Rowers plead for track-style rescue

Jessica Benton
An iconic Geelong sports clubs has pleaded to councillors for help to save its crumbling home after watching them throw money at a motocross track in another municipality.
Barwon Rowing Club’s secretary Lyn George said the rowers desperately needed $800,000 to redevelop their clubhouse.
“The whole thing needs to be replaced – it’s falling apart and the whole thing shakes on windy days,” Ms George said.
Ms George said council had previously knocked back the club because its clubhouse was on Crown land on the banks of the Barwon River in Geelong.
But the club brought a lot of money into the city during major events such as an annual Head of the Schoolgirls regatta, she said.
Ms George pointed out council’s recent decision to provide $660,000 for motocross riders to buy McAdam Park in Surf Coast Shire at Barrabool.
“In light of the funding recently given to McAdam Park, we think we should also be granted funding,” she said.
“We are one of Australia’s oldest sports clubs and the club facilities are still in the original site from 1870.
“We have a strong and successful rowing program which caters for elite-level school-age rowing and masters rowing as well as several rowing and learn-to-row programs.”
Ms George said the club had about 170 members.
Authorities ordered the rowers to repair their crumbling clubhouse after a balcony collapsed at nearby Corio Bay Rowing Club in 2006, injuring almost 20 people attending a 21st birthday party.
Ms George said Barwon Rowing Club had raised about $350,000 from fundraising efforts and community donations, while South Barwon MP Michael Crutchfield had pledged $50,000.
Club committee members attended last week’s council meeting to ask councillors for their support.
Mayor John Mitchell encouraged them to apply for funding in next year’s council budget.
“No organisation has ever been precluded from applying for funding from COGG,” he said.
“Whether the funding is approved by councillors cannot be determined until the 2009-10 budget is released.”