WELCOME TO RV E-NEWS

We had plenty of rowing action to follow this week, including Masters, Pathways, and International regattas!

It was a welcome return to Carrum, with the first of three Masters regattas to finish the season. Well done to all competitors and thank you to our regatta hosts, volunteers, and officials!

Our Pathways Team took on the other states at the SIRC, whilst multiple Victorians pulled on the green and gold in Italy.

Tomorrow, we look forward to racing returning to Albert Park Lake.

Read more below.

Stay Safe, Stay Rowing!

Rowing Victoria

        UPCOMING EVENTS

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED - 2023 VICTORIAN SPORT AWARDS

Congratulations to Katie Jackson & Lucy Richardson for their selection as a finalist for the 'Young Team of the Year' at the 2023 Victorian Sport Awards. 

In 2023, the Wendouree Ballarat Pair claimed the U21 Victorian and U19 National titles before representing Australia at the World Rowing U19 Championships in Paris, where they won bronze!

All award winners will be announced at the VSA’s, held at Marvel Stadium, on Wednesday June 12th.

WORLD ROWING CUP I

The 2024 World Cup series began last weekend with the World Rowing Cup held from 12-14 April in Varese, Italy. The selected Australia A squad competed at the regatta, including a number of Victorians.

The squad put in an excellent performance, leaving nothing out on the water, and setting the Australian standard for the remainder of the international season.

Images: World Rowing

INTERSTATE PATHWAY REGATTA

The SIRC delivered a stunning few days for what was a super positive and supportive Interstate Pathway Regatta. Well done to our athletes and coaches for all their efforts and enthusiasm across the regatta!

We are very excited to see what the future holds for these promising young rowers, and hope to see them in the Big White V into the future!

Results (A Finals)

VICTORIAN MASTERS STATE TEAM - UNIFORM PRESENTATION

The Victorian Masters State Team uniform presentation will be held at the Victorian Masters State Championships in Nagambie on Saturday April 27th.

Join us 20 minutes after the last race on Saturday to congratulate those selected, as the team prepares to compete at the Australian Masters Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington, Tasmania, on Friday May 10th.

VALE JOHN ROWE AM

Sadly John Rowe died this week, another great and long serving member of Mercantile Rowing Club (74 years).

John joined Mercantile RC from Geelong Grammar along with other club greats such as Brian Dawe and Garth Manton. As a top talent, he was rapidly promoted through the ranks to the senior eight and then the Victorian eight where he won a King's Cup in 1954.

Just when he was about to form part of the group making up the 1956 Olympic eight squad, his career took over. An appointment in London with Australian National Airlines beckoned. His son Michael noted that this was a "very difficult decision with 1956 not far away….. but airlines became his life for the decades after."

John held executive roles in both the airline and tourism industries including managing director of the Australian Tourism Commission. An urbane and engaging man who never forgot his days as a rower.

His rower profile can be found at: John S Rowe AM (rowinghistory-aus.info)

YARRA RIVER WORKS - GREENLINE PROJECT

Please be aware that the City of Melbourne will commence one of its larger projects along the Yarra River this month.

The construction of Stage 1 of the Greenline Project at Birrarung Marr, which includes a boardwalk along the Yarra reaching out over the water, will now be extended through to December, with a start date of April. Access is being closed from land at Birrarung Marr, and buoyage in the water will affect navigation, as shown below. Also note navigation of this section of the river will be forever slightly changed with new piles being driven.

WOMEN IN SPORTS AND RECREATION ELIGIBLE FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Women & Leadership Australia has announced new scholarships to enable more women to access world-class leadership and workplace skill development programs.

By combining cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application, and a flexible part-time delivery, Women & Leadership Australia offers an unparalleled learning experience designed to fit into your busy schedule.

With partial scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, there are four programs to suit women in non-leadership roles all the way up to senior executives. 

Applications close Friday April 26th.

CLUBMAP WEBINAR

CLUBMAP will be hosting another webinar on Monday April 22nd - FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE: CONCEPT TO DELIVERY.

Learn how to go from conception to delivery of large capital infrastructure and facility projects.

RIVER SAFETY - BOW & STERN LIGHTS

It is important 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.