WELCOME TO RV ENEWS

Heading into June, there is still plenty happening in the rowing community!

Some of our Para athletes have been working hard overseas, whilst Winter rowing programs are set to begin.

Meanwhile, a number of exciting opportunities have got the momentum rolling towards next season.

Read more below!

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

WORLD ROWING CUP I

Well done to our Victorian athletes who competed for the Aussie Para-Rowing Team at the World Rowing Cup I last weekend. 

Jess Gallagher and Al Viney rowed in the PR3 Mixed4+, taking out second place to Paralympic Champions, Great Britain.

Viney doubled up with Alex Vuillermin in the W2-, claiming fifth place in the B Final. The race provided the pair with a good challenge, coming as a result of insufficient entries in the Para equivalent. 

SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME

2023 SCHOLARSHIP & MENTORING PROGRAM

Applications are 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡 for the 2023 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program. We encourage all our nationally selected junior athletes aged 15-21 to apply.

32 applicants will be selected across three tier's, with each including a range of benefits including personal mentoring, sporting expense grants, merchandise, recovery equipment, and more.

Click below to apply or for more information. Applications close 11:59pm, Wednesday June 22, 2022.

DREGDING VRA LANDING PRECINCT

Parks Victoria are planning to include the VRA landing (Boathouse Drive/ Princes Bridge) in this year’s Yarra River dredging campaign. The area immediately upstream of the landing (the VRA bend) and the area immediately downstream of the landing (Princes Bridge southern arch) will also be dredged as previously planned. This means the dredging program will greatly improve the water depth and access in the entire precinct around the VRA Landing. There will however be some disruption to rowing during the works.

Parks Vic are expecting the dredging in the above mentioned three areas to take around 2- 2.5 months. Set up is planned to start on the 8 June with dredging in the area planned for between 13 June and 22 August. At no time will the VRA landing be completely closed. Sections of the VRA landing will however have restricted access during the dredging, similar to when dredging was undertaken in 2020. There will also be exclusion zones on the water as before.

During winter sculling events, the dredge equipment will be present but stored out of the way as much as practicable. Impact on access to the VRA landing will also be kept at a minimum during event days. Please find attached an information sheet for you to circulate amongst for further details.

UPCOMING FORUMS

If you would like to share your thoughts and help shape next season, stay tuned for more information regarding our upcoming competition forums:

• HOSG Forum - Wed 8th June 7:00pm (Richmond RC)
• RV Club Competition Forum - Thu 9th June 6:30pm (Online)
• RV School Competition Forum *POSTPONED* - Thu 4th August 6:30pm (TBC)

RSVP now by clicking below:

SEASON 2022/23 MEMBERSHIPS OPEN

A reminder to our clubs and schools that memberships are now open for the upcoming 2022/23 season.

If you'd like to get organised, renew your memberships now!

UPDATED CLASSIFIEDS

Multiple new roles within the rowing community have been added to our Classifieds.

Check them out:

CLUBMAP WEBINARS

CLUBMAP has launched a new webinar series with the next webinar on Monday June 6th - RECRUIT & RETAIN VOLUNTEERS.

Recruit and retain more people to create a thriving volunteer program. Learn methods used by top clubs to create a volunteer program that doesn't just survive, but thrives.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

With the dark mornings now upon us it is crucial that all rowers who are on the water (and coaches on bikes and powerboats) between sunset and sunrise all have adequate lighting for your safety and the safety of others. 

Rowing boats, in restricted visibility and between sunset and sunrise, are required to exhibit;

• Two all-round white lights - one attached to the boat at or near the forward or bow end, and one attached to the boat at or near the stern end.
• Bow light - A continuous white light is considered acceptable if it is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.
• Stern light - A flashing white light is considered acceptable if it flashes at least once per second and is visible in clear conditions from a distance of 1 kilometre.

Not withstanding the above, it is considered acceptable for a light to be masked so as not to interfere with the vision of the vessel’s occupants, provided at least one light is visible from any direction (see diagram below).

COVID MANAGEMENT UPDATE

Restrictions RE: COVID management have eased with the following to be noted and actioned:

VACCINATION AND CHECK IN

• Club members won’t be required to have two doses or show their vaccination status before entering their clubhouse or physical recreation facility, e.g. gyms, ergo rooms, social rooms.
• The requirement for staff and patrons to check-in using the Service Victoria app will end, with operators not required to keep any attendance records or maintain a COVID-19 Check-in Marshal.
• The existing two-dose and three-dose vaccination mandates for workers, e.g bar staff are retained.

FACE MASKS

• Face masks will no longer be required for hospitality workers/ bar staff.
• Face masks are strongly recommended when you can’t physically distance.

COVIDSAFE PLAN

• All workplaces will still require a COVIDSafe Plan.
• Please ensure Hand sanitiser is available. 1 case per competing club will be available for collection at the bow numbers tent at upcoming regattas.

 Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

WATERWAY ACCESS & INCIDENT REPORTING

Could all waterway users please ensure they are acquainted with their local waterway rules; traffic direction, turning points, stationary obstacles etc.

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.