CENTENARY 2019
DRUMMOYNE ROWING CLUB
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News from the DRC Centenary Sub-Committee
December 2016
DRC Centenary Sub-committee members are: Alex Warner, Louis Petrin, Deirdre Edmonds, Peter Stroud, and Kathleen Hextell.
Did you know?
The small grassed area at the side of the club (where the dragon boats are stored) is called Ashley Reserve after George Ashley who served the club for many years holding nearly every position, including President and Captain. The retaining wall was built by a working party which included Peter Stroud, Denis Peet, and Dob O’Dell. The trees on either side of the concrete driveway to the club were planted by Cameron Watson, son of Charles Watson.
Charles a long serving member joining the club in the early 1950s and was also Captain and Director
Back to DRC BBQ and some reflections by Peter Stroud
A very successful BBQ was held on Sunday 2 October for about 50 members past and present. The weather was perfect as people caught up with old rowing mates over a sausage and cold beer. Some of the past members had not seen each other for 30 - 40 years and suggested that perhaps we should have provided name tags so they could recognise each other!
One of the attendees was Stuart Sampson whose father Jack Sampson was a real stalwart of the club. Peter Stroud remembered how Jack would organise large groups to support the rowers who were competing in regattas including Taree and the National Championships on the Nepean River. It built a great spirit in the club. At one regatta Peter and Mick McReynolds won the pair race and he said Jack made you feel like you’d won a world championship, Jack encouraged and supported so many rowers for over 30years
You may remember in the August edition of Centenary News, John Lee spoke of the rower Brian Denny who was tragically killed a few weeks before the Munich Olympic Games. So it was a real delight to meet Ricky Howard who was married to Brian at the time. Ricky is now married to Denis Howard who was also a member of DRC.
Peter has many fond memories of all the people that supported the club, including the Ladies Auxiliary who raised a lot of money to purchase equipment for the club. All these members did so much work for the club over the years although some of them never rowed. He named Jack Sampson, John Parkinson, Ross Andrews, Andy Andrews, the Leo brothers, and Charlie Champion. Also the coaches that turned many of Drummoyne Rowers into Championship winning oarsmen and women during the 60s and 70s - Frank Male, Richard Tarlington, Ron Bath, Jim Walker, Ron Ficcara, and the great Rusty Robinson with too many rowers to name in this report. Special mention must be made of long serving rower and administrator Klara (Kik) Lantay for her outstanding work and contribution to women’s rowing in the club.
Many thanks to Charles for cooking the BBQ, Belinda and Maggie Watson (Charles Watson’s wife) for taking endless trays of food round to guests, Lydia, Kathleen, and Rob for helping make the day a big success.