Victorian Excellence Recognised at ROTY Awards

VICTORIAN EXCELLENCE RECOGNISED AT ROTY AWARDS

Rowing Australia (RA) has honoured its highest achievers, greatest contributors and most dedicated community members at the annual Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards and Centenary Ball. Rowing Victoria extends its warm congratulations to all Victorians recognised on the night.

Victorian umpire Tony Lawless was awarded Official of the Year. For more than 20 years, Tony has embodied calm leadership, fairness and integrity on the field of play. A mentor, educator and respected umpire, Tony is a truly deserving recipient of this award.

The Men’s and Women’s Eights were named the Male and Female Crews of the Year, respectively, with these crews including Victorians Paige Barr OLY, Marcus Emmett, Katherine Easton, Georgie Gleeson, Harry Manton, Jack Robertson OLY and Hayley Verbunt OLY. Both crews showed strong development and cohesion across the year.

Romy Cantwell was awarded Pathways Crew of the Year following her outstanding performance in the Under 23 Women’s Single Scull and her strong Senior debut. Jamie McDonald was recognised as Pathways Coach of the Year, following his coaching success with crews from Under 19 to Under 23. Jamie remains a driving force in Australia's athlete pipeline.

Victoria was also represented among RA’s highest honours, with Drew Ginn OAM inducted as one of three new Rowing Australia Life Members.

Full list of award recipients:

776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year: Jackson Free

Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Awards: Georgina Rowe OLY 

Win Well Vocational and Educational Award: Nikolas Pender

Service to Rowing Award: Caroline Pijpers

Para Crew of the Year: Erik Horrie OAM PLY, PR1 Men’s Single Sculls

Female Crew of the Year: Women’s Eight - Hayley Verbunt OLY, Paige Barr OLY, Jaime Ford, Laura Gourley OLY, Zara Collisson, Ella Bramwell, Sophie Houston, Katherine Easton, Georgie Gleeson

Male Crew of the Year: Men’s Eight - Nicholas Dunlop, Patrick Long, Angus Dawson OLY, Alex Nichol, Harry Manton, Marcus Emmett, Jack Robertson OLY, Alexander McClean, Mitch Salisbury

Commonwealth Games Australia Beach Sprint Crew of the Year: Coastal Mixed Coxed Quadruple Sculls - Phoebe Robinson, Oscar Scheel Gamborg, Sophia Wightman, Samuel Forbes, Ryder Taylor

Pathways Crew of the Year: Romy Cantwell, Under 23 Women’s Single Sculls and Sam Stunell, PR3 Under 23 Men’s Single Sculls

Coach of the Year: James Loveday 

Para Coach of the Year: Christine MacLaren

Pathways Coach of the Year: Jamie McDonald

Program of the Year: Swan River Rowing Club’s Corporate Rowing Program

Sharp EIT High Performance Club of the Year: Sydney Rowing Club 

Volunteer of the Year: Stuart John and Simone Burge

Inglewood Official of the Year: Anthony ‘Tony’ Lawless

Bont Rowing Club of the Year: Glebe Rowing Club 

Life Member Inductees: Nick Hunter OAM, Drew Ginn OAM, Ellen Randell