Ainsley Raggatt

What is your role in the rowing community?

At current, I am coaching adults to learn to row with TopRow… I volunteer my time coxing crews made up of past rowing members to get them back into the sport… I help manage the maintenance, social events and communications at Banks… And still hanging on to the back end of our high performance squad haha 

What is the motivation behind what you do?

Rowing has provided me with so much, and I want nothing more than to provide that opportunity to someone else by giving back to the community. The rowing community has given me lifelong friendships and skills. It is a team sport that requires qualities and values that are difficult to teach or instill in someone any other way than putting them through hard and unrelenting exhausting work. Working that hard next to some of your best mates helps you develop virtues of dedication, sacrifice, courage and selflessness. These virtues stay with you in everything you do. It truly is the best sport in the world. 

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, I’ve realised just how important the mental game is. COVID has definitely highlighted this. Your attitude and energy is contagious. It can bring out the best or even the worst in you and those around you. We are a team not only at Banks, not only in the rowing community, but on this earth. Look after the people around you and they will do the same for you. Enjoy the little moments and the challenges. Grow from your mistakes and the obstacles. As my father would always tell me, “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses”.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

There is definitely a change already occurring in my role and I will help continue to drive it. More clubs are banding together, there’s more access to learn to row programs, and there’s slowly becoming a better platform for school rowers to jump into club rowing. I wish I had better communication as to what clubs are out there and how to get involved when I was at school, so I will help achieve that change by spreading the word and speaking to school athletes. 

Felecity Frederico

What is your role in the rowing community?

Primarily I am a mother of both Emmie and Dom who are passionate rowers. I joined the Rowing Committee at Mercantile Rowing Club two years ago. Since joining the committee, I am still constantly overwhelmed by the level of volunteer support that keeps clubs such as Mercantile relevant and operational. While I am a very small cog in the wheel, it is the volunteer efforts of so many – hours each day that are the backbone of rowing in Victoria.]

What is the motivation behind what you do?

I believe that the standard you walk past is the standard that you accept. I have a long track record in active community engagement. Whether it was on the board of the South Metro Junior Football League, the Victorian Amateur Football League, school councils, or as the Mayor and Councillor of Bayside, school rowing committees and countless other boards and committees. I believe healthy and active communities are fundamental to our overall health and wellbeing. It is up to all of us.

Our communities are supported by volunteers. It is these volunteers that that are making the greatest difference in our communities.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months?

The importance of having a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging for overall mental health and well-being and developing resilience. Rowing at all levels fills this void – particularly at a time, when so many of our rowers are at University and have not developed a sense of belonging, or even engaged remotely at this level.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I would like to see a greater level of engagement at all levels throughout the rowing community. This includes lapsed rowers, current parents of rowers and those currently active as rowers or supporting at a secretariat/administration level. We need to widen the volunteer pool.

Lynne Broad

What is your role in the rowing community?

I am the women’s captain at Bairnsdale Rowing club. I could probably best describe my role in my local rowing community as an eclectic one. As well as being a competitive rower I also assist with coaching the club masters and learn to rowers, both in Bairnsdale and down at Sale. My coaching at Sale also involves being a bit of a tour guide, as we often go out in a coxless quad which I manage to steer into a lot of interesting spots along the river. I am also coaching a young para rower, Harry, which is a fantastic learning experience for both of us.

 As women’s captain I arrange crews and plans for training sessions and regattas. I also liaise with  other clubs when we are travelling to regattas and help bring composite crews together or borrow equipment. Behind the scenes I arrange accommodation when we travel away to regattas and sometimes entertainment, the quiz after dinner on a Saturday night is very popular. I have also been doing some parody song videos during the lockdowns to give everyone a bit of a laugh. On the serious side I have also been sending coaching/training videos to my crewmates to help everyone keep focussed while we are off the water.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

My primary motivation is my love of rowing. Rowing has given a lot to me over the course of my life, particularly since I began my second age of rowing, and I find that my role allows me to share what I have gained from rowing with others. It is wonderful to be able to encourage people to get the best out of themselves, and to create an environment where they can feel comfortable to have a go at something new or the confidence to push themselves to another level.

