Biography
Born: 1896
Died: 19 July 1945
Grave Location: Private B, Section 02, Grave 13
Achievements
‘Jack’ Jopling is recognised as Victoria’s most successful rowing stroke of the 1920s.
Rowing for the Wendouree Rowing Club, he took part in more than 40 victories between 1920 and 1927.
His famous partnership with Ray Todd won five State pairs titles, and he also stroked three eights and two fours titles.
With Jopling as stroke, Wendouree Rowing Club represented Victoria in multiple competitions including the King’s Cup on the Yarra river in 1925 and victories in New Zealand in 1927.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, he was president of the Wendouree Rowing Club, a role he had still held at the time of his passing.
Did you Know?
John Ralph Jopling (1896 – 19th July 1948) was an electrician and champion rower.
He stroked 10 pairs, fours and eights to Victorian Championships. In rowing, the stroker is the rower positioned closest to the back of the boat; they are responsible for setting the stroke rate and rhythm for the entire crew. At the time of his death Jack was president of the Wendouree Club and a well-known figure in the rowing world.
Jack died aged 48 after a short illness and was buried in the grand family memorial in the prestigious Private Block B location. The memorial is the final resting place for three generations of the family, including his parents John James Jopling (1868 – 1930 aged 62) and Julia Jopling (1864-1953 aged 89), and his sister Julia Margaret Date (1893-1969 aged 76). John Robertson Jopling (1833 -1901, aged 68), a superphosphates manufacturer and Margaret Maria Jopling (Ralph) (1843 – 1926, aged 83) were also buried there.
Jack, Julia, and Julia Margaret are memorialised with a simple stone plaque, while John Robertson, Margaret Maria and John James have a hipped stone slab with their names etched on either side. Low-set decorative iron railing surrounds the grave as was the custom of the time it was built.
