WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We have an action packed weekend ahead of us, with the Saltwater Regatta launching the 2023/24 Victorian rowing season, and our stars competing overseas at the World Rowing Championships!

Additionally, there are some exciting opportunities to get involved or continue your rowing journey!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

UPCOMING OPEN DAYS

BOATHOUSE DRIVE CLUBS

Sunday 24th September | 9am - 12pm

Have you finished school, or are about to finish? Would you like to start, continue, or return to rowing?

The clubs on Boathouse Drive have rowing for everyone; recreational, competitive and high performance. Come along and find out what each club has to offer!

BALLARAT CLUBS

Sunday 8th October | 10am - 11:30am

Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club and Ballarat City Rowing Club invite you to be part of the energy and enthusiasm that is rowing.

Come along and enjoy taking a tour of the facilities, soaking in the views from the second level in each shed, speaking with club members about rowing opportunities, and seeing what rowing in Ballarat has to offer.

VICTORIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT

Wednesday 20th November | 10am - 2pm

The VIS Open Day is back in 2023 with the opportunity to meet Olympians, Paralympians and World Champion athletes, learn from high performance sport experts and experience the inner workings of a high performance sport facility.

WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2023 World Rowing Championships begin this Sunday the 3rd of September in Belgrade, Serbia.

The Championships are conducted over the course of a week, so be sure to note down those important race dates & times! Rowing Victoria are very excited and proud to see seventeen Victorians selected across seven of the Australian crews, who will be looking to build on their strong World Cup form and secure medals across a range of boat classes.

Rowing Victoria wishes all Australian athletes and coaches the best of luck.

Images: Art of Rowing NZ

*NEW* VOLUNTEER RESOURCE HUB

The Australian Sports Commission have recently released a new Volunteer Resource Hub.

The hub is designed to be a one-stop-shop, bringing together useful resources, tools and practical tips and tricks in one place. These resources will assist you to attract, retain and celebrate volunteers at the heart of your club and community sport more broadly.

VIS APPOINT NEW GENERAL MANAGER HIGH PERFORMANCE

The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) have recently appointed former champion rower, Hannah Every-Hall, as their General Manager High Performance.

Having represented Australia across a 17-year career, she is no stranger to the high-performance landscape. With her experience as an athlete, in conjuction with her range of off-water knowledge, the VIS saw her as the perfect candidate for the role.

NATIONAL TEAM SELECTION POLICIES & NOMINATIONS

Selection documentation for the 2024 Senior National Team is now available.

Nominations for the Rowing Australia Senior A team close at 5pm TODAY.

Please find further information via the links below.

WOMEN LEADERS IN SPORT GRANTS

The Women Leaders in Sport (WLIS) Individual Grant Program is now open!

The WLIS program is designed to support all women from community volunteers to senior executives and boards, to access professional development opportunities, develop specialist skills and enhance existing skills in areas specific to their stage in their leadership journey.

In 2024, up to $200,000 (GST exclusive) will be allocated across 3 tiers and a governance stream. The program funding is tiered to ensure opportunities are extended across all levels of the sector from community volunteers through to senior executives and boards.

Applications close 5pm Sunday 17 September.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday October 2nd - SHARE THE WORKLOAD.

Discover ways to develop the right structure to share the load at your organisation, reduce burnout and increase the lifespan of volunteers.

Clubs don't spend enough time on their committee structure, and find it hard to move forward as a result.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

With the darker mornings and evenings now upon us, it is crucial that all rowers who are on the water (and coaches on bikes and powerboats) between sunset and sunrise 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).

SAFETY REMINDER

Rowing Victoria would like to remind all members the importance of using our equipment and waterways safely and appropriately.

Please follow traffic rules, including correctly using designated turning zones. By following these rules, our waterways are safer for all. 

We have also been made aware of a number of incidents where rowing coaches have been sighted either riding without helmets, using megaphones at incorrect hours, or using mobile phones while riding (both in conversation or filming their crews).

For your own safety, to avoid fines, and to respect other members of the community, we ask that you please ensure you are obeying the law and not partaking in the behaviours above.

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.