Australian honour for New Zealand's Rowlands

The honour is for Rowlands’ significant service to the sport of rowing. The honour’s accompanying citation stated, “He has demonstrated his passion for the sport as a competitor, supporter and administrator of the sport. Mr Rowlands made significant contributions to Australian rowing through the generous contribution of his knowledge and time.”

Rowlands’ involvement in rowing became a lifetime passion. He earned a silver medal at the 1950 British Empire Games (the former Commonwealth Games) and gold at the 1954 British Empire Games as well as rowing at the 1956 Olympic Games. He then moved into coaching, national team selection and administration with Rowing New Zealand. The eternal volunteer, Rowlands did this all  while following a very successful career in business.

The force behind the 1978 World Rowing Championships, Rowlands oversaw the first World Rowing Championship event to be in staged in the southern hemisphere. Described as an ‘infectious leader.’ Rowlands organised the entire event using volunteers and his many contacts in the business world.

Rowlands also held commission positions within the World Rowing Federation, FISA and played a part in helping to design rowing courses including four Olympic regatta courses. FISA Events Director, Svetla Otzetova says Rowlands was a ‘trouble shooter’ and ‘good at solving problems.’

In 1982 Rowlands received the Olympic Order medal. He also received the New Zealand Leadership Award for Sport (2005) and in 2009 Rowlands received the World Rowing Distinguished Service to International Rowing award.

New Zealand Rowing’s elite training site at Lake Karapiro includes an events centre named after Don Rowlands.