The return of crew boats for all ages

Rowing Victoria is incredibly pleased to announce that after much discussion with Sports and Recreation Victoria and VicSport, the Guidance list of community sport prepared by Sport and Recreation Victoria has classified rowing as a non-contact sport. As such from the ‘Third Step’ of Victorian COVID-19 restrictions we are approved to return to training in crew boats for all ages.  

Therefore, effective immediately rowers in Regional Victoria may return to crew rowing and Metropolitan Melbourne will be expected to join them on October the 26th.

Adults will however still be limited to a maximum of 10 participants per club at one time, indoor training facilities will need to remain closed and equipment must be appropriately washed after use. Full Guidelines can be found HERE

This great win will see rowing clubs across Victoria returning to a degree of normality earlier than anticipated!

For more details and to follow the latest Rowing Victoria updates including the Return to Rowing Roadmap please CLICK HERE.

Please note that the Rowing Victoria Roadmaps and Guidelines will be regularly updated as restriction change and as more information becomes available. 

144th Annual General Meeting of Rowing Victoria 2020

Notice is given of the 144th Annual General Meeting (2020) to be held at 10am Sunday 25th October 2020 Online via Zoom.

Please click here to register your attendance and read more infomation regarding the event.

State Team Selectors 2021 Nominations

Rowing Victoria is calling for nominations for selectors to assist in the selection of Victorian teams to represent Victoria.

Please note: Nominations will be reviewed and processed upon receipt.

For more information please contact the State Pathway Coordinator, Cerise on cerise@rowingvictoria.asn.au. 

To view the outline of the Roles and for further information please head to our website.

Metropolitan Melbourne - Rowing approved for exercise

From 11:59pm on 13 September 2020, metropolitan Melbourne will take the First Step towards COVID Normal.

Regarding exercise and recreation:

• Two people or a household can now meet outdoors for a maximum of two hours for social interaction, exercise or recreation within 5km of their home.
• Outdoor exercise of up to two hours per day can be split into a maximum of two sessions. You can exercise within 5km of your home with one other person or members of your household.
• Outdoor playgrounds will reopen Skate parks remain closed.
• Outdoor recreation must be within 5km of your home. All sport and recreation facilities remain closed.
• You can drive to a location within 5km of your home to exercise, however if you live in metropolitan Melbourne, you cannot travel to regional Victoria for the purposes of exercise.

Under the current restrictions you are permitted to participate in water-based exercise but not water-based recreational activities. Until recently rowing was considered as a recreational activity.

Rowing Victoria sought clarification of the classification and received the following positive response:

“Individuals are not permitted to open a boatshed or other facility to access a boat, or share another person's equipment.  If an individual has easy access to their own scull at the river, and complies with all remaining exercise restrictions, i.e. not traveling more than 5km from where you live, limiting exercise to twice a day and no more than two hours in total, and maintaining 1.5 metres distance from other people, they may row for exercise.”

It is important to note that although rowing is now regarded as exercise we are still required to follow all other regulations.   As Rowing Clubs are closed, their safety management plans are not activated, consequently Maritime Safety Victoria have advised that the PFD exemption will not apply, so PFD’s must be worn. Please ensure the waterways and landings are open.

Rowing Victoria's Weekly Local Legend     - Tony Walker

Our Local Legend this week is Tony Walker, Australian Olympic Rower and live in caretaker of the Melbourne Grammar Boat Club for over 30 years. 

Tony is described as being  "An invaluable source of wisdom for the thousands of boys who have come through the Melbourne Grammar Boat shed". Tony regularly comes out to support the boys during their training sessions. It has been noted that he has been able to "quite literally turn the season around" through one of his many inspiring speeches to the boys and their crews. A very exceptional role model indeed.

During his own Rowing Career, Tony has been apart of the Australian Rowing Team and many other successful Mercantillian rowing crews. During his time on the Australian Rowing Team Tony Represented Australia in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games in the Mens Coxless Four. Even today he can still be found doing a couple of hours on the Watt Bike!

