WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We saw some wet conditions over the weekend as school crews continued to gain important racing experience in Carrum and Geelong.

We return to the NWSC this Saturday, with time trials warming up the course for what should be some exciting racing at the Carrum Regatta.

There's plenty happening off the water, including the opening of Pathway Team nominations! Please be aware the the RV Travelling Roadshow scheduled for Nagambie has now been cancelled.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

       UPCOMING REGATTAS

VICTORIAN COASTAL ROWING SERIES

A friendly reminder that the following dates have been confirmed for the Victorian Coastal Rowing (Beach Sprints) Series:

Sun 15th December 2024 - Williamstown Beach

Sun 19th January 2025 - Williamstown Beach

Members can enter Regatta #1 via Rowing Manager NOW. Whilst, non-members can fill out the waiver form on the regatta page.

All equipment will be provided. All abilities are welcome. Free entry.

You can simply show up and participate, we hope to see you there!

2025 PATHWAY STATE TEAM - SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The selection policies and nomination form for the 2025 Pathway State Team are now live on the Rowing Victoria website and available below.

Heading into the holiday break, now is the perfect time for young athletes to consider whether they'd like to take their rowing to the next level and represent Victoria! 

Coxless Quads and Coxed Eights will be selected to compete at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from April 13th-15th.

Athletes must be 17 or younger as at December 31st 2025.

Nominations close February 14th (Coaches) and March 5th (Athletes).

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

2025 AUSTRALIAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2025 Australian Rowing Championships are scheduled to take place from the 24th to 30th March 2025, at Lake Barrington, Tasmania.

The December ARC Bulletin, including all important event information, is now available via the link below.

The Indicative Race Schedule will also be made available shortly.

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY

International Day for People with Disability (IDPwD), held on Tuesday December 3rd, aims to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

In line with this day, Sport4All’s parent organisation, Get Skilled Access, developed a series of interesting videos that featured Paralympians from different sports - Dylan Alcott, Mitch Gourley and Blake Cochrane. Please take the time to have a look at this interesting series of videos:

Celebrating Leaders with disability - Get Skilled Access

Rowing Victoria runs a para-rowing program on Albert Park Lake, where athletes requiring adaptive equipment can experience rowing. If athletes in this program progress to become competent and capable, then they are ready to join a club that support their further progress in the sport! One such graduate of the program is Zack Condick, who now rows for Carrum RC. He has come a long way from the Learn to Row program, where he started out with pontoons. Look out for Zack racing in his first regatta at Carrum this Saturday, he is in the para-double and para-single!

Read more about IDPwD and this years theme via the link below.

2025 HOSG MERCHANDISE - COMING SOON

We hope you are as excited as we are, with the 2025 Head of the Schoolgirls' merchandise announcement just around the corner!

The online store will open for pre-orders at 7pm Mon 9th December.

FLYING DOCTOR ROWATHON RAISE HUGE TOTAL

The 31st Flying Doctor Rowathon was held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, hosted by Wentworth District Rowing Club, Wentworth, NSW.

We are happy to share that this year the Rowathon raised $40,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service!

What an amazing effort. Well done to all involved and all who ventured to Wentworth to participate in the event. We can't wait to see how much is raised next year!

VALE GRAEME MURPHY

It is with great sadness that we share news of the loss of Melbourne Rowing Club Life Member and Patron, Graeme Murphy.

Graeme joined the club as a Schoolboy rower in 1968 after his brother John joined in 1966 and his passion, service and rowing excellence has known no bounds in his 56 ongoing active years of membership. His love of the sport was turned to all areas of the club; he is a multiple Past President, multiple Past Captain, multiple Harry Yoffa Best Clubperson, multiple ETJ Kerby Mens Champion Rower, champion cox and coach. 

Graeme will be most fondly remembered as a passionate, tireless and committed part of our history, for his contributions, devotion and commitment to Melbourne Rowing Club. He was 76 and is survived by his wife Vicki, his children Ashleigh and Rohan and their mother Trish.

Please see the link below to read more about Graeme.

Felicity
MRC President

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. 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.