A history of the Albany Rowing Club
1984
Amateur Rowing Association of WA (ARAWA) president Berry Durston visited Albany to meet a group of people and help form a rowing club in February, 1984. George Panorios (ARAWA rowing development officer) visited Albany with several single sculls to promote rowing and a promotion day was held at Princess Royal Harbour foreshore. This was successful but the wind made conditions unsuitable to consider the harbour for a future base. A meeting was held of interested people including: Kathy Paxton, Ken and Viv Matts, Kevin Prince, Kevin McMahon, Ian Butcher, and representatives from the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR), Mike Stidwell and Jim McCann. Ken Matts agreed to become convenor inviting everyone interested in becoming a part of the club to attend a formal meeting on February 29, 1984, when a steering committee was formed with the election of office bearers and a decision made on preparing a basic constitution. Those elected were: Ken Matts (president), Richard Fry (secretary/treasurer), Viv Matts (captain). Committee: Kevin McMahon, David Pennington, Andrew Halsall, Peter McGregor, Chris Bruce, Michael Campbell, Ian Hebiton. Panorios returned for another promotion day at Emu Point and left behind two tub pairs which were stored by a local business behind a wire fence. The committee decided to use the two tub pairs donated to the club from Perth for Sunday morning rowing from 9am at Emu Point. Conditions were much better than the harbour, but the area was very busy with many fishing boats on the go. The next meeting was held on March 9 to prepare the constitution establishing aims and objectives for the club. Matts (captain), D. Halsall, K. Paxton and K. McMahon. Business: Aquinas College offered an eight, with enquiries to be made transporting it to Albany; Storage of the tub pairs at Kalgan River to be investigated; discussion of constitution deferred to next meeting due to lack of material. Panorios returned for a rowing/sculling weekend at Lower Kalgan Caravan Park where the river was considered ideal for a club as it was sheltered from prevailing winds. Two fours from Perth schools were purchased. K. Matts and K. McMahon travelled to Perth to pick them up (one at Fremantle RC), returning the trailer to Kojonup where it was picked up by Guildford Grammar bursar Geoff. The first permanent home for the boats was in a farm building on the Kalgan River. Boats had to be carried down to the river, then back up the driveway. It became painfully obvious within the first 12 months that carrying the boats the long distance was a deterrent to the newer and younger rowers. A rowathon was held in July 1984. A coaching clinic was held on December 8 and 9, 1984.
1985
The farm owner wanted his shed back, so a decision was made to store the boats at the old woolstores. In April, 1985, boats were towed to the Princess Royal Harbour but several were damaged in the heavy swell. Mike Stidwell (DSR) continued helping the club to consolidate and obtain finances to buy boats, working with R. Fry.
1986
Negotiations were made with Kalgan River Progress Association to establish the club on an unused reserve it managed on behalf of the Albany Shire Council near Kalgan River bridge. Matts liaised with the association as he lived on Nanarup Road and was a member of the local community. Older Kalgan residents said they were more than happy to see the reserve used again as it had once been a popular picnic spot but had since become overgrown and “unloved”. Richard Fry took charge of the shed project, fund raising and seeking grants with help from DSR for a facility that would comfortably house fours and eights, canoes and kayaks, with enough space left over for the future. The DSR provided $6,000 and this was followed by $3,000 from the Albany Shire. As a builder, K. McMahon took charge of the shed planning, seeking out a shed builder who would provide the components for club members to erect. In March 1986, K. McMahon surveyed the land at a suitable spot close to the river and under his direction, the metal clad shed was erected over four weekends and finished on April 5, 1986, and the club’s first boats stored. This was then painted in green to blend in with the surroundings, again work was done over several weekends. The clubhouse was first used on April 16, 1986, (according to the first record of attendance, Camden took out canoes for school). Beginners lessons started on May 4, 1986, with four lessons leading to advancement status. Club members celebrated the shed’s completion on June 8, though there was there need for continuing painting. ARAWA rowing development officer Pattie Pinkerton travelled to Albany on April 28 to 30 and again on May 3 to 5 with a trailer of single sculls for coaching and promotion. She stayed at the Premier Hotel. (The requirement was of a hot bath every night because of the cold). A rowathon was held on July 27 to raise funds with about 20 people involved. On September 20, 1986, two novice crews (women: Joanna Child, Andrea McMahon, Margaret Davidson, Rosanne Cebalo, cox Jeremy Mortimer and coached by V.Matts) and a male crew: coached by D. Pennington), and K.Matts (single) were the first to represent the club at a regatta when they raced in Bunbury. The crews raced each other in the build up to the regatta over an estimated straight 1,000 metres on Oyster Harbour below Bayonet Head. and V. Matts left the club in November 1986 to live in Perth and Ian Butcher became the second club president. Plans were then made for an official opening, for Easter 1987.
1987
One established crew rowing from the club was: John Bunn, Stewart Stoney, Wayne Murphy, Mark Hepworth and Harry Lenthal (Jeremy Mortimer and Crispian Fitzharding – cox). A committee was formed to plan the opening in Easter. V. and K. Matts continued to provide input with Perth contacts. Albany Shire president Harry Riggs was given the honour of officially opening the new facility on 1987. A regatta was held in conjunction with the opening, attended by crews from Perth including Bunbury, Swan River, Fremantle. A community event including the flying of a hot air balloon.
1988
Ralph Flowers (captain) started coaching and repairing boats in June 1988. A club breakfast on August 4 attracted 21 members. Kevin Prince was involved with the club in the 90s supporting during corporate club. In the 90s, the corporate cup tennis rowing challenge was initiated between the club and Emu Point Progress Association. John Anderson gave the club a boat and outboard motor in 93 or 94. The toilet block was initiated by the rowing club on the bridge park, and with help provided from the Kalgan community it was built using mudbricks made using a club member’s brick mould. Perth rower Don O’Brien was the club’s unofficial PR representative in Perth and came to Albany on a regular basis helping with coaching because of friendship with R. Fry. Don died in 2009.
2005
March: 100 year history of the Lower Kalgan Bridge
Over the years an ARAWA point score regatta was held in Albany, but the distance to Albany proved too much for Perth clubs and the racing distance too small, and this idea was abandoned. Albany Rowing Club became an inaugural member of the Western Australian Masters Games and has hosted regattas regularly every two years. It continues to be a strong supporter of the Games, holding a regatta which has proved popular among Perth veteran rowers.