I feel very fortunate that I can play a role in developing the sport of rowing in the Gippsland region. Through my participation in masters rowing, having had the opportunity to train and compete with rowers from across Victoria and interstate, I can promote our club and region throughout the wider Australian rowing community. 

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months?

The past 12 months have taught me the importance of taking any opportunity that presents itself, don’t wait to see if something else comes along. Just have a go and if it doesn’t work out how you expected at least you won’t die wondering.

Along with this I think I have learnt the importance in my role of being positive, acknowledging things that have gone well, eg good changes that were made during a training session and if things don’t go well try to find a positive in the negative. If rowers, both experienced or learners, can go out for a training session or race and feel that they have achieved something and had fun doing it, that is a great outcome.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I row with fantastic people who are always willing to work with me and are a great support for me in my role at the club.  What I would like to see more of in my role is for me to have the time to spend coaching and developing the rowers at our club, learn to rowers and para/disabled rowers. This will hopefully come when I can eventually retire from work. Until then I would like to have some mentoring with my coaching, so I can develop my skills and enhance what I can bring to my role at the club.   

Brooke Parsons

What is your role in the rowing community?

I am a Victorian Level 2 Boat Race Official

What is the motivation behind what you do?

As a young female in the umpiring world I have many goals and aspirations that help push me to continue to learn, grow and be the best I possibly can be, As a school rower I thought of the umpires as just another voice on the bank giving me the all clear to race at my best. However, since becoming an umpire I have learnt of a whole other side to a sport very close to my heart. If you where to ask some the Victorian umpires this past season, they would probably tell you that one of my biggest motivations to improve and focus towards was the possibility of a home Olympic Games in 2032 and I couldn’t agree with them more.The announcement of the Brisbane 2032 games back in August has me more excited and motivated than ever to continue to work hard, learn and be the best umpire I can possibly be. I can’t wait to be at a level where I can umpire events on the world stage but most in particular the 2032 Olympics on home turf.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

One thing I have learnt in the last 12 months is that while I’m not a perfect umpire yet, there is always a new trick of the trade or a new way that I can go about bringing my A game to each and every regatta. I’ve learnt that it’s okay to have a bad day or make a mistake as long as I can take something away from it and improve the way I do things. Mistakes are how we learn and I am very thankful for the people who have been able to point out my mistakes and given me advice on how I can better myself.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I could talk all day about what I would love to see more of as a Victorian umpire but I think it would be absolutely amazing to see more women take it on. When I first started umpiring a few seasons ago (whilst also still rowing as a school student), and even in this last season, I was often the only female on the jury. Since then I’ve had the chance to work with some great female umpires who I have had the pleasure of learning from and having agood laugh with. From personal experience, going from travelling up and down the course as a school rower to standing on the banks as an umpire after graduating high school last year has been a great way to stay connected to the sport and I really do hope that more young women take up the gig. It would be great to see rowing, a female dominated sport here in Victoria, lead by a team of female umpires.

Hannah Every - Hall

What is the motivation behind what you do?

I love sport, I really do love all sport. I love the challenges, the journey, the relationships developed, the satisfaction of achieving different things, the sesnse of belonging to something bigger than yourself, that participation in sport brings. Most of all, I personally love helping people achieve their goals. It is fulfilling to me to see others succeed.

When I think back upon my sporting journey, netball occupies nearly as much of my mind as rowing does.

I don't necessarily think of the wins, or the losses. But I think of the people, the experiences I have had and the incredible life lessons I have learnt.

Sport is to be enjoyed and to make you feel good, whatever level you play!

I am also one of the most competitive people you will ever meet.... in anything I do. Which drives some people crazy. So that keeps me attempting to reinvent myself to be a better version.

Finally, the impact a coach can have on an athlete can be deeply profound and in some cases lifechanging. It is truly a gift to be someone's coach, even if only for a little while. Be careful what you do with that gift.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

Not everyone likes things the way you like things ;-) or responds the same way as you. Try to become more aware of your own behaviours conscious and unconscious biases.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

Such a difficult question. More time for "effective collaborative discussion at all levels". I hate meetings that go on forever, but love a meeting that has a purpose, agenda that inspires collective outcomes for many to achieve what we set out to do.

