WELCOME TO RV ENEWS

A very exciting weekend coming up, with the Wentworth Mildura Easter Regatta! Whether you're competing in Wentworth or enjoying the weekend off, Rowing Victoria wishes the rowing community a safe and happy Easter.

In this weeks Enews you'll find one of the final premiership points updates, the Victorian Pathway 8+ team announcement, and an announcement regarding our Male Masters 8+!

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

VICTORIAN PATHWAY 8+ STATE TEAM ANNOUNCED

Rowing Victoria congratulates the following State Members for selection in 2022. It is pleasing to see that there are 13 different schools represented across the athletes selected! 

The U18 crews will contest against the other states in Canberra between the 1st-2nd of May. At this stage there will be around 70 Victorian athletes participating throughout the Underage races in Canberra. We wish them all well, Go VIC! 💙

An official team presentation evening is scheduled for Thursday 21st April at MUBC.

VICTORIAN MASTERS MEN'S 8+ SELECTION RE-OPENED

Rowing Victoria are pleased to announce that we will be providing further selection opportunities for the Victorian Masters Men's 8+, scheduled to compete at the upcoming Australian Masters Rowing Championships. 

Nominations will remain open until 5pm on Tuesday 3rd May.

For those looking to nominate, please use the below links to access the updated Selection Policy and Nomination portal:

AMRC BOAT HIRE

With the ARC now out of the way, planning for the AMRC is in full swing.

Following earlier correspondence, Rowing Victoria will be advising the Australian Masters Community of the opportunities to hire boats from local schools/clubs during the upcoming AMRC (May 19-22) in Ballarat.

If you would like to lease boats to interstate competitors, please let us know via kieran@rowingvictoria.asn.au and we will provide you with more information.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

RV MASTERS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS: May 7th - 8th (Nagambie)

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS: May 19th – 22nd (Ballarat)

With two major regattas coming up, we need your help!

We would love for you to join us at either or both of the RV Masters State Championships and the Australian Masters Rowing Championships to support the rowing community by becoming one of our dedicated volunteers!

All interested volunteers please contact Adam Harrison on adam@rowingvictoria.asn.au for further information.

VRA LANDING PRESSURE WASHING

Please be aware that Parks Victoria will be undertaking routine pressure washing of the VRA landing from 10am, April 21st for approximately 3 hours.

The landing will still be accessible with limited access however please take caution and be mindful of the cleaning works when boating.

SPORT AUSTRALIA - COMMUNITY COACHING COURSE

Sport Australia has created a modern approach to community coaching. Developed in collaboration with the sport sector, the new approach is about supporting the development, education and training of coaches and empowering them to provide safe, fun and inclusive environments that focus on the needs of participants.

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.

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