Governor of NSW Opens UNSW Boatshed

 

GOVERNOR OF NSW OPENS UNSW BOATSHED

Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC, CVO, Governor of NSW formally opened the University of NSW Boatshed at Gladesville on Sunday 28 June.

Located on Tarban Creek near the Gladesville Bridge, the UNSW Boatshed is home to the UNSW Rowing Club. The original boatshed was built in this location in 1974, and since 1987 Sydney Girls High has also operated their rowing activities from there.

When the rowing programs outgrew the original facilities, the University decided to build a new boatshed to compliment the original building, and SGHS contributed funding to establish their own facilities within the new building. The new two storey building houses 2 boat storage areas, new changerooms and clubrooms for SGHS, with the upper level containing a clubroom and function space overlooking Tarban Creek.

Deputy Chancellor of UNSW, Gabrielle Upton (pictured at right with the Governor) welcomed the Governor, and noted that the funding from the University had come from the Miscellaneous Student Activities Fund, which is a fund that was established from the Student Services Fee when it was being collected from students prior to VSU. "Money from students, for students" she said.

In opening the $1.5m facility, the Governor remarked she was delighted to be in attendance noting she was a former student of SGHS and former academic at UNSW. She said “An important educational philosophy is to create opportunities and challenges for students, and rowing provides this by extending and challenging them. Rowing also helps build important life skills for UNSW and Sydney Girls students such as commitment to themselves and their team mates, concentration and consistent application of effort, and companionship”. The Governor said that the new building would provide greatly improved facilities for the nearly 150 rowers from UNSW and SGHS.

The SGHS section of the boatshed was named in honour of Dr Margaret Varady who recently retired as Principal of SGHS after 17 years of service. Along with UNSW Rowing Club stalwart Murray Clarke, Dr Varady was instrumental in securing the land for the new boatshed and encouraging the SGHS community to raise funding for the project.

Dr Varady and Murray Clarke in their responses to the Governor, thanked the numerous people who had an involvement in the project, which was first approved in 2004.

Over 200 guests from the UNSW Rowing community and SGHS attended the opening.

 

 

 

 

 

                         

  Dr. Margaret Varady