Fairfield Canoe Club
2019 Centenary Year
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Saturday 24th August was a special birthday celebration for Barbara Jackson, her family and FCC.
Students of our club’s history may remember the heroic exploits of one Keith Jackson back in the early 1950’s’?
Keith Jackson lived at 10 The Esplanade, Alphington and was winning novice canoe events for FCC in 1949. By 1952, Keith and his partner Glenn Croft were nominated by the Australian Canoe Federation (ACF) as the C2 pair for the 1,000m and 10,000m events at the Helsinki Olympics. Sadly, the ACF did not send a team as funding was not available, this was in spite of local fundraising activities. However, Keith had some success off the water as he recruited a local lass, Barbara Bavage, to the paddling scene at FCC.
FCC Committee Minutes record that in February 1952 three new members were welcomed. Included were Barbara and Jonathan Mayne’s father, Roy Mayne.
Keith and Barbara were married in 1955 and initially lived at 10 The Esplanade.
Keith and Rueben Collins (FCC) were selected as reserve C2 pair for the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, They represented Australia in an International Regatta held on Lake Wendouree immediately before the Olympics that were held in early December.
So, her daughters approached the club to see whether they could celebrate this event at the old club. It was a lovely occasion, the weather was clear and after a tour of the “new” clubhouse, birthday cake was enjoyed at the Yarra’s edge. It was here that Barbara presented the club one of Keith’s 1956 paddles that had the Olympic rings burnt into the handle. A very special gift indeed.
There are a number of FCC History snippets relating to Keith Jackson, or his mother Maud Jackson who was a champion knitter of FCC jumpers.
Read all about them.
Knitted Club Jumpers – an interview with Melva Purves 1948-1952
Keith Jackson – the follow-up to his mother’s knitted FCC jumpers
