Happy 99th Birthday Fred Strachan
A rowing journey that started at the North End Rowing Club (NERC) in Dunedin in 1944 and continues today as the vice-Patron of Rowing NZ. Fred’s extensive service is recognised through Life Membership which he has from the North End Rowing Club, the Dunedin Regatta Club, the Avon Rowing Club, the Otago Rowing Association, the Otago Secondary Schools’ Rowing Association, South Island Rowing Inc, and the New Zealand Rowing Association (Rowing NZ).
There are too many achievements to list but one of our best ever athletes said of Fred when asked the question - was there a certain point at which you decided that you wanted to become an elite rower? The athlete response was:
“I couldn’t pick one thing. I guess I was very lucky going through school and after school I had a great mentor, Fred Strachan. It gave me an advantage because he knew what was needed to get to the top level. I progressed a lot” Hamish Bond MNZM.
On behalf of the rowing whanau across Aotearoa New Zealand we wish Fred (Strachan QSM) a Happy 99th Birthday.