WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

What a great weekend of racing, with a huge Melbourne Head bringing the energy onto the Yarra River, whilst our schoolgirls lit up the Barwon. Well done to all competitors, volunteers, and regatta hosts.

The excitement continues, as we look forward to seeing crews back on the Yarra this Saturday, for the much anticipated return of the Head of the Yarra. With the regatta last run in 2019, many crews will be competing in the first HOTY, and we can't wait to see what they can produce!

More exciting selection opportunities have opened, and the efforts of Victorians have been recognised!

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

ADJOURNED AGM - UPDATE DELEGATES

A friendly reminder to our member clubs and schools to please ensure your Rowing Victoria Delegate contact is up to date on Rowing Manager.

We ask that all delegates please RSVP for the upcoming Adjourned AGM via the link below. If your RV delegate is unable to attend this meeting, a proxy can be nominated.

2024 PATHWAY STATE TEAM - SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

Thank you to RA Pathway Transition Co-ordinator, John Bowes, for giving a Pathways Presentation last night. The information was invaluable to the interested coaches, athletes and parents.

RV Pathway & Development Coordinator, Delwyn Oliver, presented the newly released Pathway State Team Selection Requirements and outlined the path toward an U19 Trial boat from Victoria. The relevant presentations can be found here.

One point to highlight for the VIC Pathway State team is the introduction of a Pathway “Camp” Day on Tuesday 9th January 2024. To be able to considered for the day, your nomination needs to be submitted by 15th December 2023 along with Erg Test #1. Coaches and athletes will be invited.

Please also note that this year, Coxed Quad crews will be selected for the first time, alongside the traditional Eights.

The selection policies and nomination form for the 2024 Pathway State Team are now live on the Rowing Victoria website and available below.

Nominations close February 9th (Coaches) and March 5th (Athletes).

Please direct any questions regarding selection to Delwyn Oliver on delwyn@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

HANCOCK PROSPECTING - ROWER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Congratulations to all Victorian’s who received honours at the recent Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards!

Pathways Coach of the Year
Jamie McDonald (WBRC)

Pathways Crew of the Year
U23M4- (A. Reinehr, N. Smith, F. Miscamble + N. Pender)

Life Membership
Patrick McNamara

Female Crew of the Year
W2- (J. Morrison OAM + A. McIntyre OAM)

Male Crew of the Year
M8+ (A. Widdicombe, J. Robertson, T. Masters, B. Canham + crew)

ROWING AUSTRALIA - BEACH SPRINTS SELECTION INFORMATION

Selection and nomination information are now available for the 2024 Australian Beach Sprint Team to compete at the 2024 World Beach Sprint Championships in Genoa Italy.

If you have any questions, please contact Rowing Australia’s lead on the Beach Sprint Program – Laryssa Biesenthal on laryssa.biesenthal@gmail.com.

Nominations close on December 1st.

CONNOR'S ERG CHALLENGE

Join Jean and row your heart out for brain cancer in the Connor’s Erg Challenge, February 2024!

Read more about Jean’s story and how brain cancer has personally impacted her.

MELBOURNE HEAD - GALLERY

All rowers and followers of the Melbourne Head Regatta, you are invited to view and pre-order photos from this years regatta! Photos of all crews can be viewed and bought by anyone as per the below method.

Each photograph has a file number labelled at its base, which represents the crew’s bow number (B001 for Bow Number 001, etc.). To find your crew, enter your bow number (Bnnn) in the search tab.

Please email your order specifying the file numbers to studio@robanderson.com.au, who will then email you an invoice.

Prices for high resolution photographs, with watermarks removed, are:
1-9 photographs: $15.00 each
10-49 photographs: $12.00 each
50 or more photographs: 10.00 each

GEELONG CLUB OPEN DAY

From 5pm on Friday 17th November, Corio Bay RC and Barwon RC opened their doors and welcomed visitors into their rowing communities.

The visitors met members, had tours of the sheds and were able to have an on-water experience. There were very positive signs that a number of people will become members in each club and look forward to their rowing journey resuming back on the Barwon!

The clubs worked together to enable the afternoon to be welcoming and successful for people involved in the event. 

Let’s strive for continued engagement, education and experiences for all into the world of rowing.

SIGNIFICANT SPORTING EVENTS PROGRAM

The Significant Sporting Events Program helps sporting, community and event organisations to deliver significant sporting events in Victoria. Event Assistance Grants are available to event organisers seeking funding support to assist with general operational costs associated with hosting events while Event Development Grants are available to develop or expand events, or for events with high operational costs.

Funding available between $20,000 and $150,000.

Applications close 31 December 2023.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday November 27th - ONLINE PRESENCE & TECHNOLOGY

They'll show you how to create a professional, engaging and marketable online presence for your club and how to utilise technology to make life easier.

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.