JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter XI - 'On the River'.See Also
Rowing
The following text is an excerpt from the
Jubilee History Text published in 1911.
On The River 'Although close to the river, it was a good many years before rowing became so popular as to call for a College boathouse and boat club. In 1873 the Barwon Rowing Club discovered that in the two large Geelong schools there was much promising material. Boysfrom the College and the Grammar School were induced to join the club, and take part in the first scratchfours held on the Barwon. The Grammar School crew won the race. It was from that beginning that there sprang the rowing enthusiasm in both Geelong schools. The following year the Grammar School won the Public Schools Champion ship.
This gave an impetus to rowing at the College, but it was not until 1877 that the first crew tried conclusions with another school. A match was arranged with Hawthorn Grammar School, but the stroke of the College crew, H. Osborne, dislocated his right elbow on the football field, and a postponement was necessary. Naturally, the crew lost form in the meantime, and when the race was at length rowed the College crew were beaten by two lengths, though in weight and physique they were far superior to the Hawthorn crew. They rowed in clinkerfours. The College crew were:—H. Osborne, stroke (11st.); J. Ware, 3 (12st.); W. Longden, 2 (10st. 71b.); G. E. Morrison, bow (10st. 31b.); R. Rede, cox. (5st. 31b.) The best oar in the boat was
G. E. Morrison, "when he liked."
It might have been expected that a, College Boat Club would have been at once established, but the Doctor would not listen to the pleadings of those who thirsted for rowing glory. Eleven years passed before the Boat Club was founded. Old boys interested in rowing and several good friends of the College contributed the money necessary for the purchase of a pair, a fouroared gig, and two pleasure boats. For a year or so the boats were housed in the Barwon Rowing Club sheds. They were a long way off, but the charm of "the long downriver days" which came at every week end made light of that difficulty.
Before the next year a shed site was obtained on the Barwon, and the old boathouse put up on it, and the old moat cut from the river to the shed. A new fouroared gig was bought, so that races would be possible. That was in 1889, and at the end of the year another "four" was ordered. Scratch fours, were rowed twice in 1889, and thus rowing was fairly established as a popular sport.
From the beginning the Boat Club has been helped enormously by old collegians. They found the money to establish it originally, and when new boats were needed the old collegians always came to the rescue, and presented one to the Club. The first racing boat was given to the Club by the Old Boys in 1890. Dr. Harry Salmon, of Ballarat, was the chief mover in the matter.
In 1891 Norman Morrison brought to the school a great enthusiasm for rowing, and the popularity of the Saturday river trips was redoubled. New boats were bought, and great excitement worked up by the trial fours which were rowed. Regular coaching was given the different crews, and though a racing crewfor outside competitions was not produced, high hopes were entertained for the future.
Swimming had always been a favourite amusement, and in the early days at Knowle House all the boarders were taken to the sea everymorning. Though this practice ceased when the school was movedfurther out, there was always a number of fine swimmers at the College, and every member of the Boat Club was taught to swim. In 1892 Emil Sander, who was one of the crack swimmers of Victoria, was at the College. His influence, combined with Norman Morrison's lovefor the river, led to the holding of aquatic sports at "theWillows." All the boys in the school were transported down the river in the College fleet, reinforced by boatslent by the Barwon Rowing Club. Football was played, and scratch fours rowed off in the morning, while the afternoon was devoted to swimming races. Emil Sander won the school championship. It was expected that the outing, which was a complete success, would be made an annual fixture, but it lapsed in future years.
In 1892 four old collegians rowed in the Melbourne University eight. Arthur Morrison was stroke, J. Bell, W. Neale, and Clive Morrison being the other three. In 1893, Arthur Morrison again stroked the crew, and Neale and Clive Morrison again rowed behind him. On both occasions the crew won the Inter'Varsity Championship.
Bird nesting had been added to the amusements of the school, and a fine collection of birds' eggs was being built up. Boating parties camped for the day, and sometimes the week end at "the Willows," "Campbell's Point," "Cormorant," and other favoured spots, raided the surrounding country for nests and eggs. Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove—not then the popular resorts they have since become—were also frequently visited by the more energetic crews.
One streak racing four comprised the racing fleet of the boat house up to 1896. Then a new boat with outriggers and roller slides was added. It was named "Pegasus." In that year too a "Captain of the Boats" was formally appointed for the first time. He was Frank McFarland, who was also that year captain of the football and cricket teams.
