Friends of Rowing

Rowing is an increasingly expensive sport – Rowing boats are expensive pieces of equipment and need regular maintenance and replacement, boats and girls are transported all across Victoria, camps are run and regatta entry fees paid. Friends of Rowing raises funds each year to match the School’s commitment, ensuring the program’s vitality and continuity. Fundraising is one of the key networking opportunities parents have with each other and with the rowing crews. In recent years Friends of Rowing parents have earned the group an enviable reputation in coordinating the annual Trivia Night.

Friends of Rowing parents arrange carpools to cover transport of the girls to rowing training sessions on the Yarra River and to regattas in Geelong, Carrum and Nagambie. This demonstrates a level of teamwork and interdependence that is mirrored by the girls themselves as they grow to understand how success is a shared outcome. Parents provide support at regattas by preparing picnics and setting up the Fintona tents for both spectators and crews. On the January rowing camp they play an important role refuelling the rowers by assisting with dinners. They are also integral in planning the Season Launch and the annual end of season Rowing Dinner.

The sound of parents cheering encouragement from the river bank is a morale and performance lifter for the crews. It is also an important role model of good sportsmanship for the girls and is a trait common among all the parents and schools who have crews rowing in the competitions. Friends of Rowing is a great way for you to be involved in the life of the School as a member of a practical group of parents in a very hands-on sport.