Grafton Rowing Club History - Establishing Grafton Rowing Club

Mr Sam See, the Mayor of Grafton, presided over the initial meeting to consider the formation of a rowing club in Grafton, with well known rowing enthusiast E. L. Lehman as convenor.

Mayor Samuel See

It was decided that a rowing club be formed if sufficient numbers were interested, with a joining fee of one Guinea and an annual membership fee of two Guineas (about three weeks wages at that time). A sub-committee of three members (S. B. Cameron, C. Lowenthall, and W. Stevenson) was formed to canvass for members.

Grafton Rowing Club Officials, L-R: A. E. Taylor (Vice Captain), H. Hynes (Honorary Secretary), C. Sampson (standing - Honorary Treasurer), Wally Stevenson (Captain)

Later, on June 20, 1882, at a meeting held at the Freemasons Hotel, sufficient prospective members applied for membership and paid their fees, so the Grafton Rowing Club was officially formed. A total of 28 members were enrolled at this meeting.

The first members of Grafton Rowing Club photographed, in uniform, 1882

Mr Wally Stevenson was appointed as the first president of the club, and December 16, 1882 was set aside as the date for the club's first regatta.

Rowing was already popular in the Grafton area prior to the formation of the Grafton Rowing Club as evidenced by this regatta poster. This regatta was scheduled and
held one month prior to the formation of Grafton Rowing Club

Grafton Rowing Club History - Page 4

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