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History of Rowing Victory Inc

History of Rowing Victoria Inc

8. Depression and Revival 1930-1939

Chapter 7 page 1 2 3 4

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The State Library of Victoria website summarised this decade as follows. In the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the world spiraled into the Great Depression and its impact over the following years was significant. Income from Australian exports fell, local industries came to a standstill and unemployment rapidly increased. Especially so in the cities, with Melbourne's unemployment rate hitting 30% and thousands of families struggling for survival. Primary exports such as wool and wheat halted, Victorian farmers were out of work. The standard of living dropped, and slum communities emerged across the suburbs. ..... 1933 saw the beginning of a slow recovery. Victorians were resilient. Those without work were creative. They made their own products to sell, grew produce and tramped city and country streets selling their wares. The reestablishment of international trade, manufacturing and large-scale public works and projects would spur Victoria’s rebuild.

However, as the economy recovered, Victoria suffered in 1939 with not only the commencement of WWII, but perhaps the most devasting bush fires ever, Black Friday bushfires.

As expected, the sport was not insulated from the impacts. Memberships dropped and members could not afford the luxury of sport, and the 1931 Men's Interstate Championships cancelled as the State Associations could not justify the expense of sending crews to the Championships. The recovery was long and difficult.


1930

The

1931 

Some extracts from the Victorian Rowing Association annual report.


1932

Some extracts from the Victorian Rowing Association annual report.


The Preston Club requested at the 15th March 1932 meeting of the Ladies Association, and received permission to represent Victoria at the Women's Interstate Championships in Brisbane.2 It appears that the support of that Association was limited to approval.

1933


1934


1935












Footnotes

  1. Victorian Rowing Association annual reports
  2. VICTORIAN LADIES' ROWING ASSOCIATION. (1932, March 16). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 7. Retrieved July 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205093933





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