On a pleasant summer evening the Chancellor of Sydney University, Justice Kim Santow formally launched the Sydney University Rowing Foundation. The Foundation is a joint project of the Sydney University Boat Club and the Sydney University Women’s Rowing Club and aims to raise funds to maintain and expand the equipment program of the university rowing clubs. With projected government legislation banning compulsory membership and specific clauses in the legislation preventing universities from charging students any fees not directly related to an academic course the urgency to launch and make this Foundation a success has become a priority for Sydney University rowing. The new legislation could strip between $30-$50 million on funding from university sport in Australia and in order to maintain our sporting programs other funding for sports such as ours needs to be put in place.
The Foundation Launch was a cockatil party at “Callooa”, the home of Paul Espie an SUBC alumnus and one of the driving forces behind the Foundation. Guests included Gough Whitlam (Sydney Uni – St Pauls rower circa 1938) with his wife Margaret who represented in swimming along with John Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee and a strong supporter and member of our sport. Rod Tubbs, SU Sport Alumni Relations, interviewd our guests and Steve Newnham our Founding Chair exhorted the guests to give their support.
A successful and enjoyabale night followed the speeches and the night ended with the Foundation over halfway towards it’s initial target of one million dollars.
Over the next two months the Foundation Committee will be following up supporters who attended or indicated their interest in supporting the Foundation. Please give your support to keep our sport and its traditions alive and strong at Sydney University.
Our photo shows Kim Santow announcing the start of the Rowing Foundation.