WELCOME TO RV ENEWS

Thank you to those who attended the recent Ballarat Regatta, another great weekend! Again, we encourage those who attended to complete the brief survey below, to assist us in planning upcoming regattas; both this season and next. 

A dominant performance seen from Mercantile and Melbourne Uni, with an impressive showing also from local Ballarat clubs and schools! Check out where your club sits on the updated premiership standings below.

We look forward to this weekends Barwon Regatta, the first of many trips down to Geelong, with lots of racing on the Barwon River to look forward to in coming weeks.

Finally, there are plenty of learnings to be had this week, with updated learning modules and webinars under Programs & Grants below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

CONGRATULATIONS!

Rowing Victoria congratulates Victorians Lucy Stephan, Rosemary Popa and Jessica Morrison on each being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List for Service to Sport as a Gold Medallist at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020. 

RV also congratulates fellow crew member Annabelle Mcintyre and members of the Mens Gold medal winning 4 in being awarded OAMs and Mrs Gina Rinehart (Australian Rowing Patron) for being awarded an AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) for distinguished service to the mining sector, to the community through philanthropic initiatives, and to sport as a patron.

Congratulations to all!

NATIONAL WATER SPORTS CENTRE CLOSED - BLUE GREEN ALGAE

Unfortunately due to the warmer weather and lack of rain, Parks Victoria have advised that a Blue Green Algae bloom has now reached toxic levels and the NSWC waterway is closed to all forms of on water activity until further notice. Further information and updates can be found below: 

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.

FEMALE PERFORMANCE & HEALTH MODULES

The AIS have just released 6 brand new online Female Performance & Health Initiative education modules! ♀️

This is a terrific resource for female athletes to learn more about their own health and performance, as well as coaches to gain a better understanding of their athletes! 

Find out more about what this award-winning #eLearning resource offers athletes, as well as coaches and medical practitioners: 

FREE CLUBMAP WEBINARS

For committees looking to further develop their club, or maybe to get another perspective, CLUBMAP are running a free webinar series kicking off on Feb 7th!

The first FREE webinar is all about Committee Structure and Operations, a crucial aspect of any successful club.

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.

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 2022

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.

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

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