WELCOME TO RV ENEWS

Regatta season is in full swing as we look forward to this weekend’s Ballarat regatta and return to 2000m racing with many State team aspirants planning on showcasing their speed. Last weekend’s Rutherglen regatta was a great success, and we encourage those who attended to complete the brief survey below. Your responses assist us in planning next upcoming regattas; both this season and next. Surveys will be made available post most regattas this season.
 
We’re very proud to be allocating a pool of $5,000 to be allocated across the state to assist individuals in completing a Level 1 or 2 National Rowing Coaching Accreditation Scheme qualification. Up to $350 will be allocated per individual. Details are also provided below.  
 
For those following us on social media, you would have noticed that we are now publishing all 4 premiership tallies on a weekly basis following each regatta! It’s been an impressive start from Corowa Rowing Club, Corio Bay Rowing Club and Ballarat City. The tables are below, and on the website, but please follow us via your social media channel of choice for the most up to date tables.
 
Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

CLOSURE: BOTANIC GARDENS LANDING - DREDGING WORKS

Botanic Gardens Landing will be closed for all use and purposes on land and on water between 24 January and 24 February 2022 due to dredging works. Anderson St Fishing Platform will also be unavailable for use during this time.

The dredging will increase the water depth at the site and thereby improve safe navigational access to and passage through the area.

Works will be carried out within the works area as shown in the map below.

An exclusion zone approximately 200m long and 30m wide will be established and marked by buoys and signage. The exclusion zone will move as required within the works area.

Please ensure to stay clear of the exclusion zone and to give way to all traffic travelling in a downstream direction past the exclusion zone.

AUSTRALIAN HENLEY ON YARRA - VOLUNTEERS WANTED

The Classic Regatta / 109th /  Saturday 26th February 2022

We are seeking VOLUNTEERS for non-BRO Regatta Tasks – most roles do not require prior experience!

Rowers, non-rowers, family, friends, supporters – all welcome as VOLUNTEERS!

Past and new volunteers – ALL WELCOME!

Roles include timers, marshalls, bow numbers provision, deliveries on bicycles, motor-boat drivers, and more!

Henley Volunteers are valued! Henley Regatta T-Shirt and sustenance will be provided!

Please register your interest or ask questions now! Contact Maurie on mfanning@bigpond.net.au or 0414926142.

VISITING BALLARAT

Heading to the Ballarat Regatta this weekend?

Why not make a trip out of it? 

Check out the range of activities and events Ballarat has to offer via the link below! 

ROWING VICTORIA - COACHING GRANTS

Rowing Victoria is determined to assist all Clubs and Schools in delivering a quality rowing service for all participants and recommends that all coaches hold a RA coaching accreditation.

To assist, Rowing Victoria is allocating a pool of $5,000 to be allocated across the state to assist individuals in completing a Level 1 or 2 NCAS qualification. Up to $350 will be allocated per individual.

To apply for funding, applicants must:

• Be members of Rowing Victoria.
• Submit an Expression of Interest by midnight Friday 11th February 2022.
• Demonstrate Club/School support.
• Pay for the course. Coaches will be reimbursed by RV after successful completion of the course.
• Complete the course by 30th June 2022.

Successful applicants will be notified by Friday 25th February 2022.

ROWING AUSTRALIA - COACH SCHOLARSHIPS

For the 4th year Rowing Australia is delighted to offer two coaches a fully paid scholarship for the University of Queensland’s Graduate Certificate in Sports Coaching course for 2022. The AIS scholarship coaches used to complete this course as part of their role at the AIS, it is very well-respected.

Subject to suitable applications, one male and one female coach will have their course fees reimbursed after successful completion of each of the course units. There are 8 units in the course, coaches usually do 2 units per semester. The full value of each scholarship is over $12,500.

To apply for one of these two scholarships, coaches must:

• Be a currently accredited rowing coach, at any level with Rowing Australia.
• Submit an Expression of Interest of up to 200 words in length explaining why they are most suitable to be awarded this scholarship, to coaching@rowingaustralia.com.au by midnight 24th January 2022.
• Pay for the course, unit by unit. Coaches will be reimbursed by RA after successful completion of each of the units.
• Start the course in Feb 2022.

