WELCOME TO 2022

Welcome to 2022! We hope that everyone enjoyed a safe Christmas and New Year period.
 
At this point of time, despite the current variant of COVID spreading through the community, all regattas are scheduled to operate uninterrupted; albeit under COVIDSafe conditions. RV will continue to follow State Government Community Sport requirements and we encourage all members to be vaccinated (and boosted) for the ongoing safety of the overall community.  
 
Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VIC UMPIRES! 

Rowing Australia recently released the confirmed Juries for the 2022 RA events. Rowing VIC would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Victorian Umpires selected to support next years' national events!
 

VALE CHRIS DANE

Rowing Australia and Rowing Victoria are deeply saddened by news of the passing of distinguished Australian Rowing Coach Paul Christopher Dane who died Friday 7 January 2022, aged 75.

Chris gained good success locally and coached Olympic and World Championship crews, including the Men’s Eight at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games. Chris played a role in fighting the Federal Government’s boycott of the Moscow Olympics and was a significant contributor to the Australian Selection Appeal Boards.

One of the great characters of the sport, Chris contributed so much to so many people. Despite family and work pressures, he made time for aspiring rowers.

Rowing Historian Andrew Guerin has prepared a profile for Chris, which is available to read here.

2021 ROWER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The 2021 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards will be held on the 11th of March 2022. This prestigious event recognises and celebrates all the incredible achievements of the Australian Rowing Team and Rowing Community in 2021.

Featuring special recognition of a selection of retired athletes for their contribution to the sport of rowing, and the announcement of the below:

• Female Rower/Crew of the Year
• Male Rower/Crew of the Year
• 776BC Rowers Rower of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Gina Rinehart Rowing Leadership Award
• Pathways Athlete/Crew of the Year
• Pathways Coach of the Year
• Para Athlete of the Year
• Para Coach of the Year
• Coles Volunteer of the Year
• Official of the Year
• Aon Club of the Year

For further event information please click the banner below or contact one of the Rowing Australia team on rsvp@rowingaustralia.com.au.

VISITING BALLARAT

Heading to the Ballarat Regatta?

Why not make a trip out of it? 

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

ASF’S ACTIVE KIDS GRANTS OPEN NOW

The Australian Sports Foundation have been working with community sports clubs for over 30 years and have recently launched the latest Active Kids Grant round, closing on January 24.

By applying for the ASF Active Kids grant you are giving your club the best opportunity to get new sport equipment and uniforms for the ongoing season.

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 new free online Director Education Course is live now!

‘The Start Line’ will increase the capability and confidence of Board Members from the grassroots level to National Sport Boards, providing a baseline for a professional and thriving sporting community.

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.

29 November – 13 February

• Dredging at Burnley Harbour, disposal site upstream of Church Street Bridge.

• Exclusion zone around works at dredging site and disposal site.

14 February – 22 March

• 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