WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We saw two contrasting days on Lake Wendouree over the weekend, with a gloomy Saturday followed by a magnificent sunny Sunday. More than 1500 rowers competed across the regatta, with some great racing shown regardless of the conditions.

Meanwhile, over 1300 schoolgirls competed on the Barwon, with many racing for the first time! It has been fantastic to see so many new rowers competing and improving throughout our school regattas so far this season. The school action continues this weekend, with the RV Junior Schoolgirls returning to the Barwon, whilst the boys head to Ballarat for the Head of the Schoolboys'!

We wish the best of luck to all Victorian athletes competing at the NSW Rowing Championships from today, with athletes from 18 clubs & schools making the trip up to Sydney. Participation in this regatta is a requirement for Victorian Senior State Team selection, with Delwyn & Noel present to support our pathways athletes.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING REGATTAS

HEAD OF THE SCHOOLBOYS - LIVE STREAM

We are excited to share that this weekends Head of the Schoolboys Regatta will be live streamed! Tune in to the action from wherever you may be! 📍

The stream link can be found below, via the regatta pages, or on our socials.

NSW ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS - LIVE STREAM

We have a number of Victorian athletes competing at the NSW Rowing Championships from today.

Access live streams for all three days of racing via the link below.

MORONGO REGATTA - GALLERY

Images: Pixled Sports Media

MASTERS STATE TEAM

Nominations close close for the 2023 Victorian Masters State Team this Sunday 12th February, with the selected team to be announced Thursday 20th April.

Don't miss your chance to represent the Big White V, NOMINATE NOW!

Selected athletes will compete in the interstate races at the Australian Masters Rowing Championships, at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, on Saturday 3rd June.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - RV STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Want to get involved in the Victorian State Championship Regatta and help us create a great experience for our rowers?

We would love for you to join us and support the rowing community by becoming one of our dedicated volunteers! We are needing to fill multiple roles, from boat holders, boat drivers, bow numbers, timers, and more!

If you are able to assist, please contact adam@rowingvictoria.asn.au.

Lunch and refreshments are provided for all volunteers.

CHILD SAFE CLUBS WEBINAR

Vicsport will be hosting a free 90-minute webinar focusing on a number of key considerations for clubs, leagues and associations when creating child safe environments. The session will incorporate practical strategies and time for Q&A.

Facilitator: Laura Johnston - People, Integrity & Culture Consulting

VICTORIAN PATHWAY INFORMATION SESSIONS

Rowing Victoria will be hosting a series of information sessions in Geelong, Melbourne, and Ballarat. State Development & Pathway Coordinator, Delwyn Oliver, along with current Victorian Pathway Program athletes, will be providing information about:

• Victorian Pathway 8+ for Coaches & Rowers
• Trial boats for the U19 Australian Team trials
• Rowing after school

Victorian Performance Pathway (VPP) athletes will talk about their journey from senior rowing at school to where they are now.

Local Clubs will be present to discuss their rowing programs for athletes in the junior and U21 age groups.

You can register for these sessions or nominate yourself for the 2023 Pathway 8+ via the links below.

CHANGE OUR GAME - COMMUNITY ACTIVATION GRANTS PROGRAM

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to support community sport and recreation clubs or organisations to deliver events and initiatives that aim to increase participation and enhance gender equality in sport and active recreation. The program has three funding streams:

• Stream 1 – Attract and Participate (up to $5,000)
• Stream 2 – Capability and Leadership (up to $5,000)
• Stream 3 – Celebrate and Elevate (up to $10,000)

Applications close 5pm AEDT, Monday 6 March 2023.

SRV SPORTING CLUB GRANTS PROGRAM

The Sporting Club Grants Program provides funding for grassroots sport and active recreation organisations across Victoria. Access to this funding helps clubs and organisations address barriers in participation, develop safe and sustainable practices, and build social and active local communities.

This program assists organisations to purchase sports uniforms and participation equipment, increase the skills of coaches, officials, volunteers and management committees, and supports improvements to club capacity and accessibility.

It is fantastic to see that 11 of our clubs have been successful in receiving this funding across the last 2 years.

Round 2 applications open this month! We encourage clubs to consider and prepare an application now. For those who are unsure where to begin, Club Builder offer services to assist in preparing an application. You can contact them or read more about the grant requirements via the links below.

LOCAL SPORTING CHAMPIONS

ARE YOU:

1. Aged between 12-18 or 12-24 (Para)?

2. Coaching, officiating, or competing at the State Championships or ARC this season?

If the answer is YES, then you may be eligible for a grant from $500-$1,000 towards the cost of attending!

CLUBMAP WEBINARS

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday February 13th - PLANNING: ESSENTIAL PLANS FOR SUCCESS.

If you don't plan for it, it won't happen. All successful community sporting clubs have a roadmap, they'll show you what plans your club need to put in place to ensure success in 2023.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

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).

SAFETY REMINDER

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

The police have 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 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.