Ballarat Grammar School headmaster, Mr Stephen Higgs, addresses the crowd at the christening ceremony.
BALLARAT Grammar School’s rowing fraternity has recognised its centenary on Lake Wendouree by adding a 12th boat to the fleet.
The white fibreglass boat was named The 1913, in honour of the school’s first Head of the Lake win.
Grammar competed against St Patrick’s College in the inaugural event in 1912, but the race was deemed a “no race” because of interference between the two crews.
Grammar took out Head of the Lake the following year.
The new boat was blessed by Father Peter Treloar during a special ceremony recently, and was christened by 2012 Olympian Tom Swann.
More than 200 people attended, with many also taking in a memorabilia display tracing the school’s century of rowing involvement.
Grammar director of development Peter Burnett said the school had a proud rowing history.
“There’s a strong rowing culture at the school and this year being our 100th year, we were delighted to win both the boys and girls Head of the Lake and the national championships at boys and girls level,” he said.
“Certainly working in teams is really important in rowing, and also the discipline and commitment to training.”
