Scholarships

Bill & Doris Eaddy Memorial Trust - BOP

The Eaddy Junior Rowing Trust is named in remembrance of the late William Harold (Bill) and Doris Eaddy. When Bill passed away he set aside part of his residuary estate for purposes which supported junior rowers and their coaches. The Bill and Doris Eaddy Memorial Trust was established by Deed of Trust in July 2002 and registered as a charity. In 2023 the trust was resettled and transferred to the Acorn Foundation to administer. It is our honour to continue the legacy of Bill and Doris.

About Bill Eaddy:

Bill was educated in Thames and Auckland, and began his rowing career at the Auckland Rowing Club in 1924. He transferred to Waitemata Rowing Club in 1929. Bill completed an engineering apprenticeship and continued to row until 1932 when he joined the Merchant Marine as a 3rdengineer.

Bill met his beloved Doris and they were married in 1934, moving to Ngaruawahia where Bill became involved with the Ngaruawahia Rowing Club. He later began coaching club and college crews at the Hamilton Rowing Club. Bill won his first Green Coat with the Hamilton Rowing Club in 1959. The following year, he was one of the prime movers in the foundation of the Waikato Rowing Club and was involved in establishing rowing at Fairfield College.

In 1967 Bill and Doris moved to Russell to run a motel and had a break from rowing. They retired to Mount Maunganui in 1974 and Bill took up coaching again with Otumoetai College. From 1976 until 1992, he coached at Tauranga Boys' College and Tauranga Rowing Club.

Bill had a special affinity with the junior rowing fraternity. He managed a remarkable string of five consecutive Maadi Cub victories from 1978 with Tauranga Boys' College, and for three consecutive years they also won the Springbok Four. In 1978 and 1981 Bill took a Tauranga Boys' College 8 to Australia with much success, and in 1981 was awarded the Lud Brooker Salver by the New Zealand Rowing Association for his services to rowing. In 1984 Bill was the first national junior coach taking a New Zealand crew to Australia. Bill was acknowledged as a Master Coach. He was a life member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Association and the Auckland Rowing Association. He served as Patron of both the Tauranga and Waikato Clubs and was a life member of both. In 1990 Bill received the New Zealand Commemorative medal and, in 1997, was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Bill was often heard to say that "Not only do we teach young men to be good rowers, but we teach them to be good citizens too". All the while Doris was at his side until she died in January 1991. She was a huge strength to Bill who in turn passed away in 2000.

Bill will be remembered for his special place in the rowing family. Not only did he teach young men and women how to row, but he taught them to be good citizens too. He was a Master Coach, a devoted husband, a wise mentor and a special friend to the Waikato and Tauranga rowing families in particular.