A great event in the rowing history of the College happened in 1902, when the first "eight" was added to the fleet. This was the "Lorna Mary," presented to the school by Mr. J. L. Currie, one of the original old collegians of 1861. The launching and christening of the boat were made the occasion for a little function it the boat house. Mrs. Currie, after whom the new "eight" was named, cracked a bottle of champagne with a silver hammer, and said "I name this boat the 'Lorna Mary,' and wish her and her crews and the Geelong College every good luck and prosperity." A trial spin in the new boat followed, and then afternoon tea and speeches.
Mr. L. St. G. P. Austin had come to the College asmaster in 1901 and gave a great deal of attention to the boats. Under his coaching, the rowing improved immensely, and with the presentation of the "Lorna Mary" the day was in sight when a College "eight" would be able to compete with other schools. It was not till 1904 that this actually took place. The Ladies' Challenge Cup at Henley provided the opportunity, and though the announcement of the race left but little time in which to prepare a crew, Mr. Austin took up the work and succeeded beyond expectations. The crew met Wesley College in the first heat of the race. They were defeated by two lengths, but only after a hardfought race, in which the College crew maintained their form throughout. It was a highly creditable performance.
A racing "eight" had to be borrowed from the Barwon Rowing Club for that race. The next year the College rowed in their own boat—a new "eight" of latest design, presented by the old Geelong Collegians' Association. On the day of the annual regatta the boat was formally presented and launched. Ill luck was experienced in training for Henley that year—1905. Measles broke out at the College, three of the crew were laid aside, and two of them had to be omitted from the crew. One of them, A. W. Dennis, the stroke, was an irreparable loss. In the second heat of the race the College met Geelong Grammar School—the first race which had ever taken place between the two schools, such ancient rivals in all other sports. The Grammar School won.
In 1906 the public schools decided at the last moment that they would not compete in the Ladies' Challenge Cup at Henley. This meant a rowover for Geelong College, but the College had no desire to gain the title of "Head of the River" in that fashion, and also withdrew from the contest. Next year it was expected that the race would lapse again, and the College crew were not entered. At the last moment, however, the Scotch College crew entered, and being the only crew, won the Cup with a rowover.
Rowing at the College had improved enormously in the last few years. Mr.W. Pincott had been acting as coach, and, together with Mr. Austin, giving a great deal of attention to the crews. With the entry of the College into the public schools' contests for "the Head of the River," there was provided great encouragement for perseverance in this sport. The crew of 1908, the first public school year of the College, achieved the distinction of securing second place in the Public Schools' Boat Race, rowed on the Yarra.
In the first, heat, after a very exciting race, they beat Wesley College by a length and a quarter. In the final heat they met Scotch College and Xavier College. The race resolved itself into amatch between Scotch College and Geelong College, and ended in the defeat of the Geelong crew by a length and a half. So delighted were the old collegians with the fine race rowed by the College crew in theirfirst year in the public schools' competition that they presented those boys who had seats in the boat with cups in memory of the event, and in recognition of the plucky fight they had put up.
Next year the College crewmet Melbourne Grammar School in the first heat, and to the disappointment of all who had seen them in practice suffered defeat. Wesley College defeated both Geelong Grammar school and Melbourne Grammar School in the final. In 1910 the College were again drawn against Melbourne Grammar School in the first heat. The course had been badly buoyed, and the College coxswain took his boat farinto a patch of dead water, which should never have been entered at all. Afull length was lost in consequence and never regained. Melbourne Grammar School won. Every boat which rowed on the north station was beaten, and the buoys were altered for the final, which was won by Wesley College.
A great scene was presented along the banks of the Barwon on 12th May and 13th May, 1911. The Head of the River races were being rowed there, and the crowd which lined the banks and raced along it with the competing crews recalled the greatest days of the rowing supremacy of the Barwon and Corio Clubs. All sorts of vehicles were there, from themodern motor car to the old stage coach torn from its retirement to carry enthusiasts, for everyvehicle in Geelong which could be hired had been hired. The College crew contained seven novices, so it was not surprising that Melbourne Grammar School, whose crew averaged 11st. 9½bs., against 10st. 61bs. for the College, should defeat the College crew by a length and a half. Wesley College won the final.'
Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 108-117.