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Teamwork, significant commitment and famously early mornings are all part of life as a rower, but so too are connection, camaraderie and community.
This was the powerful message shared by Francesca Spano, Captain of Boats 2023, at Fintona’s 40 Years of Rowing Anniversary Dinner in March.
Held in the Members’ Dining Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the celebratory evening combined an end-of-season dinner with the annual awards ceremony, bringing together past and present rowers, families, coaches and supporters to honour four decades of achievement on the water.
With guest speakers including alumna Louisa Rose (Class of 1987), Fintona’s first Captain of Boats, and current staff member Alex Harrison, our longest-serving Rowing Coordinator, and with Jane Horne, former Head of Sport and long-time Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta (HOSG) commentator, serving as emcee, the evening paid tribute to generations of young women who have taken up an oar and discovered strength, resilience and teamwork alongside those who led, coached and inspired girls in this endeavour. Lucy Laussen, our current Rowing Coordinator, also took a moment to reflect on the season, dedication of the girls and the hard work and effort of all our rowing coaches and sports staff.
As one of the first girls’ schools to offer rowing, Fintona began with a squad of just four rowers. This past season, 40 students participated in the program, with 36 competing at HOSG, a powerful reflection of the growth and enduring spirit of rowing at the School.
The dedication and achievements of our young rowers were recognised through the End of Season Awards, celebrating each athlete’s commitment across the season. Their reflections captured the essence of the rowing experience, the early mornings, the teamwork of the crew, the discipline required and the joy of rowing camp.
Speaking via video from the Australian Rowing Championships in Tasmania, Francesca reflected on the friendships, connections and lessons that have shaped her journey.
‘If you surround yourself with people who believe in you, your progress will be exponential,’ Francesca said.
‘I’ve made so many friends from rowing, I’ve met people from across all of Australia, I’ve worked with the most inspiring mentors, and I’ve been lucky enough to row with some Olympians.’
‘But it’s no secret that the challenge with rowing is the time commitment, it can honestly be a little bit fearful, but I always come back to it being something worth devoting time towards.’
‘Rowing through school and through VCE was one of the best decisions I ever made. The busier I became the more productive and driven I became.’
The evening was also a powerful reminder of the strength of the Fintona rowing community, helping raise over $38,000 to support the future of the program.
As we enter our fifth decade of rowing, we do so with the same courage, determination and spirit that has defined those who came before and with great excitement for the season ahead.