Timeline:

• 24th January - EOI received by RA
• 28th January - RA panel choose scholarship recipients
• By 31st January – Coaches register with UQ
• 21st February – Coaches start Semester 1

ASF’S ACTIVE KIDS GRANTS OPEN NOW

The Australian Sports Foundation have been working with community sports clubs for over 30 years and are giving your club the best opportunity to get new sport equipment and uniforms for the ongoing season. 

Applications close January 24.

The application process is easy, with a toolkit developed to answer all your questions and help you complete your application available here! 

SPORT AND RECREATION VICTORIA 

This program assists clubs and organisations to purchase sports uniforms and equipment, increase the skills of coaches, officials, volunteers and managers, and supports improvements to club capacity and accessibility. Applications close January 25.

SPORT AUS - LOCAL SPORTING CHAMPIONS

The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

If successful, applicants will receive $500-$750 towards the cost of attending their championships:

• Base Grant: $500
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

Round 4 is open until: 11:59pm (AEDT) on 31 March 2022.

‘THE START LINE’ – DIRECTOR EDUCATION COURSE

Sport Australia’s free online Director Education Course will increase the capability and confidence of Board Members from the grassroots level to National Sport Boards. The course includes valuable insights and practical examples from governance experts and current sporting Directors.

For more information please visit the Sport Aus Website, or contact sportsgovernance@ausport.gov.au.

Enrolments are via the Australian Sport Learning Centre. Register or log in:

COVID MANAGEMENT

All Clubs have been provided with updated posters to remind us all of the current requirements re: vaccinations. As a gentle reminder, don’t forget that:

• Proof of vaccination (or a medical exemption) needs to be shown by all people above the age of 18 who are accessing the rowing shed for any activity other than rowing, e.g. accessing the gym/ergo room or social rooms/bar.
• At the moment, U18s do not need to show proof of vaccination to access gyms/social rooms.
• Check-ins are still required by all.

It’s vital that we continue to follow all the Gov’t guidelines so we stay safe and can continue rowing. These guidelines are as follows:

• If you are feeling unwell with COVID like symptoms, stay away from your Club, get tested and isolate until you receive a negative test result.
• Those in attendance at a rowing club social room, gym or ergo room MUST be fully vaccinated or have a medical exemption. NO VACCINATION, NO ENTRY.
• Vaccination status must be checked (and enforced for entry) to enable access to the above environments.
• QR codes must be used every time a club member enters the club to either use the above facilities, enter the toilets/ changerooms and/or row.
• Please disinfect shared equipment between use.
• Please ensure hand sanitiser is available.
• If you cannot socially distance, please wear masks.

Let's all play our part to ensure we can enjoy an uninterrupted regatta season and Stay Safe (and Stay Rowing!) together. 

WATERWAY ACCESS & INCIDENT REPORTING

With lockdowns lifted and access to the waterways now open to all, our rivers and lakes are becoming increasingly congested. Could all waterway users please reacquaint themselves with their local rules; traffic direction, turning points, stationary obstacles etc.

It's more than likely that the increased water traffic will also lead to an increase in the number of incidents. 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.

YARRA RIVER DREDGING SCHEDULE

Parks Victoria's dredging operations will continue for the next few months. Although current river access is limited, please be mindful of your surroundings whilst on the Yarra. Dredging operations will be also suspended/cleared for regattas.

24 January – 24 February

• Dredging at Botanic Gardens Landing, disposal site adjacent to Botanic Gardens.

• Landing Botanic Gardens Landing closed – exclusion zone around works at dredging site and disposal site.

BIKE USAGE ALONG THE YARRA RIVER

With the great number of coaches coaching from bicycles along the Yarra River it is important to ensure that this is always done in a safe and considerate manner to all other pathway users.

A friendly reminder:

• Helmets must be worn
• When stopping, pull completely off the path
• Do not block the path
• Do not use mobile phones while riding