WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

More than 2,350 athletes took on the Yarra River last weekend, bringing the energy for the Melbourne Head Regatta! We also saw our first racing in Ballarat for the season, as schools warmed up Lake Wendouree before we return there in January.

The excitement continues, as we look forward to seeing crews back on the Yarra this Saturday, for the much anticipated Head of the Yarra! APS schools will also be going head to head in Nagambie, whilst Junior & Inter Schoolgirls will be racing on the Barwon.

With hot temperatures forecast for tomorrow, please ensure you stay hydrated and cool off where you can!

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

2025 STATE TEAM SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The selection policies and nomination forms for the 2025 Senior/Para/Youth & Masters Interstate Teams are now live on the Rowing Victoria website.

Senior/Para/Youth Nominations close on Friday 20th December 2024.

Masters Nominations close on Monday 20th January 2025.

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

NTC WELCOMES NEW ATHLETES

Rowing Australia's National Training Centres have welcomed new aspiring Rowsellas to their ranks for 2025, following a week of assessment camps.

The camps featured U23, Australia A and current Rowsella athletes, with newly appointed Women's Head Coach James Harris and Men's Head Coach Chris O'Brien establishing a new lineup of talent for the upcoming year.

The Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre in Penrith welcomes four new athletes, whilst the Reinhold Batschi Men’s Training Centre in Canberra welcomes eleven new athletes. Well done to the six Victorians included in these additions, we look forward to tracking your ongoing improvement alongside existing Victorians in the NTC cohort.

MELBOURNE HEAD - GALLERY

Images: 'Boathouse Drive'

VINEY ELECTED TO ATHLETE COMMISSION

Paralympian Al Viney has been elected to the Paralympics Australia Athlete Commission, alongside two other Paris 2024 representatives.

Viney, a two-time Games representative in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four, brings fresh perspectives to the Paralympics Australia Athlete Commission.

Known for her leadership as a strength and conditioning coach and her work as an LGBTQIA+ sports ambassador, Viney’s appointment highlights her commitment to inclusion and athlete empowerment.

Joining the Commission as part of a group of 13 Paralympians spanning 10 sports, Viney aims to contribute to shaping strategies for the next Paralympic cycle.

DIRECTOR OF ROWING & HEAD COACH PRESENTATION

Directors of Rowing and Head Coaches absorbed plenty of knowledge on November 13th, as Rowing Australia Pathway Transition Manager, John Bowes, joined a range of Australian representatives in sharing their pathway experiences. Bowes explained the US College system, including the communication and opportunities that are available for these athletes.

Two of our U23 Australian Team representatives, Dom Frederico and Austin Reinehr, shared their experiences of school rowing, through to representing Australia at the U23 World Championships. They were fresh from a Rowing Australia Camp and we thank them for taking the time to speak before heading home for some extra sleep!

Susannah Lutze discussed her school rowing journey and the transition into para-rowing, along with possible ways to facilitate greater engagement of students with disability, and the identification of rowers who may move onto the para-pathway.

The VIC Pathway Team & U19 trial boat opportunities were also explained, with Alex Williams, a former VIC Pathway Team member (2023) and AUS U19 Team member (M2X 2024), sharing his experiences. Noel Donaldson then elaborated on the benefits of each program and the challenges in forming trial boats, focussing on the need for collaboration between coaches.

Thank you to everyone who attended and especially our presenters. The session enabled important and relevant information to be explained, and provided coaches the opportunity to ask questions. Of course, it is always wonderful when a group of rowing “enthusiasts” are in the same room – no one ever gets tired of talking rowing!

The slides from the session are available below.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE - COACHING & OFFICIATING CONFERENCE

Mark your calendars - the 2025 ASC Coaching and Officiating Conference will be held from 18-20 March 2025 at GMHBA Stadium, Geelong.

This year’s theme is ‘Connection’, highlighting how modern coaching and officiating methods are changing the way we experience sports, shaping our environments and developing our organisations.

Gain a deep understanding of what coaches and officials need to learn and grow, focussing on building flexible and effective skills within a lively and ever-changing sports ecosystem. You’ll have the chance to explore new ideas, technologies and viewpoints that encourage agility, genuine teamwork and strong connections.

 Community coaches and officials will all be invited to this year's conference. More information and registrations to come in December.

WEBINAR: CELEBRATING DISABILITY INCLUSION LEADERS

Join us in celebrating the 2024 International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) with this engaging webinar!

Sport4All brings together key voices in disability inclusion to share practical insights, real world stories, and actionable strategies for fostering more inclusive sports and communities. Our panellists include Paralympians, representatives from state sporting organisations, regional communities, and schools, offering a comprehensive perspective on what disability inclusion looks like across various contexts.

Whether you're an educator, policymaker, advocate, or community leader, this webinar will provide valuable insights and strategies to help you create meaningful change.

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.

ESAFETY WEBINAR

Learn more about how to stay safer online in sport by registering this webinar, hosted by the Australian Government eSafety Commissioner.

 Social media self-defence for athletes

Learn practical strategies on how to set up social media accounts with safety in mind, understand types of online abuse, and how to deal with issues. Suitable for elite, state, national and pathway athletes over 18 years of age. 

Date: Wednesday 27 November 
Time: 12-1pm

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. 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.