In his youth, Tom held the Australian lightweight and heavyweight professional rowing titles for more than 20 years.

William Thomas James ('Tom') Saul was born in 1902, the son of John and Alice (nee Rowe) Saul of Bellimbopinni. His father John was a sculler and at age 10, Tom said it was the sight of his father's large frame in a tiny skiff that convinced him to make a success out of rowing.

Of a slight build, Tom with the help of his brother Jack set himself an arduous training program rowing against the riverboats.

Both enjoyed much success in local regattas, with Tom going down to Sydney to train under former world champion, George Towns.

Returning to the Macleay after only a few months training, he won his first and only amateur race in a regatta at Frederickton aged just 15. Two years later he won the North Coast Rowing Championship.

Tom returned to training with George Towns and his hard work later paid off when he entered the 1924 Australian professional rowing championships held on the Lane Cove River.

He beat many big names in rowing to win the lightweight championship over one and a half miles, then won the heavyweight title in the afternoon.

Tom Saul's scull was probably built in 1923 by George Towns, whose sculls were highly regarded and sought after by top scullers.

Named "Seven Oaks 2" Tom's scull was expertly restored by the late George Crossingham of Aldavilla before being donated to Kempsey Museum.

Tom Saul's rowing vest, knitted for him by his mother Alice, was in poor condition in 2014 when it was assessed by visiting museum curator Sue Bassett and it was recommended that we apply for a grant for its preservation.

We were successful in obtaining a Community Heritage Grant from the National Library of Australia in 2015 and the vest has now been professionally restored by Heights Heritage Conservation of Sydney.

The "v-necked" vest was designed in a singlet style with large and low cut armholes to allow maximum movement and flexibility. The knitted fabric ensured the rower was kept warm or, if the wearer was perspiring, the fabric allowed for air flow and the opportunity for the fabric and skin underneath to dry.

The vest was knitted using a purple yarn for the body and black yarn for the lower band. A decorative crocheted star in cream yarn was sewn to the front of the vest. These were probably Tom Saul's racing or competition colours.

Tom stopped rowing in the 1940s but continued his involvement in community affairs including the South West Rocks Surf Lifesaving Club, the Rural Youth organisation, the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales and the Kempsey Show Society.

Many years later, Tom's son Jim would take up rowing and in 1952 became World Professional Sculling Champion, defeating the titleholder Evans Paddon and watched proudly by his father and grandfather.

Reflecting on his life in 1974, Tom said: "If a man makes a success of his life that's something isn't it?"