On Water Partnership a Master Stroke

(by Dean Patterson, Delfin Lend Lease)

Rowing craft are now a regular sight on the beautiful Lake Orr with as many as 10 rowing boats on the water in the early hours of the morning since the relocation of the Gold Coast Master Rowers to Varsity Lakes.

In what is developing into a significant partnership for the community rowers from the Gold Coast Master Rowers provide coaching for the rapidly expanding Varsity College Rowing Program.  This relationship sees both rowing programs share premises boats and safety craft    with both parties working collaboratively on funding submissions their most recent application securing funds for racking systems for their boats and safety craft, both programs are expected to be anchor tenants in future infrastructure planned for the site.

With Queensland Rowing and The Gold Coast Regional All Schools Association often using Lake Orr Varsity Lakes for its regattas the rowers from both programs have developed a considerable home course advantage with both clubs usually amongst the medal winners.
 
Gold Coast Master Rowers Club Captain Bill Taylor said the move has been positive for the club with a keen group of new rowers taking advantage of the Learn to Row programme on Saturday and Sunday mornings
 
Club members have been successfully competing in regattas over the last 12 years and in June this year won the Over 60 coxless fours and a number of second and third places at the Australian Masters Regatta in Rockhampton.
 
The Club caters for anyone interested in rowing at any level from social to competitive
rowing and there are no age restrictions on members. The club is made of rowers of all levels and experience from Alf Duvall the stroke of the silver medal winning Eight at the 1968 Olympics and George Petelin Australia's representative in the single sculls at the World Championships in 1974 to rowers who just like to row for health and exercise.
 
The club can be contacted on gcmrowers@gmail.com and are always keen for new members especially people who have rowed previously either at school or club .