Emma Pritchard
140 years of local history has been proudly preserved and celebrated in 368 pages.
Catch, Drive, Recover – History of the Grafton Rowing Club 1882-2022, was officially launched on May 27, fittingly, along the banks of the majestic Clarence River, the scene of 14 decades of rowing, racing, regattas, and of course lifelong mateships and memories.
Funded through the NSW Governments Cultural Grants Program, and administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society, the publication features an extraordinary exploration through the early days of rowing on the Clarence River, the establishment of the Grafton Rowing Club and it’s countless community contributions, the names and stories of the boys and girls, men and women, who called the building their second home, their remarkable achievements on the water, and the admirable legacies they have created.
Compiled by Grafton Rowing Club Member Wendy Ford, who humbly shared an insight into her initial involvement and subsequent work and research on the publication with more than 40 guests during the launch, Catch, Drive, Recover – History of the Grafton Rowing Club 1882-2022 has been overwhelmingly received by the Clarence Valley community, with many attendees eagerly lining up on the weekend to secure a copy.
“It all kicked off mid-2019 when the Grafton Rowing Club administration office was broken into and vandalised, and while there was very little damage, close to 140 years of history including records, photos, and papers, were unceremoniously tipped up and spread throughout the club,” she recalled.
“I received a phone call to ask if I wanted to assist with the clean-up, and the opportunity to sort through and catalogue the history was one not to be missed.
“When I became aware of the NSW Governments Cultural Grants Program, I applied, and we received $2690 which helped to get things moving.
“I’m extremely proud of the book and what the club has achieved through 140 years.
“Initially, we were aiming to have the book launch last year, in time for the club’s 140th anniversary on June 20, but we still feel so proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.
“There is over 900 hours of work that went into the book, but that was when I stopped counting.”
President of the Clarence River Historical Society (CRHS) Steve Tranter was presented with a copy of the publication in acknowledgement of his contributions and assistance to the Grafton Rowing Club during its compilation, while Ken Maughan, an avid rower who has been a member of the club since 1961, also received a copy and said he was “very much looking forward to reading.”
A copy has also been donated to the Clarence Regional Library.
Anyone interested in acquiring a copy of the book is invited to contact the Grafton Rowing Club at graftonrowing@gmail.com