Lynne Charge

What is your role in the rowing community?

At Club Level, I have held the role of Club President, Club Treasurer and Club Captain.

At State Level I have worked for RV as Regatta Secretary and Regatta Operations Manager. I am also a Boat Race Official.

At National Level I have volunteered at many National Championships working with the production team in the tower as well as a bit of commentating.

At International Level, I have worked with the production team in the tower at World Cup and World Championship events.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

The rowing world id full of wonderful people and places. And rowing has had a very positive impact on my family. So by volunteering my time to help this group I am giving back in some small part for all that has been give to me and my family.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

The last year has been a challenge for every one. I was able to get to Tasmania for Nationals to help the team. And to travel to S.A. to compete in the Masters Nationals. One thing that I have learnt is that exercise and movement helps mental as well as physical wellbeing. And whether its an ergo or water, rowing is good for the soul.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

Much of what I have done has been as a volunteer. This gives me joy. I would like to see more rowers volunteering at some level. It may be club, state or national. Rowing runs on volunteers. Without them regattas would not be as well organised as they are, be it in the planning and preparation of the venue, or on regatta day as a BRO or other helper.

Tess Rolley 

What is your role in the rowing community?

Over this year I’ve been very lucky to hold the position of Sport Scientist for the rowing program at the Victorian Institute of Sport.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

Helping athletes find that next level to their performance is extremely rewarding. Whether it’s slight modifications to technique, helping in injury rehabilitation or supporting the development of physiological adaptations, seeing these changes contributing to athletes achieving their goals is the biggest motivation towards me performing my role.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

Being relatively new in the role, working with other members of the rowing support team at the VIS has been really important. Being ready to learn and adapt to whatever the elite sporting environment throws at you has rapidly developed my skills in the industry. The biggest skill I rely on daily is communication. Communicating with colleagues, athletes and coaches has been pivotal. Everyone communicates differently and being able to recognise this and deliver information (e.g. training load and race reports etc.) appropriately is key.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I think it’s a really exciting time for rowing in Victoria. Our underage campaign this year has shown incredible promise in the growth and development of young rowing talent. With Paris only three years away this is an exciting prospect for all of our athletes. So I’d love to see us to continue to facilitate the growth of rowing in Victoria across all different levels.

Nicki Payne 

What is your role in the rowing community?

I am Head Coach and Senior girls 1st crew coach at Ballarat Clarendon College. This year I also coached the Victorian Pathway women’s 8.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

A couple of years ago I realised that I really needed a change from my office job. I took a step back and thought about what would make me happy. Rowing has been my passion for over 20 years, and it makes me happy. I have always loved training, competing and   coaching. These days, I am invested in helping young athletes realise their dreams. I love to see young athletes develop their sense of self-worth, pride and self-confidence. It makes me happy to help them achieve their goals and to help them work through set-backs. For   me, rowing is not just about a sport. Rowing training and racing helps young athletes to develop the skills and habits they will use in nearly every aspect of their lives.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

This last year has been both so difficult and so wonderful all at once. The biggest lesson I have learned over the last season is to trust myself, my knowledge and my instincts. There are so many differing opinions out there in the rowing community, and these opinions   often belong to very knowledgeable people! It can therefore be overwhelming when you get conflicting advice, or advice that contradicts your own judgement. I have learned to take on board as much information as possible, then to trust the informed decisions I make   will be the best option for my program and crews.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I would love to see more women taking on the challenge of senior coaching at schools and clubs. Although female rowing is huge in Victoria and Australia, most of the prominent high-performance coaches tend to be male. I feel great pride in the fact that the students in the Clarendon program can look to me as a female leader in our industry and for them to trust that I have the skills and knowledge to produce an enjoyable and prosperous rowing program for them. And for the girls to know that if they ever wanted to, they could do it too!

Linda Skidmore 

What is your role in the rowing community?

I have several roles within the rowing community, however my primary role is as Junior Rowing Coordinator at Genazzano FCJ College, a position I have held now for over four years.

