler who rose to prominence in the 1970s and one of our early international women's sculling representatives.

1979 was her break through year winning the Nell Slatter trophy after four unsuccessful attempts. This led to her selection as the Australian sculler at the 1979 World Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia. After a nervous start in the heat, she had a win in the repechage over the 1978 World Junior Champion Martina Schroter of East Germany. Sadly her semi-final left her in fourth place and into the B final where she finished third and therefore ninth overall.

Mary then won the Nell Slatter Trophy a further four times finishing with five straight wins - a great record. She was again selected as the Australian sculler in 1982 and improved her previous result by one placing.

1975 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship – Second

1976 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - Second

1977 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship – Eliminated in repechage

1978 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - Fourth

1979 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - First

1979 – World Championships – Women’s Single Scull – Ninth

1980 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - First

1980 - National Championship, Double Scull - First

1981 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - First

1982 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - First

1982 – World Championships – Women’s Single Scull – Eighth

1983 – Interstate Women’s Sculling Championship - First

Mary after being presented with her fifth Nell Slatter Trophy in 1983 in Perth

Andrew Guerin
December 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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