Two New Life Members
The highlight of the 2022 AGM was the recognition of two new life members, Deb Debbage and Tim Parker. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the club and these two people have contributed decades of service to many young rowers. They have also served on the committee and have held duties as Officers of the rowing club.
It was a proud moment for Deb to have her family see her receive her Dad’s Life Membership pin. Her husband Tony Debbage is also a Life Member!
Likewise, Tim was supported by his wife and a number of recent rowers, some who are on holiday break from USA rowing scholarships and jumped at the chance to come down.
Click on these links to read the full bio on Deb Debbage and Tim Parker.
Deb Debbage
Presentation of Life Member’s Pin by Life Member Tere French
Porirua Rowing Club History
Porirua Rowing Club Awards
1993 – 94 Presidents Trophy, Best all round club member
Since joining in the 1976 – 77 season, Deb has given 45 years of continuous service to the Porirua Rowing Club. Whether it be involved in an official capacity as a Club Captain, Secretary, or committee member, or involved in developing the skills of young rowers as a coach. She has also been involved in a variety of other ways that often go unnoticed, including being responsible and supervising generations of young rowers whilst away on camps and regattas, being involved in the preparation
and service of food in the kitchen at Goodwill Regattas, usually this meant being trapped inside and away from the action on the water.
Even though Deb hasn’t had major success with her crews that she coached, she has passed on her enthusiasm and solid technical understanding of the sport to these rowers, some of whom have continued with rowing in various capacities for multiple years, others have gone onto gain national titles with other clubs and NZ representation.
Recently Deb was introduced to a parent of a rower, something she has done more times than she would like to admit too, the parent expressed how nice it was to finally meet one of the kaumātua of the rowing club. Whether a person can be considered a kaumātua depends on age, knowledge of tribal history and traditions, and the presence of other potential elders for younger generations to turn
to. These descriptions accurately refer to Deb and what she continues to bring to Porirua Rowing Club.
2021 – 22 Committee Member
2020 – 21 Committee Member
2019 – 20 Committee Member – Secretary (took over in 2020) and Coach – Novice Girls
2018 – 19 Committee Member
2017 – 18 Committee Member and Coach – Novice Mens
2016 – 17 50th Anniversary – Head of Organising Committee
Committee Member and Coach – Novice Boys
2015 – 16 Secretary
2011 – 15 Supporting member
2010 – 11 Committee Member
2002 – 10 Supporting member
2001 – 02 Secretary
2000 – 01 Secretary
1999 – 00 Secretary and Coach – Intermediate Women
1998 – 99 Committee Member and Coach – Kapiti Novice Girls
1997 – 98 Committee Member
1996 – 97 Assistant Club Captain – Club Captain (from Dec 1996)
1995 – 96 Assistant Club Captain
1994 – 95 Club Captain – 1st Elected Female Club Captain of Porirua Rowing Club and Coach – Novice Men
1993 – 94 Assistant Club Captain and Coach – Novice Women
1992 – 93 25th Jubilee – Member of Organising Committee
1991 – 92 Coach – Novice Women
1990 – 91 Returned to rowing – Womens Senior 4+
1981 – 90 Supporting member
1976 – 80 Joined Porirua Rowing Club as a novice once her older brother allowed her to, rowed 3 seasons, gained premier rowing status during the 1979-80 season. Stopped rowing due to starting a family.
Tim Parker
Tim Parker with Life Member Tere French in the background
Porirua Rowing Club History
Coach Awards
2016/17 – PRC Coaches Shield for Outstanding Contribution to Coaching
2017/18 – PRC Coaches Shield for Outstanding Contribution to Coaching
2020/21 – PRC Coaches Shield for Outstanding Contribution to Coaching
2020/21 – Wellington Rowing Association Coach of the Year
Rowers’ Achievements
Rowing US Scholarships achieved by Olivia Taylor, Breah Mackay, Polly Wenlock.
