Jim Stanbury had his last professional race in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1906.

Stanbury boating up for his last professional race - Wanganui, 1906

The race was on December 26 against New Zealander William Webb as a precursor to Webb's challenge of Towns for the world title in 1907.

William Webb

Stanbury then took a position as the Head Ranger of the Royal National Park south of Sydney, which came with a house and small farm at the entrance to the park at Waterfall.

In 1917, he moved the family back to Ryde where he established an orchard on 10 acres of land growing peaches plums and nectarines.

Stanbury on the Parramatta River in about 1919

In March 1926, Stanbury was invited by the Shoalhaven Rowing Club, together with two other rowing champions, Bill Beach, and George Towns and two other great scullers of their times Chris Nielsen, and Charles Messenger to attend a regatta on the Shoalhaven River, at Numba to celebrate the "Back to Shoalhaven Week", on October 23, 1926.

An exhibition race in rowing skiffs was held between these famous scullers, and was reported as follows:

"The appearance of four ex-champions in an exhibition race of skiffs was a unique sight. The veterans, Beach with a weight of 76 years on his shoulders, Stanbury, pulling the scales at close to 20 stone (127 kgs); George Towns, still alert though long past his heyday of youth; and Chris Nielsen white haired but active - carried the minds back to the days when rowing was at the height of its popularity and when their was a galaxy of aquatic talent, who made history and won renown for themselves on the historic championship course over the Parramatta River and equally historic course on the Thames.

Old champions boat up in skiffs at the Numba Regatta in 1926

The old warriors rowed leisurely over the course, showing that they had not forgotten the game at which they had each become famous, they came up to the finishing line abreast.

It was a sight that will never be forgotten."

Stanbury continued to farm his orchard in Twin Road, North Ryde, up until his passing on December 11, 1945 at Ryde Hospital, aged 77 years.

Jim Stanbury in 1944 at 76 years of age

Jim Stanbury is buried in the Presbyterian section of the Field of Mars Cemetery North Ryde .

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• Many thanks to Bruce Stanbury Ramsay who supplied much of this information through his involvement with Shoalhaven Historical Society (August 22, 2005) and contact which he initiated with Grafton Rowing Club
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• Much of this chronology has been compiled from:

  • Newspaper reports of the time;

  • The book "Shoalhaven River Regattas 150 years, 1885 - 2005";

  • Stanbury Family recollections;
     

• Special thanks go to the Shoalhaven Historical Society, Robyn Florance (President) and Alan Clark (Secretary).

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