Four Australian U23 representative rowers are the latest recipients of the Bromley Fund grants, awarded annually to emerging talents within Australia's high-performance pathway.
Fresh off their announcement in the Australian U23 Team to contest at the World Rowing U23 Championships in July, Lucy Searle, Imogen Grey, Jack Hansen-Knarhoi and Lachlan Brown have each been presented with $7,500 in recognition of their effort and commitment towards Australia's high-performance pathway.
The Bromley Fund has long played a vital role in supporting Australian pair-oared crews. Established in 1990 through the generosity of the late Ted Bromley, the fund was created to assist athletes selected by Rowing Australia to compete at the World Rowing Championships by helping defray international touring costs. Originally focused on senior crews, the fund’s scope was later expanded to include underage athletes, ensuring continued investment in the future of Australian rowing.
Earlier this year, Piper Hallam and Emma Peele were awarded Bromley Fund grants after their selection in the Australian U19 Rowing Team in the women's pair. Together with the four U23 athlete recipients, the Bromley Fund has now provided a total of $45,000 in support in 2026, increased from 2025 to reflect both rising costs and the trustees’ ongoing commitment to easing the financial burden on developing athletes.
Bromley Fund Trustee Andrew Guerin OAM highlighted the great qualities of the athletes awarded grants.
"Ted would have been pleased to see three quality pairs selected into the 2026 Australian underage teams. He would have been equally thrilled to see a funded and medal winning men’s Under 19 pair from last year progress into the 2026 Under 23 Championships in the same combination.
"It's a great indication that the aims he sought to achieve are being realised."
Brown and Hansen-Knarhoi competing in the 2025 World Rowing U19 Championships
Ted Bromley’s legacy within Australian rowing extends far beyond financial support. A distinguished athlete himself, Bromley competed at an elite level for a considerable period, starting in 1932 with the New South Wales King’s Cup crew through to representing Australia at the 1948 Olympic Games. His experiences as a pair-oared rower throughout his career is what led Bromley to champion coxless pair-oared rowing within Australia until his passing in 2005.
In recognition of his contribution, the Australian Men’s Pair Championship perpetual trophy bears his name and is represented by a bronze statue depicting one of Australia’s most successful pair-oared rowers, Olympic champion James Tomkins.
Today, the Bromley Fund continues to uphold Ted Bromley’s vision. Trustees John Coates AC, Andrew Guerin OAM, and Peter Antonie OAM oversee the annual allocation of grants, distributing funds at their discretion to support athletes’ international campaigns within the trust’s guidelines.
The funding provided to this year's six recipients will be welcome support as they prepare for their World Championship campaigns - Lucy Searle, Imogen Grey, Jack Hansen-Knarhoi and Lachlan Brown in the World Rowing U23 Championships in Duisburg Germany from 23-26 July, and Piper Hallam and Emma Peele in the World Rowing U19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 6-9 August.