Australia’s rowing greats honoured at the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards and Rowing Australia Centenary Ball

Rowing Australia has proudly celebrated a historic milestone, marking 100 years of national leadership of the sport while honouring some of its finest at the 2025 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards and Centenary Ball.

Held at the Hotel Realm in Canberra, the gala brought together Olympians, Paralympians, World Champions, coaches, officials, volunteers and distinguished alumni to celebrate 100 years of Rowing Australia, a century defined by resilience, reinvention and global success.

Hancock Prospecting’s unwavering support of Rowing Australia empowers our athletes to wear the green and gold with pride as they represent Australia on the world stage. Through every high and low, their commitment to our sport and our nation never falters. As Patron of Rowing Australia, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO’s personal dedication to our athletes continues to inspire and elevate our pursuit of excellence.

On behalf of Gina Rinehart AO, Hancock employee, Lauren,  delivered a powerful message, "Rowing is a sport that demands teamwork, persistence and resilience, qualities that have stretched across our outback, across our defence personnel and veterans, and found a place in the heart of our nation’s character," Lauren said.

"Tonight, as we recognise the dedication and success of our athletes, I want to especially encourage the young people in this room, and across our rowers everywhere, to stand resolutely for the traditional and outstanding  values that have made Australia strong and have created a nation we can be proud of and love; hard work, mateship, courage, common sense, truth and patriotism".

"The values I have spoken to tonight, the importance of common sense, hard work, persistence, resilience, truth and facts are not just the foundation of great sporting teams, they are the foundation of the very best of our nation, and our history". 

Georgina Rowe OLY received the night’s most prestigious honour, the Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Award, honouring the impact she continues to make through her leadership, advocacy and professionalism on and off the water. This award recognises exceptional character, commitment and achievement within our sport, and holds special significance as the recipient is personally selected by our beloved Patron, Mrs Rinehart.

The coveted and penultimate award of the night was the 776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year, which was awarded to third generation Australian Rowing Team athlete, Jackson Free, recognised by his peers for his leadership and humility.

Rowing Australia President Stephen Donnelley opened the evening by reflecting on the organisation’s Centenary, acknowledging the ones who built the systems and culture underpinning Australian rowing today.

“We will always celebrate the individual brilliance of pioneers like Bobby Pearce and Merv Wood, the sustained dominance of the Oarsome Foursome and the golden glow of our medallists from Tokyo and Paris.” Donnelley said.

“But our sustained success, our ability to compete and improve decade after decade, was born from those who had the foresight to build a system that would act as the backbone for our sport.”

Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook OLY spoke to the future of the sport, highlighting the strength of our Australian rowers, the expansion into Beach Sprints, the growth of Indoor Rowing and the commitment to a ‘Win Well’ culture that places our athletes at the centre of performance.

“A centenary is not a finish line,” Cook said. “It is the moment we set our course for the next 100 years. Our legacy must be defined not only by what we win, but how we win.”

The evening also celebrated outstanding leadership, service and coaching across the sport.

Caroline Pijpers earned the Service to Rowing Award in recognition of her commitment and impactful work within the local and school rowing communities, and the national performance pathway.

James Loveday claimed Coach of the Year, recognising the strong performances he guided across multiple para crews throughout the international season.

Australia’s top crews also took centre stage.

The Women’s Eight secured Female Crew of the Year after delivering a season defined by a growing momentum and the Men’s Eight won Male Crew of the Year, showcasing strong development and cohesion across the year. 

In Para-rowing, Erik Horrie OAM PLY took out Para Crew of the Year, adding another strong chapter to his exceptional record in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls.

2025 ROTY Full list of winners: 

776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year: Jackson Free

Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Awards: Georgina Rowe OLY 

Win Well Vocational and Educational Award: Nikolas Pender

Service to Rowing Award: Caroline Pijpers

Para Crew of the Year: Erik Horrie OAM PLY, PR1 Men’s Single Sculls

Female Crew of the Year:  Women’s Eight - Hayley Verbunt OLY, Paige Barr OLY, Jaime Ford, Laura Gourley OLY, Zara Collisson, Ella Bramwell, Sophie Houston, Katherine Easton, Georgie Gleeson

Male Crew of the Year: Men’s Eight - Nicholas Dunlop, Patrick Long, Angus Dawson OLY, Alex Nichol, Harry Manton, Marcus Emmett, Jack Robertson OLY, Alexander McClean, Mitch Salisbury

Commonwealth Games Australia Beach Sprint Crew of the Year:  Coastal Mixed Coxed Quadruple Sculls - Phoebe Robinson, Oscar Scheel Gamborg, Sophia Wightman, Samuel Forbes, Ryder Taylor

Pathways Crew of the Year: Romy Cantwell, Under 23 Women’s Single Sculls and Sam Stunell, PR3 Under 23 Men’s Single Sculls

Coach of the Year: James Loveday 

Para Coach of the Year: Christine MacLaren

Pathways Coach of the Year: Jamie McDonald

Program of the Year: Swan River Rowing Club’s Corporate Rowing Program

Sharp EIT High Performance Club of the Year: Sydney Rowing Club 

Volunteer of the Year: Stuart John and Simone Burge

Official of the Year: Anthony  ‘Tony’ Lawless

Bont Rowing Club of the Year: Glebe Rowing Club 

Life Member Inductees: Nick Hunter OAM, Drew Ginn OAM, Ellen Randell