As a stillwater rower he was a six-time national champion across both sculling and sweep-oared boats and competed at two Olympic Games.

[7] Their younger brother Darrell coxed West Australian Penrith Cup fours in the 1960s and rowed and coached at the masters level in the early 2000s.

[8][9] Roger's niece (Barry's daughter) Sally Ninham was an Australian national champion lightweight rower who won a silver medal at the 1990 World Rowing Championships.

In the early 1960s he came to Sydney, worked for a local builder for a short period then set up his own boatyard in Manly Vale.

In 1971 a surfboat he had built and rowed for his club – Queenscliff SLSC – won the 1971 Australian National Championship in Perth.

Other Surf Life Saving Clubs around the country sought orders for the same design and Ninham's boat-building business prospered.