Vale Paul Rowe

Vale Paul Rowe

The rowing community was saddened to hear of the death on 25 July 2015 of long time ACT rowing supporter and national rowing figure Paul Rowe.

Paul’s association with ACT rowing went back to the early 1970s when he competed in Canberra as a member of Haberfield Rowing Club.  At Haberfield he reached the peak of his rowing career winning numerous NSW State titles.  He was also successful at the national level, winning national titles in all classes of crew sculling boats and lightweight sweep and single sculling boats.  As the NSW sculler he twice came second in the interstate sculling race for the President’s Cup against much heavier opponents from Queensland.  He represented Australia in the lightweight sculls at the 1975 World Rowing Championship at Nottingham.

Paul moved to Canberra in 1986 as apprentice coach at the Australian Institute of Sport Rowing Unit and has lived in Canberra ever since.  He had many coaching successes at the AIS and regularly coached Australian representative crews through the early 1990s including at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.  He coached many ACT crews notably the men’s lightweight IV representing NSW that won the Penrith Cup in 1987.  This remains one of ACT Rowing’s greatest moments.

Formidable as they were, Paul’s rowing successes were exceeded by his personal qualities.  His wisdom and generosity benefited many in the local rowing community, particularly members of his club, the Daramalan Rowing Club.

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