BLACK MOUNTAIN PENINSULA
CBR
Red Shed is a vision born from
Our dedicated committee members, representing both Red Shed and Black Mountain Rowing Club Inc. (BMRC), bring a wealth of experience and a shared passion for rowing to our community.
Committed to the vision of “Rowing for All,” they are committed to ensure our facilities and programs are inclusive and welcoming. With diverse backgrounds in rowing, management, law and community engagement, our team is focused on providing a top-notch experience for both seasoned rowers and newcomers.
John & Jeanette Gasson
President & Treasurer
Founders of Red Shed
John and Jeanette have a long history with the Black Mountain Rowing Club. John’s rowing journey began in 1973 at Telopea Park High School in Canberra. Despite limited opportunities, he and his friends embraced the sport, and later, former students including Peter Wright, Angus Reid, and John, established the Easts Rowing Club, where Jeanette became a notable athlete, winning a silver medal in the 1984 World Championships.
In 1984, John led efforts to secure a new site on Black Mountain Peninsula, resulting in the club’s relocation and renaming to Black Mountain Rowing Club in 1987. This move allowed the club to expand significantly, with John, Jeanette, Angus, and Peter playing key roles in its growth.
The Red Shed represents the next evolution of the Telopea Park High School Rowing Club, a legacy that John and Jeanette are proud to have facilitated. They met at the old rowing shed over 40 years ago and continue to row and compete today.
Angus Reid
Secretary
Committee Member of BMRC
Peter Wright
ACT Rowing Representative
Director at ACT Rowing
Peter began rowing at 15 during his time at Telopea Park High School in 1969. By 1972, he was rowing in the Telopea 1st VIII and coached the team the following year. Peter played a key role in forming the Eastern Suburbs Rowing Club and was instrumental in the merger that created Black Mountain Rowing Club.
After focusing on his career and raising three daughters in the ’80s and ’90s, Peter returned to rowing in 1999. Since then, he has been actively involved with Black Mountain Rowing Club, serving as Club President and a Committee member. He has remained engaged both on and off the water.
Rowing fosters teamwork, individuality, and lifelong relationships while promoting physical and mental health. It has profoundly shaped Peter’s life and made him a better person. Now, as a proud life member of BMRC nearing 70, he continues to enjoy rowing and camaraderie with friends.
Alastair Gregory
BMRC Representative
Committee Member of BMRC
Jenny Simmons
BMRC Representative
Vice Captain of BMRC
Jenny began rowing during high school at Canberra Girls Grammar, where she was a key member of the first VIII and served as Vice Captain of Boats. She continued her rowing journey at the Australian National University (ANU), where she met her husband, also a rower, who asked her out at the Disher Cup ball. After starting a family, Jenny returned to rowing in 2016 with the Black Mountain Rowing Club. Since 2018, she has held the position of Vice Captain of Boats and is dedicated to helping others enjoy rowing at all levels.
John Irvine
Red Shed Committee Member
Lawyer
John Irvine, a Partner at Trinity Law, is a highly esteemed commercial property and development lawyer in Canberra. With degrees in Commerce Accounting and Law (Honours) and over two decades of legal experience, John seamlessly blends legal expertise with deep commercial understanding. His counsel is sought by clients from across Australia and around the world for navigating major commercial property transactions in Canberra and its environs. Within Trinity Law, John leads the Commercial Division and has previously served as the Chair of the ACT Law Society’s Commercial Law Committee.
In addition to his professional achievements, John is actively involved in assisting Red Shed with their legal matters, demonstrating his commitment to supporting community initiatives.
EXPLORE RED SHED
