CLUB REVIVED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 57, 19 March 1943, Page 5

CLUB REVIVED

THE SPORT OF ROWING JUNIOR SECTION FORMED Rowing- received a definite fillup last evening 1 when a meeting convened by the Club president, Mr C. A. Hay ward, turned! out to be the moslt enthusiastic and best attended for many years. Apart l'rom a number of ex-rowers and businessmen the meeting Avas remarkable for the presence of sixteen Young men ana youths who have demonstrated their interest in this ■ healthy sport by taking part in several trial runs on the river and their subsequent desire to become members. Mr Hayward in opening the meeting said he was agreeably surprised at the attendance and though he understood there had been some controversy regarding the use. of the bbats while the original members were away, he personally thought the Mdea of resurrecting the club and training up young oarsmen was a good one. When Avar broke out he said there Ave re 23 active .members, all of whom of military age, had enlisted with the Ist and 2nd Echelons. The membership had gradually dAvindled until only he. (the president) and the secretary Averc loft. Later even the secretary Avent overseas and. it had been decided to lock the shed up for the duration. NeA\r interest in the club had been aroused as a result of the dri\ r e by the citizens to raise funds to recondition the shed and he took the opportunity of thanking all who had donated to that fund. "When the boys; learn what this town has done! for them,'' he said, "they will be more than gratified.'" The question of reviving the club occupied the meeting for some time the discussion from a suggestion to reconstitute the executive to the. formation of a junior section AA'ithin the body of the original club, leaving the existing office bearers in office and merely functioning under the direction of a management committee. The latter suggestion Avas considered most suitable in fairness to the members iioav oA*erseas and in courtesy to the office bearers. The junior section- of the existing RoAving Club. Avas formally agreed upon and the management committee Avas elected as under: Messrs C. H. Hayward,. J. Gattsche, J. Partridge, R. Morpeth, W T . Pyne, R. Seebeck and C. Ivingslcy-Smith. The aboA*e committee Avill undertake. the training of the new junior •members' and Avill safeguard the club's, properly. The subscription till the annual meeting (end of April) was fixed for 10s. Officers of the Junior Club Averf appointed as under: Boathouse. committee, J. Gattsche (chairman), L. SteAvart, Sonny Moore, Norman Jaram, Geoff Moore* Jim Rivctt and Kevin Butler. Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Ron King. Mr A. J. Canning offered a prize for the first junior competition and it Avas suggested to the management committee that an effort be made to run a trail-four race at Easter Avhich coukl be advertised and given publicity as a means of drawing attention to the progress of the junioi; club. Mr Canning's offer was accepted Avith acclamation. The question of honorary members was also mentioned and it was recommended that this aspect be considered by the committee as a means of arousing interest. Concluding the meeting Mr HayAvard thanked particularly the businessmen avlio had attended and added that he felt sure that, members of the club, noAV Avith the military forces Avould be in agreement with the new" movement which Avas he felt certain going to make for a much stronger club and ior a Avider interest in the sport, than hijherot.