June 20, 2025
Welcome to our June newsletter. Included is this edition:
- ARC returning to Lake Barrington for 2026!
- AMRC25 wrap-up
- New website for Registration to Work with Vulnerable People
- MPIO training workshops - register now
- RA Level 3 Coaching Course in Canberra
- Positions vacant - coaches needed
- An evening with Cate Campbell - buy tickets
- $100,000 cash prizes on offer at Golden Oar regatta, Canberra
Lake Barrington to host back-to-back Australian Rowing Championships
The Australian Rowing Championships (#ARC26) are heading back to Tasmania in 2026, with our spectacular Lake Barrington International Rowing Course to resume hosting duties from March 23-29.
The decision follows the record-breaking success of #ARC25, which saw unprecedented participation levels, overwhelmingly positive athlete feedback and a surge in spectator attendance.
Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook OLY said the organisation was inspired by the return to one of Australia’s most picturesque and iconic rowing venues after a superb regatta in 2025.
“Lake Barrington offers a truly world-class setting for the athletes, coaches, officials and spectators, and we’re incredibly grateful to the Tasmanian Government, Rowing Tasmania, and the Kentish Council and for their strong and ongoing support," Cook said.
Rowing Tasmania CEO Robert Prescott welcomed the return of the ARC to Lake Barrington in 2026.
“To have the Australian Rowing Championships back at Lake Barrington International Rowing Course in 2026 is an honour for Rowing Tasmania and is on-going recognition of the outstanding success of the 2025 Championships at the Lake,” Prescott said.
“The support of the Tasmanian Government for back-to-back Championships is confirmation of the financial and social benefits of the event to our State."
Read the full RA announcement here
Australian Masters Rowing Championships
Many of our Masters rowers headed home from SIRC with extra weight in their luggage after medal-winning performances at the recent Australian Masters Rowing Championships.
Chilly starts were the norm each day at SIRC, Penrith, and while fog delayed the start of racing on Saturday and Sunday, conditions were mostly fine and sunny for the regatta.
Athletes from most Tasmanian clubs competed and bagged a swag of medals from events across the four days (May 29-June 1) of the regatta.
Our State crews claimed medals in two of the three Interstate races in which Tasmania entered crews.
The men's IS Masters D 4x crew of Michael Wilson (URC), James Cowley (LRC), Tom Wilcox (LRC) and stroke Phil Hutton (LRC), put in a strong row to bring home the silver medal in a time of 3:10.04, just 1.85s behind South Australia, with Victoria finishing third.
In the men's IS Masters D 8+, the Tasmanian crew of Shane Broad (MRC), Jonathan Pitt (LRC), Pat Bird (NERC), Pete Gibson (BRC). Greg Marshall (MRC), Roberto Ojeda (NERC), Robert Wrigley (NERC), Deon Birtwistle (stroke, NERC) and cox Claire Gregg (NERC) claimed the bronze medal (3:05.58) behind South Australia (gold) and Victoria (silver).
Our women's IS Masters D 4x crew of Alison Kirkwood (MRC), Sandra Wilson (URC), Jane Hilliard (TUBC) and Gina Anderson (URC), coached by Michael Wilson (URC), finished fourth (3:41.41) behind gold medal winner Victoria.
But the Interstate events were only a small part of the AMRC program and Tasmania’s club rowers made a statement across the program.
Topping the Medals Table for Tasmanian clubs was Lindisfarne Rowing Club, ranking 23rd overall of the 97 clubs competing from across Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain.
Lindisfarne finished in the top 20 of the Club Point Score placing 19th with 496 points.
In the Individual Point Score four Tasmanian club rowers were in the top 20 (of 964 athletes):
6 – Patrick Bird (NERC), 129 points
8 – Robert Wrigley (NERC), 121.25
9 – Tom Wilcox (LRC), 121.25
20 – Phil Hutton (LRC), 107.75
Rowing Tasmania congratulates all our athletes on their performances at the AMRC25.
Rowing Australia has announced the Australian Masters Rowing Championships will return to the west in 2026 with the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre, Perth, to host the four-day event from May 27-30.
For all the results from AMRC2025 click here
RA presentation to Rowing Tasmania
Rowing Tasmania CEO Rob Prescott attended the Rowing Australia Forum in Melbourne earlier this month.
During the forum, Rowing Tasmania was presented with a medal from Rowing Australia as a thank you for their assistance with the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington.
Rob accepted the medal of behalf of Rowing Tasmania and is pictured with Rowing Australia President Stephen Donnelley, left, and CEO of Rowing Australia, Sarah Cook OLY.
RWVP launches new website
Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) has launched a new website at https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/rwvp.
The streamlined new website provides more direct and easier access to everything RWVP. It also houses growing resources like fact sheets and sector guides to explain the current RWVP scheme and who is required to have a RWVP card, and news about how the RWVP scheme is changing.
The Tasmanian Government also announced at the end of May that it will remove the RWVP card fee for volunteers for the next two years - thanks to advocacy from Clubs Tasmania alongside Volunteering Tasmania.
Safety: Light up now!
It's cold and dark out there - make sure you're all lit up on the water!
Lighting requirements are as follows:
- Strobe light forward on the bow with 360 degrees of visibility
- White light on the stern which will be visible at 270 degrees aft of the stern
- Lights will have a range of 1 nautical mile
Shells and rowers must not display red “bike riders” lights under any circumstances as they may cause confusion with conventional port lights on other craft.
You can view the MAST video, Rules for lighting on paddle craft and rowing shells, by clicking on the above picture.
MPIO Training Workshops
Active Tasmania is running Member Protection Information Officer Workshops across the State this month and into July and invites club administrators, coaches and volunteers to register.
MPIOs advise members on their rights and provide guidance on complaint procedures.
Workshop dates and venues
Burnie - register here
Venue: Harris Building, 51 Cattley St, Burnie
Date: Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Launceston - register here
Venue: Silverdome, 55 Oakden Rd, Prospect
Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Hobart - register here
Venue: Highsense Room (Plaister Stand), North Hobart Oval, North Hobart
Date: Tuesday, 1 July 2025
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Please note: Workshop attendance is limited to 20 participants. If capacity is reached, you may be places on a waiting list for the next available session.
Pathway to Becoming a Recognised MPIO
To become a nationally recognised MPIO through Play by the Rules, follow these three steps:
- Complete the online MPIO training course via the Sport Integrity Australia eLearning platform.
- Complete the MPIO face to face delivered workshop (see dates above)
- Register your nationally recognised accreditation with the MPIO Register.
Upcoming RA Level 3 Coaching Course
Rowing Australia is running a five-day Level 3 Coaching Course from 26th - 31st October at the AIS in Canberra.
It will be delivered by many of RA's leading performance coaches and support staff.
Coaches do need to be a currently accredited Level 2 coach to attend. However, there is no longer a 12-month wait needed between courses.
Course cost of $1365 covers all accommodation, three meals per day and all materials required.
Contact rbatt@rowingaustralia.com.au to register your interest. There are limited spaces available.
ADVANCE NOTICE - Level 2 Coaching Workshop in northern Tasmania in early August. Details will be published on the Rowing Tasmania website - Upcoming Events - as they are confirmed.
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