Club history

1992

The Murdoch University Rowing Club (MURC) arose from humble beginnings back in 1992. A group of Murdoch students decided that it was time the University was represented in the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup Regatta and so they organised both a Men’s and Women’s Eight, to compete in the race. After the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup, a core group of rowers including Richard McLellan and Arthur House, established the Murdoch University Rowing Club. They obtained a grant of $20,000 from the University and a boatshed at the Amateur Rowing Association of Western Australia (ARAWA) Headquarters, on The Esplanade in Mount Pleasant.

President: Richard McLellan, Captain: Arthur House, Ladies' Captain: Sarah Perkins

1993

MURC entered ARAWA in 1993 and quickly became a force to reckon with. During the club’s foundation year, MURC again entered a Men’s and Women’s Eight in the Vice-Chancellor's Cup. They won two bronze medals at the Australian University Rowing Championships (in the Men’s Lightweight Four and Men’s Heavyweight Single categories) and won the ARAWA Novice Pennant.

President: Richard McLellan, Captain: Arthur House, Ladies' Captain: Sarah Perkins

1994

Rowing fever didn’t take long to spread, with the club’s membership expanding to over 60 active members in 1994. During this year MURC built the starting pontoon for the ARAWA State Championships, for the first time. Since then, building the pontoon twice a year had become part of life down at the club. Murdoch University continued to support the club and provided another $20,000 grant, over three years, for club development.

President: Richard McLellan, Captain: Arthur House, Ladies' Captain: Sarah Perkins

1995

In 1995 the Talent Identification Program (TIP) ran from MURC. This programme involved the training of a number of youngsters who showed great promise as rowers and had been selected through the state-wide program. The TIP athletes competed at the National Championships providing MURC’s first Nationals appearance. Also in 1995, MURC rowers competed at Intervarsity in Ballarat and won the bronze medal in the Women’s Lightweight Four. The Women’s Maiden Eight coached by Matthew Doyle, won their State Championship race in a time of 7:40. Business House - MURC’s corporate regatta, was held for the first time in this season and became an integral part of each year's fundraising and fun!

President: Richard McLellan, Captain: Arthur House, Ladies' Captain: Sarah Perkins

1996

In 1996 it was the Men’s turn, with the Men’s Maiden Eight winning their State Championship race in a time of 6:20. The crew (Josh Carroll, Nick Kuchen, Pete Clune, Luke Colgan, Ewin Bloomfield, Jason Fowler, Craig Salisbury, Steve Grant, Wendy List [cox]) was coached by Alan Salisbury and Ben Dudley. 1996 marked the end of MURC’s involvement in the Talent Identification Program. Over the next three years MURC continued to grow and purchased several new boats to meet the needs of our members; the Hugh Davis (8), the Richard McLellan (4-), the Arthur House (2-) and the Sarah ‘Tex’ Perkins (2-). MURC also established two ‘Learn to Row’ programs around this time. Held every year, in January (for members of the community) and in March (for University students) these programs provide non-rowers with a chance to get involved in our sport. MURC members provide the coaching and coxing expertise.

President: Sarah Perkins, Captain: Matthew Doyle, Ladies' Captain: Kylie Falconer

1997

In 1997 the Women’s Maiden Eight, coached by Matthew Doyle, came second in the State Championship Race. President: Craig Salisbury, Captain: Jason Fowler, Ladies' Captain: Nicole Denney

1998

In 1998 MURC again competed at Intervarsity. Nicole, Elaine, Catherine, Rebecca and Wendy (cox) represented MURC in the Lightweight Women’s Four. Ben Dudley coached the crew. President: Jason Fowler, Captain: Jamie Patterson, Ladies' Captain: Nicole Denney

1999

1999 saw the club enter another rapid growth period and MURC was runner-up Best Club at the end of the ARAWA season. The first edition of the Club’s year book “Quote-able Quotes and Do-able Deeds” was printed in this year. President: Fiamma Riviera, Captain: Cynthia Bolton, Ladies' Captain: Melanie McPherson

