Queenslanders Recognised in Rower of the Year Awards

After a brilliant day of finals at the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships, the rowing community gathered for its night of nights, the Presidents Cocktail Function and Rower of the Year Awards on Friday the 5th of March.  Established six years ago to recognise those within the community for their service to rowing, the highlight of the night is undoubtedly the crowning of the year’s Rowers’ Rower or Crew of the Year.

Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Dee, say the Presidents Function gives the rowing community the chance to thank those who work so hard for the sport.  “Organising a regatta of this magnitude is no small task,” Dee said.  “The Presidents Function gives those of us in the rowing community the chance to thank the organising committee and pay tribute to the people who have worked so hard over the years to progress the sport.”

2010 saw the first time Rowing Australia would present Life Membership pins to those who have given so much to the sport. These specially designed pins were presented to both current and new Life Members.  John Boultbee, John Coates AC, Reinhold Batschi, Andrew Guerin, David Yates and Barbara Fenner were all presented with these specially designed pins, while Dr Stephen Hinchy of Queensland was awarded his at the Rowing Queensland King's Cup and Interstate Luncheon in February.

This year’s function the featured the Rowers’ Rower of the Year awards, nominated and voted on by athletes who have represented Australia on a Junior, U23 or Senior A team in 2009.  Queenslander's featured in both the Male and Female awards, with the Australian Junior Women's Coxless Four being named Female Crew of the Year after winning Gold at the 2009 World Junior Championships.  The crew included Queenslander Anna Kaszycki, who will be lining up to represent her home state for the first time in the Interstate Regatta on Sunday.  The Male Crew of the Year went to the Senior A Australian Coxless Quad of which Queenslander Jared Bidwell was a member.  The Quad took the award after winning Silver at the World Championships in August 2009.

The 2009 Coach of the Year also went to a Queenslander.  Queensland Academy of Sport Head Coach Tim Conrad was recognised after taking the Australian Senior A Coxless Four to a Silver medal at the World Championships, following their Silver medal at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  Fellow Queenslander Peter Shakespear was also nominated for the award.

At the beginning of the evening former Rowing Australia President, the Honourable Patrick McNamara was recognised for his contribution towards the sport in our country.  Pat come to the Rowing Australia Presidency in November 2000, and from his very first involvement began building his remarkable legacy for the sport.  Pat’s list of achievements during his time as President are outstanding and are one of the primary reasons that Rowing Australia is in such a strong and successful position. Pat’s political acumen enabled him to form excellent working relationships with the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Paralympic Committee, all of which have contributed to the prominent position that Rowing Australia now enjoys in the Australian sporting landscape.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to a person who has significantly contributed to Australian rowing either domestically or internationally.  Deputy Chair of Rowing Australia, John Boultbee presented Phil Titterton with this year’s Volunteer of the year award.  Phil Titterton has been a dedicated servant of Australian rowing for many years, predominantly in his service of the NSW rowing community. In 2009, in addition to continuing to serve in his roles as member of the NSW Masters Commission, BRO, and regatta volunteer, Phil undertook the massive logistical task of organising venue infrastructure for the World Masters Games including managing the boat hire compound, tent and merchandising sites and individually building all of the pontoons for the regatta.  Phil beat out Queenslander's Bob Alexander, Chris Grummett and James Worrell for the award. 

Rowing Australia thanks everyone awarded on the night for their hard work, support and dedication to the sport.