To Commemorate Balmain Rowing club’s oarsmen who answered the Empire’s call to arms during WWl, BRC held an Anzac memorial dawn row on Sunday 25th April.
Crews, two eights, left BRC pontoon before dawn, assembling at White Horse Point for a short service and the laying of eleven floral tributes in honour of our oarsmen who made the supreme sacrifice. In keeping with Anzac spirit, bagpipes were played from White Horse Point, by club member Jeremy Childs, as crews pushed off from the pontoon.
After the service the crews continued with the memorial row down Iron Cove, incorporating the 500 mtr Dardenelles Dash!, returning to the club for an Anzac breakfast and readings of letters written over 100 years ago by our Oarsman at the front.
Honouring the men from our Honor board
In 1993 BRC’s late Mick Ryan took the time to interview Bill Nix about his memories of the men on our Honor board. Bill was in his 90th year and his memory was sharp!, It is truly extraordinary to have this recorded piece of history that provides a unique glance in to the lives of our past oarsmen .
New technology has enabled us to bring some photos to life and the voices of Bill Nix and Mick Ryan, creates a unique tribute to our WWl Oarsmen.
Click on the link to be transported back in time: