WA Finalists for Rowing Australia 'BONT Club of the Year'

A huge congratulations to UWA Boat Club and Swan River Rowing Club! 

Rowing Australia announced today the finalists for the 2025 'BONT Club of the Year'. Winners will be announced on December 5th at the 2025 Rower of the Year Awards in Canberra. 

This award recognises clubs that demonstrate excellence across participation, perfromance culture and impact. Proudly supported by Bont Rowing, this category celebrates the clubs whose leadership, innovation and commitment continue to elevate our sport nationwide. 

Rowing Australia BONT Club of the Year Nominee: UWA Boat Club

Established in 1919, University of Western Australia Boat Club (UWABC) has a proud and rich history of developing rowers of all ages and abilities. They operate independently from UWA and without financial support from the University or state “high performance” funding, UWABC exemplified what can be achieved through efficient, community driven resource management. In 2025 UWABC employed a full-time Head Coach and part-time assistant coach. Together, they lead 26 volunteer coaches supporting Nationals, Masters, Open, Junior, learn to row, indoor, coastal, and Novice programs.

In 2025, UWABC celebrated its strongest Australian Rowing Championships campaign, climbing to 15th on the medal tally—up from 31st in 2024 and 66th in 2022 and 2023. UWABC’s 120 junior athletes were instrumental in the RWA All Schools regatta series, with Shenton College claiming the Champion School Trophy for the second year running. Further success came with 13 gold medals at the WA Indoor Rowing Championships, earning UWABC the WA Champion Club title. UWABC sent 14 athletes to represent UWA at Uni Sport Nationals, bringing home two silver and two bronze medals. Whilst the Masters squad, comprising 12 women and 2 men, excelled at the Masters State Championships, with every member securing gold and UWABC topping the gold medal tally.

Throughout the year, UWABC ran a range of community initiatives, including learn-to-row courses with 45 graduates, the launch of Rowing WA’s “Rowing Radiance” indoor rowing program, erg HIIT sessions at local gyms, the UWA Intercollege Ergo competition, UWA O’Day, and corporate training events. The club also partnered with the UWA Sport LGBTQIA+ Allyship program to foster open dialogue, visibility, and education around gender equity, inclusion, and wellbeing. In 2025, UWABC introduced the Rowing Access Program, providing financial support for athletes from low socio-economic backgrounds, helping remove barriers to participation. UWABC also won the RWA Act Belong Commit Mindful Month challenge, which promoted mental health and wellbeing messages across social media platforms.

UWABC stands as a testament to what can be achieved through a united, community-focused approach. Coaches, athletes, volunteers, and alumni come together as one, driven not by individual accolades, but by a shared commitment to unity, trust, and collective responsibility. Through this spirit, the club continues to excel in participation, performance, inclusion, and community leadership. At its heart, UWABC’s ongoing success is built on the selfless dedication and volunteering of its members, coaches, administrators, and alumni, ensuring the club remains a vibrant and inclusive community for all.

Congratulations UWABC!

Rowing Australia BONT Club of the Year Nominee: Swan River Rowing Club

Swan River Rowing Club (SRRC), proudly founded on the banks of the Swan River, continues to live by its mantra: “Rowing for Beginners to Olympians.” This year, SRRC has set a new benchmark for inclusivity, community engagement, and performance excellence, earning recognition as the Rowing Australia BONT Club of the Year.

SRRC achieved remarkable growth in membership across juniors, seniors, masters, and corporate categories. This success is attributed to innovative school outreach programs, corporate partnerships, and coastal rowing initiatives. Their pathway programmes have successfully transitioned both corporate and school rowers into club competition, while coastal rowing has expanded through a partnership with Fremantle Surf Lifesaving Club, positioning SRRC strongly in this emerging discipline.

Corporate rowing flourished through the Rowing WA (RWA) Corporate Cup, with SRRC training eight of the nine teams. This generated significant community engagement, media coverage, and investment, which funded new boats and supported local charities. The media exposure via Telethon and local broadcasters showcased rowing as an inclusive sport, reaching thousands across Western Australia.

Mental health initiatives, such as Mental Health Activation Month and partnerships with Alike and Blokes & Bridges, demonstrate SRRC’s commitment to wellbeing. The club also fosters gender equity, with female coaching leadership and multiple RWA awards for women in rowing. Its diverse board reflects a strong commitment to inclusion and community development.

SRRC combines community impact with competitive success, consistently achieving top 10 national finishes, strong representation in state and international teams, and maintaining a robust coaching development program.

Congratulations SRRC!