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Home > Rowing Profiles > Rowe, John S

John S Rowe AM

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

John developed his love of rowing whilst a student at Geelong Grammar School post WWII. He raced in the 1948 First VIII which was unsuccessful and also raced in the 1949 First VIII which finished third. He had the good fortune to race with other great Mercantile members in those crews including Brian Dawe and Garth Manton. His competitors also included Brain Doyle in the Xavier crew, Keeley and Oliff in the winning Melbourne Grammar crew and Granowski and Oliver in the Scotch crew - all big personalities in the sport of rowing and at Mercantile Rowing Club.

Mercantile beckoned in 1949-50 season and he was part of the group the helped set up Mercantile for the forthcoming successful period of the Club. The Club's history records:

The club also won the Junior Premiership in the 1949-50 season and by a very large margin. Crews stroked by Jack Shears and coached by Norm Cairnes carried all before them and many members still active with the club such as John Rowe, Martin Keeley, Frank Noble, David Olliff, Jack Carr and Harold Burke contributed to the success. All this set the foundation for the succeeding five year period leading up to the 1956 Olympics, which was to prove among the most successful the club has ever enjoyed.

His rise through the ranks that season was quick. His first win was in the seven seat of a maiden eight on 4th March was followed by a State Championship Junior Eight on 25th of the same month. John obviously got into the spirit of the Club as he also won the Club's Harlequin Time Trial at the end of the season.

So by the 1950-51 season, John was in the club's winning senior eight for the first half of the season, being groomed for bigger things in subsequent years. His wins included the famous Henley victory which originally was a dead-heat in the final and had to be re-rowed the next day. Mercs won the re-row by a canvas.

This preparation of John worked and he won his first senior Victorian Championship in the next season. He was also rewarded with being the emergency for the King's Cup crew and being in the eight that was undefeated all season. A win the a senior four early in season was also enjoyed. Again he showed his enjoyment of Club life by racing successfully at the Easter Regattas.

The 1952-53 season John's love of the Club was again illustrated by being elected to the Club Committee, and racing at the Christmas Regattas. He even tried his hand at senior pairs, albeit unsuccessfully. For reasons unknown, he was a member of the Club's winning senior eight in all but the Victorian Championships. Despite this omission, he was again selected as reserve of the King's Cup eight.

John's penultimate season of rowing in 1953-54 was a highlight year with not only a State Championship but also a win in the King's Cup and in record time. The conditions in Hobart were terrible but the Victorian crew managed to take 16 seconds off the record time. This time for the 3 miles was never beaten and it could be the fastest in the world. John claims that this time was a world best time for 3 miles although your author has not been able to verify this claim. John spent many years of his working life overseas and was in a good position to test his claim.


Winning 1954 Victorian King's Cup crew with John in the seven seat


50 year reunion of the 1954 crew in 2004 with John second from the left

John raced successfully in the first part of the 1954-55 season and served on the Committee. Sadly, he stopped rowing at the a time when Olympic selection and further Interstate Championship beckoned. Such are the requirements of the other side of our lives. In his case, an appointment in London with Australian National Airlines. His son Michael noted that this was a "very difficult decision with 1956 not far away….. but airline became his life for the decades after."

As a marketing and tourism executive, John became a highly respected and sought after business leader. The press release of Sir Peter Derham announcing his appointment as head of the Australian Tourism Commission in May 1982 summed up his career to that date as follows:

From 1949 to 1958 he worked for Australian National Airways and Ansett, including a period in London on an overseas study contract covering European airlines, British manufacturers, international air law and general tourism experience.

From 1958 to 1980, he held numerous positions with Qantas, including Sales Training Manager, Sales Manager for North America, Manager New York, Manager, Victoria and Tasmania and Regional Director for Australia.

In 1980 Mr Rowe moved to work for the Victorian Government. He is currently Victoria's Director of Tourism and Chief Executive of the Victorian Government Travel Authority, the organisation responsible for tourism marketing and tourist development.

He has participated in the activities of the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) since 1962, when he became a member of the advertising and publicity committee. He has been directly involved in Board activities throughout the 1970's and was a member of the PATA management committee in 1976-77. He is currently President of the Association, an organisation which brings together governments, airlines, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents and many other tourism-related bodies throughout the Pacific region.

"The high regard in which he is held by industry should ensure that the close links which already exist between the Commission and industry are maintained and strengthened," Sir Peter [Derham] said.

As mentioned, his most high profile position was as managing director of the Australian Tourism Commission where he led the organisation to a record 25% increase in incoming visitors in one year. As a result, John and his family resided in many states and countries leaving him often away from Mercantile. However he always managed to visit the Club whenever in Melbourne and maintain his membership and fond memories of his rowing days. 

As a high profile individual working in high profile industries throughout the world, he is an urbane, engaging but thoughtful person. A glimpse of his manner comes from an anecdote from a colleague. During his time as Qantas Manager based  in Manhattan, Qantas' basement level entertainment suite was a regular and convivial gathering place for the ex-pat Aussies based in NY from the Australian media, Consulate staff, Australian Tourist Commission, Ansett and TAA. John was a popular host for many events promoting Australia as a tourist destination.

At the date of the preparation of this rower profile, he was a 74 year member. 

Known key rowing races including senior wins (in chronological order)

1948 - APS Head of the River, Geelong Grammar First VIII, three seat - Sixth

1949 - APS Head of the River, Geelong Grammar First VIII, seven seat - Third

1950 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, two seat - First

1950 - Australian Henley, Senior Eight, two seat - First

1950 - Victorian Championships Junior Eight, five seat - First

1951 - Melbourne Regatta, Senior Four, three seat - First

1951 - Australian Henley, Senior Four, three seat - First

1951 - Geelong Regatta, Senior Four, three seat - First

1952 - Albert Park Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First

1952 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First

1952 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First

1952 - Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, three seat - First

1952 - Victorian Championship Senior Eight, three seat - First

1952 - Interstate Championships, Men's Eight, emergency

1952 - Melbourne Regatta, Men's Eight, two seat - First

1952 - Australian Henley, Senior Eight, two seat - First

1952 - Yarrawonga Regatta, Senior Four, two seat - First

1952 - Rutherglen Regatta, Senior Four, two seat - First

1953 - Upper Yarra Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1953 - Albert Park Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1953 - Interstate Championships, Senior Eight, emergency

1953 - VRA Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1953 - Australian Henley, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1954 - Barwon Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1954 - Ballarat Regatta, Senior Eight seven seat - First

1954 - Victorian Championship, Senior Four, three seat - First

1954 - Victorian Championship Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1954 - Interstate Championships, Men's Eight, seven seat - First

1954 - VRA Melbourne Regatta, Senior Eight, seven seat - First

1954 - Australian Henley, Senior Eight, seven seat - First (John's last race before retirement)


Andrew Guerin
April 2024

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