Our President Sarah Cook and the current SUBC Committee have commissioned a new major award for our club in memory of the late journalist, rowing mother and rowing supporter Rebecca Wilson.
The shield is being made by noted Melbourne based sculptor, Jennifer Mann. The wooden base will be about 70 cms in diameter and in hardwood stained in walnut colour. The centre piece will be an etching of Rebecca Wilson in copper and coated in silver. This image will be around 30-35 cms in diameter. The central image will be surrounded by 72 silver plaques on which the annual winner’s name will be inscribed.
The President is seeking donations – we need to raise a further $3,000 to pay for this shield when it arrives in January 2018. To donate please email or call any of the SUBC Committee – contact details at: https://www.subc.com.au/commitee/
Please see below a speech about this trophy given bt President Sarah Cook at the 2016 Boat Club Annual Dinner
Transcript of speech from 2016 SUBC Annual Dinner:
“Rebecca Wilson tragically lost her long and private battle with cancer last week. Many of her closest friends and family did not know of her illness, as this was a burden she did not want to place on those around her. This was a testament to her stoicism, resilience and importantly her vibrancy that those around her were not aware of her hardship and private battle.
Rebecca was a force of nature and a giant in her field of sports journalism. She paved the way for female journalists, and for those who dared question her right to be there her response was “get stuffed”. Bec was fearless, passionate, courageous, polarising, but her only agenda was the truth.
Rebecca was a passionate supporter of rowing, and the Sydney University Boat Club. Over the years, many of us have gotten to know Bec through her help at rowing camps, organisation of fundraising events for the club, MCing events such as the Boat Race brunch, supplying weekly meals to the men’s eight throughout their Olympic qualification campaign, and her fight for the selection of the 2012 Australian Women’s eight for the Olympic Games.
I am honoured to have called her a friend, a role model, and an inspiration. To always seek truth, fairness, justice and equity.
In Rebecca’s honour, the boat club will this year be starting a new annual award, named the Rebecca Wilson Shield. The recipient of this award will be chosen by the president and awarded to a member of the club who has demonstrated some of Bec’s extraordinary qualities, including fearlessness, excellence, courage, strength, resolve, and leadership.
The trophy is to be funded by the alumni of the boat club and will be commissioned in the coming months. If you would like to contribute to the creation of this shield, I encourage you to please contact either myself or the committee.
Kind Regards, Sarah Cook
The Club would like to thanks those who have contributed so far:
Deb Fox $250.00
Eric Carter $200.00
David Edwards $500.00
Anne Titterton $250.00
Susan Tattersall $50.00
Alison Gotch $250.00
Chris Noel $300.00
Sarah Cook $250.00
Estelle Clancy $25.00
John Boultbee $250.00
George Bawtree $250.00
Francis Hegerty $300.00