RUSSELL THOMPSON

BSHS Rowing Boatman 2 years

Stuartholme Boatman 5 years

I first became involved with rowing when my daughter started at Brisbane Girls Grammar in 2007. I would help out at regattas setting up tents and laying out cables and setting up speakers for the PA system extending about 500 metres from the finish tower at Kawana.

In 2012 I was given the job of Boatman at Boys Grammar and with a week's training from Johnathan Brett I was left to my own ingenuity to perform my duties. In 2015 at the State Championships I had an accident unloading a BBQ off the back of a Ute, resulting in a compression fracture of my lower back with a week in Bundaberg Hospital.

In 2016 I was offered a job at Stuartholme School as Boatman/maintenance officer but was made redundant early in 2020. The job at BSHS became available which I applied for and was successful and started in May 2021.

The majority of damage to the boats comes from loading them on to the racks. Other damage can be caused by debris in the river and landing at the pontoons. There is the occasional equipment failure like wiring harnesses and wear and tear on foot plates, riggers seat wheels etc.

Russell is supported by Joanne White, Joint MIC of Boys’ GPS Rowing at BSHS, who states, ‘The Boatman role at BSHS has often been undervalued, but at the moment we are very lucky to have Russell working with us to keep our fleet functional and our rowers on the water.