NZ Crews – Rob French, Anna MacQuarie, Polly Wenlock
Swiss Crew – Victoria Freiberg (exchange student from Switzerland)
2021 NZ Champs
- W Club 1x 4th
- W Senior 1x 5th
2021 North Island Champs
- W Club 1x 1st
- W Senior 1x 3rd
2020 Victoria Freiberg rowed for Switzerland Juniors in 2- at European Junior Champs
2020 Christmas Regatta
- W Club 1x 2nd
- W Senior 1x 3rd
2019 Took over coaching Novice Boys after Christmas Regatta & went to NI & NZ Champs.
Coached Polly Wenlock until early December when Polly left and rowed for Wairau
2018 Coached Victoria Freiberg (exchange student from Switzerland)
- U16 1x C Final 1st
- U17 1x D Final 1st
2018 NZ U21s – Anna Macquarrie
2017 Maadi Cup
- G U18 1x A Final 5th
- G U18 1x A Final 6th
- G U18 2x C Final 1st
- G U18 2- B Final 3rd
2017 NZ Champs
- W Club 4+ A Final 2nd
- W Club 1x A Final 3rd
- W Club 2- A Final 4th
- G U19 4+ A Final 5th
2017 NISS
- G U18 1x A Final 3rd
- G U18 1x A Final 5th
- G U18 2- B Final 3rd
2017 North Island Champs
- W Club 4+ A Final 2nd
- W Club 1x A Final 7th
- W Club 1x B Final 2nd
- W Club 2- A Final 5th
2017 Cambridge Town Cup
- G U18 2x A Final 4th
- G U18 4+ A Final 4th
- G U18 1x A Final 6th
- G U18 1x B Final 5th
2016 Christmas Regatta
- W Club 4+ A Final 3rd
- G U18 2x A Final 7th
- G U18 1x A Final 3rd
- W Club 4x A Final 8th
- W Club 1x A Final 1st
- G U18 1x A Final 8th
- W Club 2- A Final 4th
2016 Maadi Cup
- G U17 1x A Final 4th
- G U18 1x C Final 4th
- G U17 1x C Final 1st
- G U18 2- B Final 4th
- G U17 2x C Final 2nd
2016 NISS
- G U17 1x A Final 2st
- G U18 1x B Final 3rd
- G U17 1x C Final 2nd
- G U17 1x C Final 3rd
- G U18 2- B Final 3rd
- G U17 2x C Final 3rd
2016 NZ Champs
- W Club 8+ A Final 8th
- W U19 2x B Final 7th
- W U19 4+ A Final 7th
- W Club 2- A Final 6th
- W Sen 2- A Final 5th
2016 North Island Champs
- G U17 4+ A Final 1st
- G U17 2x A Final 1st
- W Club 1x A Final 2nd
- G U17 2x A Final 2nd
- W Club 1x A Final 4th
2015 Christmas Regatta
- G U17 1x A Final 1st
- G U18 1x A Final 8th
- G U17 2x B Final 4th
- G U17 4x+ B Final 5th
2015 Maadi Cup
- G U16 1x A Final 4th
- G U17 1x B Final 2nd
2014 Nationals
- A number of Finals in Girls Club
2013
- Tim was approached and asked to coach the Novice Men. He also served on the Porirua Rowing Club committee for the next 3 seasons
Moved to Taranaki with family for 20 years
1985
- Coached Intermediate Lightweight 4 who went on to achieve a National title the following season
1984
- Coached Intermediate crew to which Richard Sheppard achieved a Colts trial and the crew managed to get a 4th at Nationals
1983
- Coached Intermediates including Rob French who went on to row for Waikato Premiers the following season and made the NZ Colts
1981-1982
- Coached Novice Men squad for 2 rowing seasons
1974-1981 – Tim joined the Porirua Rowing Club as a Novice and rowed for 3 seasons with the main focus being fitness for rugby. After finishing his plumbing apprenticeship, he went to Australia for 1 year and came back in 1978. He rowed for the club for the next 2 seasons. Tim was on the club committee for 5 years and 2 of those years as Assistant Club Captain.