Few people have left a greater mark on St George’s Rowing Club than Len Gissing. During an extraordinary 67 years of service, Len was an oarsman, coach, builder, fundraiser, administrator, Commodore, Patron, philanthropist and, above all, a loyal friend of the Club. His life can best be described by three words that became synonymous with his contribution — Passion, Philanthropy and Patronage.
Passion
Len joined St George’s in 1953, shortly after the Club had relocated from Mechanics Bay to its current site on Kings Road, Panmure. He initially took up rowing to keep fit during the rugby league off-season, but it quickly became a lifelong passion.
Together with his brother John and several friends, the “Ellerslie Boys” almost doubled the Club’s membership. They rowed together, travelled together, celebrated together and built lifelong friendships. Like many members of that era, Len’s memories extended far beyond racing, encompassing the camaraderie, humour and occasional mischief that formed an important part of Club life.
Len remained an active rower well into the Masters era, competing alongside fellow St George’s stalwarts including Roger Ryan, Rod Hutchinson, Trevor McKeating, Evan Jenkins, Kerry Brear, Athol Owen and others. Throughout the 1980s the Club was consistently well represented in Veterans and Masters rowing, with Len a regular member of these successful crews.
Building the Club
Len’s greatest legacy may well be the physical Club itself.
A qualified bricklayer, he devoted countless volunteer hours to improving the clubhouse. When the former Panmure Yacht Club social room became available, Len helped oversee its integration into the existing clubhouse, creating the extension on the Panmure side of the building. Together with Dan Lewis he constructed the distinctive brick façade that wrapped the meeting/training room.
He project-managed the major clubhouse extension completed during the mid-1980s, supervised repairs after a vehicle damaged the boatshed, organised the resurfacing of the boatshed floor, tiled the front entrance and deck, and contributed to numerous maintenance projects over subsequent decades.
His practical skills extended beyond St George’s. Fellow member Victor Kozuls later completed his bricklaying apprenticeship under Len after first meeting him through the Club.
Len’s generosity continued throughout his life. In 2015 he donated paint for the clubhouse roof, and shortly before his death made a substantial financial contribution towards the redevelopment of the clubhouse — a project he had championed for many years.
Fundraising
Like many clubs during the 1950s through to the 1970s, St George’s relied heavily on volunteer fundraising. Len was at the centre of many of these efforts.
Members collected bottles and newspapers, built wooden crates for local businesses, cleaned greenhouses, delivered soil, operated pool tables around Panmure and organised Housie nights at the Panmure Hotel. These activities provided the income needed to purchase boats and maintain the Club.
Len often recalled two particularly successful casino evenings held during the 1970s, which together raised approximately $40,000 — an extraordinary sum for the time.
One of his favourite stories involved the Club needing paint soon after he joined. There was insufficient red paint and insufficient white paint to complete the job, so Len mixed the two together. For a period, St George’s Rowing Club became famously — and somewhat unexpectedly — bright pink.
Leadership
Len combined practical service with strong leadership.
He served on the Executive Committee for many years and held the position of Commodore on two occasions. After stepping down from the Executive in 1987, he later returned to lead the Club as Commodore from 1992 until 2000.
During this period, he worked alongside Presidents Pauline Tonkin, Brian Edwards and Brian Clarke, helping guide the Club through another important stage of its development.
In recognition of his outstanding service, Len was elected a Life Member of St George’s Rowing Club. He was later appointed Patron, a position he held for approximately twenty years until his passing.
As Patron he embodied the true meaning of the role — encouraging, protecting and advocating for the Club. Even in his later years he attended regattas, prizegivings and social events whenever possible, remaining deeply interested in the Club and its members.
Recognition
Len’s contribution has been recognised in many ways over the years.
Several boats have proudly carried his name, including:
- a coxed pair named in 1984
- the KIRS Coxless Pair in 1998
- a single scull purchased in 2007
His name remains permanently associated with the Club he helped build.
Final Reflections
Len passed away on 30 November 2020 after 67 years of continuous involvement with St George’s Rowing Club. His funeral, held on 7 December 2020, was attended by a large gathering of current and former members. A guard of honour welcomed him one final time, while family and friends shared stories that celebrated not only his achievements in rowing but also his generosity, humour and unwavering commitment to the Club.
For generations of St George’s members, Len was much more than a Patron. He was the Club’s elder statesman, mentor and unofficial kaumātua — a man whose quiet leadership and willingness to help inspired everyone around him.
The clubhouse standing on the banks of the Tāmaki River is, in many ways, Len Gissing’s lasting monument. Every brick laid, every improvement completed and every young rower who has benefited from his generosity reflects a lifetime devoted to St George’s Rowing Club.