2000

In 2000 MURC was represented at the National Championships by Sarah Outhwaite, who competed in a composite Four with rowers from the Swan River Rowing Club. Recreational rowing became a high priority for the club in this year and Kate Sounness continues to provide excellent coaching for the ever-growing ranks of Saturday morning rowers. President: Doug Bolton, Captain: Cynthia Bolton, Ladies' Captain: Melanie McPherson

2001

The 2001 season saw MURC attract Zurich Scholarship holder, Alison Hillman, to the club and our Men’s Maiden Eight come runner-up by less than half a second in the State Championship race. President: Doug Bolton, Captain: Cynthia Bolton, Ladies' Captain: Paula Fuller

2002

In 2002, the MURC Women’s Maiden Eight (Chris Matthew, Phoebe Readford, Fiamma Riviera, Alison Hillman, Kate Sounness, Katherine Hillman, Melanie McPherson, Nicole Denney and Alex Pickup (cox)) received Line Honours in the 15 kilometre Perth to Fremantle Head Race. Luke Nicholls and Ben Dudley coached the crew. MURC performed very well at the State Championships. The Maiden Women's 8 won their State Championship race for the first time since 1995. It was a just reward for the amount of training that was completed by the crew during the season. The men's novice squad rowed well to capture the Novice Men's 4 and Novice Men's 8 titles. In the equipment stakes, the Club purchased a 2 year old Sykes eight and christened it 'Benjamin Dudley'. This boat was used by the Maiden Women in their State title winning row. President: Victor Babich, Club Captain: Melanie McPherson, Ladies' Captain: Trish Doney, Men's Captain: James Langley

2003

President: Kate Souness, Club Captain: James Langley, Men's Captain: James West, Ladies' Captain: Janet Horsfall

2004

President: Nicola Fox

2005

President: Greg Vines

2006

President: Greg Vines

2007

President: Stephanie Slade, Captain: Ed Poon

2008

In 2008, the club acquired two additional boats. These were a single named the 'Gifted', and a convertible coxed quad named the 'Greg Vines'. President: Stephanie Slade, Captain: Ed Poon

2009

A convertible double scull was acquired and christened 'Ed Poon'. President: Stephanie Smith, Captain: Ed Poon, Ladies' Captain: Leslie Brady, Men's Captain: Bevan Walton

2012

President: Ian Winfield, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Lyall Fowle

2013

The club had a surge in competitive rowers and competed at all Pennants, Masters and Head Races on the WA Rowing calendar. Many new rowers were competitive enough to win races in their first season rowing competitively. Murdoch rowers competed in the World Masters Games in Turin (Italy) and the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Varese. The club acquired a convertible coxed quad named the 'Deb Barnaby'. President: Ian Winfield, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Lyall Fowle

2014

MURC members traveled to Adelaide to compete in the Australian Masters Rowing National Championships. Bronze medalling in the mixed Quad; Pauline Swan, Judy Magee, Ed Poon and Greg Vines set a high standard for the club early in the year. Medals continued to flow in the Rowing WA Pennants State Championships with Marianna Cochrane (nee Zakrzewski) and Julie Sandow wining the C Grade Women's Pair, resulting in MURC being awarded the Rowing WA Novice Pair shield for 2014. Perhaps MURC's greatest achievement in 2014 was being the club to retain the highest percentage of competitive members. President: Ian Winfield, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Lyall Fowle

2015

President: Ian Winfield, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Lyall Fowle

2016

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Lyall Fowle

2017

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Yvette Kenward-Egerton, Men's Captain: Marcus Baudach

2018

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Carolyn Fennelle

2019

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Carolyn Fennelle

2020

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Carolyn Fennelle

2021

President: Stuart Diggins, Captain: Ken Price, Ladies' Captain: Lyall Fowle