![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/11\/IMG_6152-300x200.jpg\")
\u201cI intend to hop into this boat as many times as I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Waller is the former president of the Ballarat Rowing Association and has made national and international contributions to the sport, working as an official at the Australian National Championships, Sydney Olympics, the World Rowing Championships is Tasmania, and at the World Masters Games on Lake Wendouree.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou meet people throughout the world, and I was able to use those contacts to… get the Ballarat course to FISA standard,\u201d Mr Waller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat is the only FISA approved course in Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr King said it\u2019s important the club continues to have a boat named after Mr Waller, who\u2019s contributed \u201cenormously.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEric is well respected in the rowing world. Not because of what he says, but what he does. He gets things done, and in a simple manner. Nothing becomes too complicated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took over from Eric in 2014, but he\u2019s been a fantastic mentor during that time to help navigate the rowing world.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to see Eric around the rowing club for some time to come, and we felt it important to have a boat in his name that\u2019s getting used a lot on the water. It will continue to go out at nearly every regatta.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rowing Victoria president Deb Spring was present at the boat christening and said Mr Waller\u2019s commitment to the sport, including stints as an RV board member and vice-president, has been immeasurable.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s dedicated, passionate and there\u2019s such a depth and breadth of what he\u2019s done, from being on the field of play for years, to coaching a winning crew,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a legend, and that\u2019s what makes the rowing community so strong; the people like Eric.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TWO key people in the Ballarat rowing community were acknowledged for their significant contributions to the sport last weekend, with boats christened in their names. Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club members honoured former long-term captain and president, and stalwart of the Australian rowing community, Eric Waller, and first-ever woman captain of the club, Alicia Ivory. \u201cAlicia […]<\/p>\n