WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

Two huge days of racing last weekend at the Barwon Regatta! Well done to all athletes and thank you as always to our amazing volunteers.

Heading into February we will see our school action ramp up, with racing opportunities in Geelong and Ballarat, starting with the Morongo Regatta!

Meanwhile, clubs will be eyeing off the JG King Homes Wendouree Ballarat Regatta this weekend, with the State Championships not too far away.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

WENDOUREE BALLARAT REGATTA

We are excited to share that the both Saturday and Sunday of the Wendouree Ballarat Regatta will be livestreamed. Please follow the links below to tune into the action from wherever you may be.

A friendly reminder that the final roadshow session will also be this Saturday post-racing! Stick around to get some handy boat repair and maintenance tips thanks to RowMann Repairs. Please register below.

ERIC WALLER OAM

Rowing Victoria extends its congratulations to the late Eric Waller, who has been posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his outstanding service to rowing in Ballarat and Victoria.

 His remarkable contribution to his club and to the prominence of rowing in Ballarat cannot be overstated. Eric’s unwavering dedication ensured that rowing remained a vital part of Ballarat’s sporting culture, both at the club and school levels. He was also instrumental in developing Lake Wendouree into an international-standard course, approved by FISA.

Eric’s passing on June 9, 2023, at the age of 82, was an incredibly sad day for all of us. However, this recognition is a fitting tribute to his unparalleled contributions to WBRC and the sport of rowing.

Please join us in celebrating this tremendous honour and remembering Eric’s incredible legacy.

Credit: Wendouree Ballarat RC

BARWON REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: Matt Ashley

2025 STATE & NATIONAL TEAMS - NOMINATIONS

Victorian Pathway Team nomination dates are closing in!

Don't miss your chance to wear the Big White V and showcase your ability on the big stage! Nominate now and be part of the fun, with eights and coxless quad crews to be selected.

Please direct any questions regarding selection to Delwyn Oliver on delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

VALE KATHY LLOYD

Sadly, Kathy passed away on the 27/01/2025 after a sudden and aggressive return of her cancer. Having managed to overcome it twice before, this time it was not to be. Although through her various treatments and operations she kept on training and rowing.

Kathy loved nothing more than to launch out onto the peaceful waters of Lake Wendouree in her scull and just enjoy the rowing. She made her contribution to women’s rowing in Ballarat, Victoria and Australia and was the consummate club person pitching in and doing whatever needed doing.

She was a loyal and valued member and will be missed greatly. Read more about Kathy's journey via the link below.

Credit: Kate Elliott

MISSING OARS - BARWON REGATTA

We have been advised that a set of personal Concept 2 Skinny Oars, with orange handles and white blades, have been taken by mistake from the Barwon Regatta last Sunday.

The oars had the athletes name on them but no club ID, with 2 oars of a similar type left in their place.

If you have any information regarding the oars, please contact info@rowingvictoria.asn.au or admin@melbournerowing.com.au.

UPCOMING EVENTS

REGIONAL ALL ABILITIES PARTICIPATION GRANTS

Regional All Abilities Participation Grants assist organisations to increase participation opportunities and address barriers to participation for people with disability in regional Victoria.

Grants will support organisations to:

• Purchase modified equipment, assistive technology, adaptive clothing, and environmental aids
• Recruit, mentor, employ, and retain a person with disability to a paid or voluntary position
• Employ a specialised workforce to support people with disability
• Reduce travel costs for active participants with disability
• Broaden the range of on-going, flexible, and place-based sport or active recreation programs; and
• Increase awareness, understanding, acceptance, community pride, and connection.

Key information:

• Grant amount: Up to $25,000 per category
• Applications Open: 6 November 2024
• Applications Close: TBC (Ongoing)

If you have resources that should be shared amongst the sporting community, please reach out directly to your City of Ballarat Club Liaison and Support Officer.

REMINDER: BOW & STERN LIGHTS

It is important that ALL rowers on ALL waterways (and coaches on bikes and powerboats) between sunset and sunrise have adequate lighting for your safety and the safety of others. 

Rowing boats, in restricted visibility and between sunset and sunrise, are required by LAW to exhibit;

• Two all-round white lights - one attached to the boat at or near the forward or bow end, and one attached to the boat at or near the stern end.
• Bow light - A continuous white light is considered acceptable if it is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.
• Stern light - A flashing white light is considered acceptable if it flashes at least once per second and is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.

Not withstanding the above, it is considered acceptable for a light to be masked so as not to interfere with the vision of the vessel’s occupants, provided at least one light is visible from any direction (see diagram below).

BIKE LIGHTS

In addition to safely lighting our boats, it is important that coaches are also meeting requirements off the water. By law, your bike must be fitted with a rear red reflector, a bell, and at least one working brake.

When riding at night and in low-light, you must use a front white light and a rear red light. The light can be flashing or steady but must be seen from 200 metres away. It is also a good idea to use flashing lights during the day to help other road users see you.

SAFETY REMINDER

Rowing Victoria would like to remind all members the importance of using our equipment and waterways safely and appropriately.

Please follow traffic rules, including correctly using designated turning zones. Rules and maps for all waterways can be found on our Venues webpage. By following these rules, our waterways are safer for all. 

We have also been made aware of a number of incidents where rowing coaches have been sighted either riding without helmets, using megaphones at incorrect hours, or using mobile phones while riding (both in conversation or filming their crews).

For your own safety, to avoid fines, and to respect other members of the community, we ask that you please ensure you are obeying the law and not partaking in the behaviours above.

WATERWAY ACCESS & INCIDENT REPORTING

Could all waterway users please ensure they are acquainted with their local waterway rules; traffic direction, turning points, stationary obstacles etc.

So that RV, Maritime Safety Victoria and now, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority can support the community in providing safe waterways, please register all incidents via the RV Report an Incident tile on the home page of the RV website.

A consistent management of reporting will assist us in ensuring we are kept safe on the water and the chances of equipment damage is mitigated.