I have found this role incredibly rewarding, being able to shape the skills with our younger generation of rowers, as they develop their technique and athleticism, in a sport that I am passionate about. Both on and off water, being able to help students navigate their first few years in the sport, to be an absolute privilege, we have fantastic groups of students through each year, and I love seeing them progress and continue to incorporate rowing in their lives as they get older as well.

Over the past eight years I have volunteered my time in the following roles: President of Yarra Yarra Rowing Club (currently two years in this role) and have held positions on the Club's Committee undertaking roles of Captain and Vice Captain, coaching, boat race official, boat repairs, regatta transportation and announcer at various regattas.

This year I have stepped into the role of Vice President for the Victorian Sculling Association (VSA) or otherwise known as the Winter Sculling Series. A few years ago I took on the role of the 2000m starter for the series, provided with a 'mega megaphone' and given a carte blanche (within reason!). I love the friendly banter on the start line, a burst of song to lift scullers' spirits, and giving the gentle reminder that I can always be bribed on the line with a coffee. When I'm not on land volunteering my time, I can be found back on the water, often in a single scull, rowing with friends and heckling each other as we navigate the Yarra's bends.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

At the heart of my motivation is a sincere love for the sport. Passionate, knowledgeable, enthusiastic people are integral to the success of our leadership community, and I am thrilled to continue to be able to create impact through my various roles within the sport, and my ongoing on-water participation.

From a leadership perspective, like most participating in any sport, my motivation stems from being part of a community which provides opportunities for development, growth and support. From a club perspective, this year Yarra Yarra Rowing Club celebrates 150 years of rowing, a history we are incredibly proud of. I love being able to actively contribute towards the planning of the club's future.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

As we move through the COVID pandemic and numerous lockdowns, it has highlighted a sincere need for each of us to be clear in our communication, and to remember to be kind, understanding, and flexible in our interactions. Patience is key, and I have learned to pivot in the way we participate in the sport, which remains an ongoing process, but an exciting one nevertheless.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I'd like to see an increased diversification within the sport, giving more people within our wider communities the opportunity to row, learn to row, and be active within our sport. I believe rowing creates wonderful communities, and that those benefits could and should be shared more widely. I would love to see more volunteers, more people putting their hand up to contribute, as I know from my own experience that the benefits go far beyond the tangible, and we can all learn something from volunteering and contributing our time to a sport that we love, whether it be on a club level or a National level, there are a hundred ways to be a bigger part of our community, and have more a of say.

Cerise Newlyn 

What is your role in the rowing community?

I am the Senior Girls High Performance Coach at Caulfield Grammar School. 

What is the motivation behind what you do?

I love sharing the love of this sport with young athletes, especially in the senior ranks of school rowing. Being able to mentor and coach developing students as they realise not only their passion, but their potential in rowing post school, and life is the most rewarding aspect of my role. Building a team culture, bringing a crew together and cultivating physical and mental excellence is a key part of my motivation.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

Mindset and gratitude is everything. Watching the amazing achievements of our Olympic team, as they worked through a challenging year to be selected again, and successful at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was very inspiring. Focusing on what we can control, and what we do have is critical to building and maintaining a growth mindset, and resilience. I am passionate about the impact this has on our young developing athletes.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

Pathways and education for female coaches as role models for more young athletes. There are some amazing female coaches in our Victorian Community, we could certainly be tapping into this more often and creating networks that could not only further strengthen Victorian rowing, but create more development opportunities for female coaches in the development and high performance pathways.

Gabi Howard

What is your role in the rowing community?

I have been involved in the Loreto College Rowing program since I was at school, beginning as a rower in 2010. In the time since I graduated in 2013, I have been a volunteer coach, Year 9 Coordinator, Support Coordinator and the Director of Rowing. I was the Director from 2017-2020 and in that time served as a member of the HOSG committee. I am currently the Head of Co-Curricular Sport at Loreto so work with our fantastic Director of Rowing Taylah Blake in a new capacity and am loving watching all of the incredible things she is doing with the program. I am a Junior (Year 9) Division 1 coach.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

My involvement in rowing has always been about the empowerment of young female athletes. I love watching the girls grow from little Year 8s with no idea how to hold an oar into strong, confident and accomplished young women who know that there are no limits to what they can choose to do with their lives. Every single girl that I have worked with (coordinated or coached in a crew personally) at Loreto has stuck with me and probably taught me more than I have ever taught them. They are incredible young women who motivate me every day.

