1992

The Murdoch University Rowing Club arose from humble beginnings back in 1992. A group of Murdoch students decided that it was time the University was represented in the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup Regatta and so they organised a Men’s and Women’s Eight to compete in the race.

After the Vice Chancellor’s Cup a core group of rowers, including Richard McLellan and Arthur House, established the Murdoch University Rowing Club. They obtained a grant of $20,000 from the university and a boatshed at the Amateur Rowing Association of Western Australia (ARAWA) Headquarters, on the Esplanade in Mount Pleasant.

1993

MURC entered ARAWA in 1993 and quickly became a force to reckon with. During the club’s foundation year MURC again entered a men’s and women’s eight in the Vice Chancellors Cup, won two bronze medals at the Australian University Rowing Championships (in the Men’s Lightweight Four and Men’s Heavyweight Single categories) and won the ARAWA Novice Pennant.

1994

Rowing fever didn’t take long to spread with the club’s membership expanding to over sixty active members in 1994. During this year MURC built the starting pontoon for the ARAWA State Championships, for the first time. Since then, building the pontoon twice a year has become part of life down at the club.

Murdoch University continued to support the club and provided another $20,000 grant, over three years, for club development.

1995

In 1995 the rowing Talent Identification Program (TIP) ran from MURC. This programme involved the training of a number of youngsters who showed great promise as rowers and had been selected through the state-wide program. The TIP athletes competed at the National Championships providing MURC’s first Nationals appearance.

Also in 1995, MURC rowers competed at Intervarsity in Ballarat and won the bronze medal in the Women’s Lightweight Four. The Women’s Maiden Eight coached by Matthew Doyle, (Jenni Littlejohn, Sarah Perkins, Fiona Gradiner, Kelly Coombs, Paula Broadhurst, Mieghan Bruse, Sarah Gooden, Rachel James, Wendy List (cox)), won their State Championship race in a time of 7:40.

Business House, MURC’s corporate regatta, was held for the first time in this season and has now become an integral part of each year's fundraising and fun!

1996

In 1996 it was the Men’s turn, with the Men’s Maiden Eight winning their State Championship race in a time of 6:20. The crew (Josh Carroll, Nick Kuchen, Pete Clune, Luke Colgan, Ewin Bloomfield, Jason Fowler, Craig Salisbury, Steve Grant, Wendy List (cox)) was coached by Alan Salisbury and Ben Dudley. 1996 marked the end of MURC’s involvement in the Talent Identification Program.

Over the next three years MURC continued to grow and purchased several new boats to meet the needs of our members; the Hugh Davis (8), the Richard McLellan (4-), the Arthur House (2-) and the Sarah ‘Tex’ Perkins (2-).

MURC also established two ‘Learn to Row’ programs around this time. Held every year, in January (for members of the community) and in March (for University students) these programs provide non-rowers with a chance to get involved in our sport. MURC members provide the coaching and coxing expertise.

1997

In 1997 the Women’s Maiden Eight, coached by Matthew Doyle, came second in the State Championship Race.

1998

In 1998 MURC again competed at Intervarsity. Nicole, Elaine, Catherine, Rebecca and Wendy (cox) represented MURC in the Lightweight Women’s Four. Ben Dudley coached the crew.

1999

1999 saw the club enter another rapid growth period and MURC was runner-up Best Club at the end of the ARAWA season. The first edition of the club’s yearbook “Quote-able Quotes and Do-able Deeds” was printed in this year.

2000

In 2000 MURC was represented at the National Championships, by Sarah Outhwaite, who competed in a composite Four with rowers from the Swan River Rowing Club.

Recreational rowing became a high priority for the club in this year and Kate Sounness continues to provide excellent coaching for the ever-growing ranks of Saturday morning rowers.

2001

The 2001 season saw MURC attract Zurich Scholarship holder, Alison Hillman, to the club and our Men’s Maiden Eight come runner-up by less than half a second in the State Championship race.

2002

In 2002, the MURC Women’s Maiden Eight (Chris Matthew, Phoebe Readford, Fiamma Riviera, Alison Hillman, Kate Sounness, Katherine Hillman, Melanie McPherson, Nicole Denney and Alex Pickup (cox)) received Line Honours in the 15 kilometre Perth to Fremantle Head Race. Luke Nicholls and Ben Dudley coached the crew.

MURC performed very well at the State Championships. The Maiden Women's 8 won their State Championship race for the first time since 1995. It was a just reward for the amount of training that was completed by the crew during the season. The men's novice squad rowed well to capture the Novice Men's 4 and Novice Men's 8 titles.

In the equipment stakes, the Club purchased a 2 year old Sykes eight and christened it 'Benjamin Dudley'. This boat was used by the Maiden Women in their State title winning row.