Evelyn Sommer, a former NSW and Australian Rowing Team representative, passed away peacefully on Saturday, 28 February with family by her side.
A life member of the Black Mountain Rowing Club in Canberra, she will be sorely missed.
Sommer was at the top of her field for over a decade in the 1970s while living at Great North Road in Abbotsford, Sydney, nearby Sydney Women’s Rowing Club where she would walk to and from for training – often with her beloved dog ‘Sixpence’ by her side.
At the time, most rowers knew Sommer married by her maiden name Gardiner or her married name Adams (1971-77), but post marriage she adopted her maternal grandfather’s name Sommer.
Sommer was self-driven and often outspoken, especially when it came to championing women’s rowing in which she was a pioneer, both in Australia and internationally.
Sommer showcased her rowing prowess for NSW many times with success. Internationally, she created world championship history in 1974 on the Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland, when she and pair partner Lydia Miladinovic became the first Australian women to row at the world titles. In the 1978 world championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand, Sommer represented Australia again, but then in the single sculls. She also raced for Australia in the 1973 and 1977 Trans Tasman regattas.
During the height of her career and after, Sommer was always there to support and help other younger rowers progress in the sport, as generations of athletes came through.
Her enthusiasm and gregarious personality was also infectious, and often helped young rowers to understand the value of contributing to a club off the water as much as on it.
Rowing Australia extends its gratitude to Sommer for all she contributed to the sport and offers its thoughts and condolences to her many surviving friends and family.
The following is an edited tribute by her husband David Bagnall and members of the Black Mountain Rowing Club in Canberra where she moved to in 1985:
Evelyn (Ev) Sommer, Black Mountain Rowing Club (BMRC) life member, passed away peacefully on Saturday 28 February surrounded by family.
Ev's, pioneering women’s rowing achievements were significant and unique. Apart from her determination as a competitor, she was colourful, loud and extroverted.
Ev took up rowing aged 15 at Sydney Women’s Rowing Club (now Abbotsford RC).
In 1967, aged 17, in year 11 at Burwood Girls High School, Ev won the first of her eight Interstate Rowing Championships in the bow seat of the NSW four.
Ev was frequently the stroke in subsequent Interstate successes. Indeed, in 1971, aged 21, Evelyn stroked the women’s interstate lightweight (Victoria Cup) and open (ULVA trophy) races to victory on the same day - an unusual achievement shared with fellow crew member Judy Perry who was in the same boats.
Ev’s rowing prowess was such that she had the distinction of winning both the Interstate lightweight and open (Nell Salter Trophy) single sculls Championship - an achievement she proudly shared with Peter Antonie.
Ev represented Australia at World Rowing Championships in 1974 and 1978 as well as several Trans Tasman events. In 1974, the pair of Ev and Lydia Miladinovic were the first Australian women to row at a World Rowing Championship.
Ev moved to Canberra in 1985 and joined BMRC. She won many local events and several Masters Regatta Championships in BMRC colours, with her last being the Australian Masters Rowing Championships in 2013 on Lake Burley Griffin.
Ev rowed in multiple crews at the Head of the Yarra (HoY), and despite her gloried past achievements was still announcing that she wanted to win the HoY. When the club named its lighter weight 8 the "Evelyn Sommer" she was still dreaming of being a part of a winning BMRC crew notwithstanding her declining health.
We will all miss Evelyn and her significant contribution to BMRC club and crews.