Thank you Tony for your contribution to the Rowing Victoria community. 

Do you know somebody who is a local rowing legend?

Provide us with their name and story for a chance to be featured in Rowing Victoria's weekly featured athlete via email at: 

memberservices@rowingvictoria.asn.au 

Jopling Family Rowing Scholarship

Applications for 2021 are now open and close at 5 pm on 14 October 2020.

Successful scholarship applicants will have demonstrated community leadership, be strong academically and be highly talented rowers.

To find out more information and how to apply please click here

Active Minutes Challenge Wrap up :

We have reached the end of the Active Minutes Challenge. We would like to thank all of our clubs and schools for their relentless efforts and participation! We have enjoyed seeing you all challenge yourselves over the last 4 weeks, and hope that it has created a sense of connection to our great community!

If you participated in the challenge we would love to hear back from you, follow the link provided here to complete our Active Minutes Survey!

To View the official results from our Active Minutes Challenge please click here

To follow our daily updates please visit our social media pages:

Instagram - rowing_victoria

Facebook - Rowing Victoria

Third round of Business Support Fund Grants

The Victorian Government has announced a third round of the Business Support Fund to provide direct financial support to businesses impacted by restrictions in Victoria.

Grants from this program will help businesses in these sectors survive the extended period of restricted trading.

Grant applications open on Friday 18 September 2020.

Please click here for more information.

The Active Kids Grant - The Australian Sports Foundation

The Active Kids Grant through the Australian Sports Foundation closes on the 30th September 2020.  We urge you to apply if your club meets the criteria.

Click through the link below for all further information.

https://grants.sportsfoundation.org.au/prog/active_kids_grant/

Bunnings Power Pass - VicSport Partnership

Vicsport has developed an exciting partnership with Bunnings. All Vicsport members as well as their affiliate clubs, associations and staff can now access a Bunnings PowerPass card, provided you have your own ABN.

Take advantage on a wide range of products including build and fit-out assistance, security and maintenance services, cleaning and garden supplies as well as advice and assistance on construction projects and installation solutions.

Fill out the form on the Vicsport webpage and Bunnings will contact you within 14 days to finalise the process of setting up your PowerPass access.

For more information on this offer and all Vicsport member benefits, click here.

Vic Health - Reimagining Health Grants program.

VicHealth, through it’s Reimagining Health Grants program, has a new round of grants opening on the 16^th September 2020 and closing on the 27th October 2020.

Grants are targeting Social Connection, Physical Activity and Food Security with the funded ideas being delivered between November 2020 and November 2021. 

More information available https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/funding/reimagining-health-grants

Community Sport Sector Short Term Survival Package 2

Closing at 5:00pm on Friday 16 October 2020.

This initiative is part of the Victorian Government’s Experience Economy Survival Package providing urgent support to help a range of key attractions, organisations and associations ride out the economic impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and help them reboot, rebound and recover.

Grants of up to $2,000 are available for associations and leagues and grants of up to $1,000 are available for individual clubs and community sporting and active recreation organisations.

A top-up grant of $1,000 for associations and leagues and $500 for clubs and community sporting and active recreation organisations will be provided automatically to organisations who received a grant through the first funding round of this program – you will not need to re-apply to receive this funding.

With more information here.

If your Club didn’t apply for the first round of grants, then you will need to apply through the link below.  Where you applied during the first round, you will not need to re-apply, as you will automatically be included in the second round.

Please Click here to view the application link.

Sport and Recreation Victoria Grants

Sport and Recreation Victoria is providing grants to assist with the purchase of sports uniforms and equipment, and to improve the capacity and accessibility of clubs and other community sporting organisations, and improve the skills of their coaches, officials and managers. Closing 29^th September 2020. Click here to find out more!

Please note that clubs can still apply if they have received recent Covid-19 Short Term Survival funding.