In the 70′s he was the right hand man of our SUBC Coach Maurie Grace. Joe Donnelly , our very determined cox who steered SUBC, NSW Kings Cup eiights to victories and coxed the Aussie eights of 1974 and 1975. About ten years ago, after much local opposition Joe managed to get approval for his school , Kinross Walaroi to row on the Spring Creek Dam in Orange and created one of the most vibrant coeducational rowing programs in Australia in a very short space of time.
Two of Joe’s athletes, Jo Wood and Grace Michell are important members of Sydnmey Uni’s women’s rowing team today.
In 2009 Joe started coaching and assisting the Vietnamese rowing program and just last week the crews he has been coaching gained silver medals. Joe’s role is that of senior coaching advisor – he writes the programs and instructs the coaches on technical isntruction.
Joe’s crews, the Women’s Lightweight Quad and the Women’s Double Scull both won silver medals with close seconds to China. Joe is hoping now that the crews will train on for the 2011 World Championships.
Our photo shows the Vietnamese Lightweight Quad in training