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\u201cWhen we started looking for a name, we wanted to recognise a great woman, and then we found a photo of these four women from 1960, which piqued our imagination,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never thought we would be able to get all four of them here, with two from Queensland, Bruce from New South Wales, and two from the local area, so it\u2019s great to have them all back together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Bajenoff, formerly Joanna Watson, was \u201cstunned, excited and honoured,\u201d to be recognised, remembering her rowing experience fondly.<\/p>\n
\u201cEric Waller organised our crew and I was the stroke; the best place in the boat. I used to give the cox the cheek,\u201d she laughed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love it that the four of us are still alive after 60 years. Penny, Mary and I were 18, Coral was 20, and we all loved it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was close friends with Mary at Queen\u2019s Grammar, and Penny and Coral went to Clarendon College. I haven\u2019t seen Mary since I was 21, and we were so close, so it\u2019s wonderful to get together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Gibb, then Coral Hickey, rowed briefly at WBRC. She remembers her crew\u2019s heavy wooden equipment; a contrast to the new, lighter racing shell and oars she saw on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hard work, but it was all very exciting and fun. It\u2019s a wonderful sport,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SIXTY-one years ago, Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club\u2019s first women\u2019s crew was formed, winning their maiden race on the lake. Last Monday, on International Women\u2019s Day, one of the club\u2019s newest quadruple sculls was officially named in honour of the pioneering rowers; Joanna Bajenoff, Coral Gibb, Penny Fawcett, Mary Wright, and their coxswain, Bruce Wilding, who […]<\/p>\n