GENERATIONS of rowers are paying tribute to the man who has been at the helm in shaping Ballarat rowing's continued success and high reputation in the wake of the 1956 Olympics.
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Eric Waller died last Friday with illness, aged 82.
Due to his wishes, his death has been kept private but a memorial service for the sporting community is likely to be held later this month.
Mr Waller has become best known as the course manager for Ballarat Associated Schools' Head of the Lake regatta and the first point of contact for regattas on Lake Wendouree.
He was often the go-to person for City of Ballarat for aquatic sports and conditions on the lake.
During the drought years - from 2004 to 2011 - Mr Waller played an instrumental role in ensuring Head of the Lake could be still be contested, first on Nagambie Lakes, then on Geelong's Barwon River before the event returned to Lake Wendouree in its centenary year.
LEAVE YOUR TRIBUTES TO ERIC WALLER (scroll to the bottom of the story)
Most of his behind-the-scenes work was largely unheralded, from infrastructure to luring national and international regattas to Ballarat.
Mr Waller has become highly respected in all levels of the sport.
He became a member of Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club aged 17, in 1957, as a beginner.
Mr Waller's interest in boats and rowing was inspired at an early age as a primary school pupil at Pleasant Street State School, just across from Lake Wendouree's south shore.
He had a short - but successful - rowing career, winning novice and maiden class events.
WATCH: Rowing Australia's volunteer story with Eric Waller (2019)
In 1959 Mr Waller became Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club captain, a position he held for about 20 years before becoming club president and Ballarat Rowing Association president, positions he held for four decades.
During Mr Waller's two decades as club captain, he coached and watched over many winning crews including a men's eight colloquially known as the 'Cockies Eight' (comprising many local farmers from the district) in the 1960s. Cockies Eight went on to win 11 races, tasting plenty of success when split into fours and pairs.
In a Rowing Australia volunteer profile from 2019, Mr Waller said volunteering could be demanding but no sport could operate without its volunteers.
"The important thing is the athletes. They've got to be looked after, to feel comfortable with their rowing and make sure they've got a good support base."
Rowing Victoria on Friday paid tribute to a man deemed one of the "great servants of the sport".
"He was humble but spirited, respectful but determined, collaborative but persistent - a gentleman," the statement read.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Ballarat's rowing community, including a post from Ballarat City rowing Club that read: "Eric was synonymous with rowing in Ballarat and embodied the true spirit of volunteerism as he gave so selflessly his time, experience and good cheer to our sport, no matter what club or school you represented. He will be sorely missed".
Mr Waller has also been a long-time member of Ballarat Sportsmen's Club, joining in 1967 and winning what is now known as the McKenzie-Valpied Award for a major contribution to sport behind the scenes.
On shore, he was also well-respected in Ballarat as a car salesman with Sovereign City Motors and later helping out at Creswick Road Car Sales.
Mr Waller is survived by wife Beverley, three children and seven grandchildren.
AT A GLANCE
From Ballarat Rowing Association
INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTION
- Boat Race Official at the 1990 World Rowing Championships - Lake Barrington, Tasmania
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney
- Boat Race Official at the World Masters Games Regatta on Lake Wendouree in 2002
AUSTRALIAN CONTRIBUTION
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta, Lake Barrington, Tasmania
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta, Penrith Lakes, Sydney
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta,Westlakes, Adelaide
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta, Lake Wivenhoe, Queensland
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta, Lake Nagambie, Victoria
- Technical Officer / Boat Race Official at the Australian National Championships Regatta, Lake Wendouree, Ballarat
VICTORIAN CONTRIBUTION
- President of the Victorian Country Rowing Association from 1989 - 2009
- Board Member of Rowing Victoria from 1993 - 2009
- Vice President of Rowing Victoria 1996
- Eric has travelled about 35,000 km each year to Victorian Regattas as Rowing Victoria's Field of Play Manager.As the field of play manager, Eric ensures all venues comply to safety standards, for the protection of competitors, staff and spectators.
- Eric has had a major influence in Life Saving Victoria being contracted to attend and provide rescue services at all Victorian regattas.
- Eric has been instrumental in improving the operations at regattas such as the umpire boat trailer for storage of all two-way radios, umpires' flags and megaphones as needed by the officials at each regatta.
- Rowing Victoria awarded Eric Life Membership in 2009, in recognition of his lifetime service and achievements to the sport.
- Rowing Victoria awarded the Kath Bennett Award for outstanding service to the sport.
- The Old Oarsmen and Women's Association prestigious Tom Rodda Award
BALLARAT CONTRIBUTION
- President of the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club from 1979 to 2014
- President of the Ballarat Rowing Association from 1984 to 2022
- Eric's skills in this period of the club history resulted in several Victorian junior and country club premierships.
- Eric also coached club crews who completed at State and National Championships.
- During Eric's years as captain the rowing club experienced a 'Golden Era' in all aspects of the sport; membership; finances; race wins / premiership points; maintenance / working bees on the Clubhouse and equipment, were all under the guidance of Eric's ever watchful eye.
WENDOUREE-BALLARAT ROWING CLUB PRESIDENT
As Club President from 1979 to 2014, Eric has upheld the proud history of the Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club. During his time as President, he has been most helpful to the local schools involved in rowing on Lake Wendouree.
He arranged support for schools by sharing the club's facilities, providing equipment, and storing equipment.
Schools such as Ballarat High School, Wendouree Technical School, Ballarat Grammar School (while its shed was being re-built), Loreto College (before it officially rowing from its own premises), Damascus College and the Dragon's Abreast ladies with their dragon boat, have all operated from Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club.
Damascus and the Dragon's Abreast still enjoy the use of the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club to this day - due initially to Eric's involvement.
BALLARAT ROWING ASSOCIATION
Eric held the position of President from 1984 to 2022, and during this time was responsible for obtaining many improvements to the Lake Wendouree rowing course including lengthening, widening and deepening of the course to meet the international federation's standards, construction of a new judges box and purchase and installation of the new buoying system to meet international standards.
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