Fleet grows for new rowing era

LAST month’s christening of new boats at Ballarat High School’s rowing shed reflected changing times.

With the introduction of quad sculling into the upcoming 2021 Head of the lake, which traditionally has been a day of racing for coxed fours, the School has bought two new quad sculls into their fleet.

Director of rowing Rob Simmonds said the club has named them the Hawkes Family and the Lukich Family, recognising “committed and dedicated” long-term supporters of Ballarat High School’s rowing program.

“In 2009, in the middle of the longest drought Ballarat had seen in many years, the Hawkes and Lukich families started their time in the Ballarat High School rowing program, with Sarah Hawkes and James Lukich starting their rowing journeys,” he said.

“Lisa Lukich, Russell Hawkes and Genevieve Hawkes joined the parent committee to help with rowing camps and fundraising efforts.

“Russell became Boat Club president from 2011 to 2014, and Lisa remains on the committee to this day, with her latest role as president.”

Through the years of drought, BHS rowers spent many hours travelling to Geelong or Nagambie for training camps on the rivers.

Functions were organised, raffle tickets were sold, and sausages were sizzled, all under the leadership of the parent committee, especially those from the Hawkes and Lukich families.

“They have been involved in tens of thousands of dollars raised for the boat club across their time.

“The kids, Sarah, Patrick and Brendan Hawkes, and James, Geordie and Ella Lukich have all done volunteer coaching in the program, and have racked up over 21 seasons of coaching across 28 crews,” Mr Simmonds said.

“Patrick Hawkes is now the School’s open boys’ division one coach.”

Geordie Lukich and Patrick Hawkes won the open boys’ division one Head of the Lake together in 2014 in the record time of 6.39.98.