I am also very much motivated by the positive club culture at Loreto and the way that it is largely a collective of Alumni coaching and coordinating, who are seeking to contribute to future generations in a positive way.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

To be flexible and to always be enthusiastic about and open to the possibility of change. In particular, I have learned a lot from watching Taylah as the new Director of Rowing at Loreto. I only copped the first few months of Covid in 2020 as the Director, but watching Taylah manage a fantastic and successful 2020/21 and now 21/22 rowing season throughout all of this, including many online sessions and selection processes, has solidified for me the need to have plans A, B, C etc and to back yourself in achieving a plan if the outcome means more kids involved in sport in a positive context. Rita Pierson’s “every child needs a champion” TED speech always sticks with me. Every child (in sport particularly) needs adults and policy makers who are willing to create an environment which allows them to thrive and grow- and who are committed to making that happen regardless of circumstance.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

In a broader sport context in my role as Director of Co-Curricular Sport, I would love to see more girls involved in competitive sport and representing their schools with pride and a sense of achievement for having done so. I would also love to see more young female athletes not afraid of or backing away from high intensity training and pushing their body and mind to its limits. Personally I have gained so much from sport (particularly rowing) and even more so from being able to mentor and coach young female athletes. Sport is a vehicle for social change and can be a context in which young women really begin to know their worth, their strengths and their capabilities.

In rowing particularly, I would love to see more Loreto girls expanding their experiences in varied boat classes. I have loved seeing our Juniors thriving in the Quad, seeing girls across year levels racing in singles, and would definitely love to see more of our girls in the Eight- everyone loves a good Eight race don’t they?!

From a Ballarat perspective, I would love to see more of our incredible Regional athletes being recognised for their rowing abilities at the State and National level in the future. There are some absolutely outstanding athletes on Lake Wendouree!

Brigette Carlile 

What is your role in the rowing community?

I am currently the Head of Rowing at St Catherine’s School and co-coach of the 1st VIII. Over the past few years I have also coached a number of Victorian and Australian Under 19 and Under 21 Crews.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

Since I begun rowing at school I fell in love with the Sport, so I’ve always wanted my students and athletes to do the same. My motivation stems from wanting to provide students and athletes with an experience in which they are challenged beyond what they thought they were capable of.

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

Throughout the last 12 months Victoria has experienced some very challenging times, however, it has really taught me the importance of community and belonging. Throughout the various lockdowns Rowing has been a constant in the lives for our students, and I think the benefits of this training not only physically but also mentally has been so beneficial.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

I would love to see more development opportunities for younger coaches, it would be fantastic to see more opportunities for younger coaches to learn from more experienced coaches from outside their school programs.

Flavia Gobbo 

What is your role in the rowing community?

I have lots of involvement in the rowing community. I am a Masters rower and Club member as well as currently being on the Board of Rowing Australia. I am the Chair of the High Performance Commission that oversees the high performance aspect of RA’s role as well as being on the Audit and Risk Committee. I also encourage and mentor women to become involved in the governance aspects of our sport.

What is the motivation behind what you do?

I love rowing and a lifetime of involvement in the sport has taught me so much and introduced me to so many amazing people. Rowing teaches you the value of belonging to a great team and how pushing yourself outside your comfort zone can be very rewarding!

What is one thing you have learnt over the past 12 months that helps you do your role better?

The past 12 months have been very hard with the restrictions on competition, travel and face to face meetings. As a national organisation it is difficult to maintain important relationships online but everyone has worked together to try and come up with new ways of doing things, including things like new format local events, Covid safe camps and trial preparations for the Olympic team and online strategy sessions.

What would you like to see more of in your role?

It would be great to see a broader representation of our rowing community get involved on our Club, State and National Commissions and Boards. It would also be good to see support for some of the initiatives being developed in rowing world wide on environmental sustainability, indoor and coastal rowing,