Rowers’ reunion one to remember

A lot has changed since 1987 but you would not know it if you were at the Innes Boatshed last Saturday to see members of Batemans Bay Junior Surfboat crew stage a 30 year reunion.

Sweep Steve Innes is the only member of the original crew who still lives in the area, with the others travelling from as far as Sydney and Queensland for the event.

The group are remembered for taking out the 1987 state surfboat title and finishing in the top three of the national competition.

Saturday marked the first reunion they have had as a group, with family members also making the trip for the occasion.

Steve’s wife Ros said the members didn’t need much convincing to come back together.

“One of members, Anthony Smith, mentioned to Steve last year that they should all catch up, and they have been talking about it ever since,” she said.

“They put a plan in place and it all came together really well.”

After an informal catch up on Friday night, the crew was up early for a row on Saturday morning.

While the initial plan was to row out to the bar, the crew eventually decided on a shorter distance.

Innes said the crew still showed plenty of technique out on the water, but could not escape the reduced capabilities of their bodies.

“They realised, if they made it out to the bar, there was still the matter of rowing back,” she said.

“They definitely hadn’t forgotten how to do it, but now they are not training as much, it becomes a bit more difficult.

“A couple of them even went for a nap in the afternoon to recover.”

Once they were well rested, the crew and their families headed out to dinner at JJ’s, but not before recreating a photo that appeared in the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner 30 years ago.