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Writer at the West Malcolm Quekett has become the parent of a rower over at SRRC. He's also an avid historian and was tasked with covering the ANZAC centenary for the newspaper. He saw the honour board at SRRC and started digging around a bit to find out about the WA representative in the 1919 Peace regatta, which was won by the AIF crew where Westies member George Mettam sat in 7 seat. This is the article that appeared in the paper.
RECAP
[This is like the start of a TV program which reminds you what happened last week]
The WA Rowing Club launch deck has become increasingly treacherous in the past two years and has started to rack up a pretty impressive injury tally, not least Bella's impressive leg scars and a rather memorable incident involving firefighters, ambulances and such servicemen when a wayward leg was caught between the planks.
LAST TIME
We secured a grant from the State Heritage Office worth more than $50,000 to help replace the launch deck. This replacement will allow us to extend the deck to the edge of our lease zone, which will mean we can launch eights without having to feed out the span of a rigger. Woohoo!
THEN:
Heritage Architect Bruce Callow, who has a long history with the Club, has been working together with Clem Williams, John Vos and the committee to draw up plans for the new deck.
For those who have often asked why we're not getting a floating deck, the answer is two-fold:
1. The anchor points are problematic in the long term and with unpredictable prevailing wind conditions, would ultimately lead to damage to the club
2. The tides mean at low tide, reasonably common in summer, the floating deck could in fact get "stuck" in the mud in the bottom of the river and not come back up when the tide rises... or when it does, it'll become unstuck and hurtle to the surface.
So... no. there is not going to be a floating deck.
NOW:
Our development application has been submitted to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority. The MRA has not yet accepted the submission - they are seeking a few little bits of clarification but so far, it's looking pretty good.
From here they have a 42-day referral period during which they'll talk to other groups, perhaps the Swan River Trust, the City of Perth, Department of Heritage and/opr Department of Aboriginal Affairs and anyone else who might need to be consulted on the works. This might change, so don't take this blog as gospel. We've already engaged with the SRT and Heritage so we're hopeful this process will be relatively smooth.
If the works are considered major or controversial requiring more input, we may face a 90-day comment period - including the first 42 days - but that not mandatory. It's at the discretion of the MRA and we're optimistic we won't need to go through that process.
Here's some FAQs:
Q: When will construction start?
A: To be honest, we're not sure. Almost no one we are dealing with has been through this sort of approvals process since the MRA was formed. We do know we want to get it done and dusted this year before our lease expires in 2017.
Q: What colour will it be?
A: Something pretty neutral, perhaps a grey. We probably won't get away with something too loud due to heritage, however we're looking for a safety line around the edge to make it easier to see.
Q: How will we get speedboats up?
A: There will be a sloped front mid-section so we can get speedboats more easily up onto the ramp. HOORAY.
Q: What is the total cost?
A: Total cost is currently looking at the far side of the $100K mark. So we are expecting we'll need to put in some decent fundraising work to cover the cost of it this year. We'll need help not just with fundraising but probably also with construction. To get in early and help coordinate this, contact Janet on janetmcsmith@gmail.com.
We hope this gives you a bit of update on the deck. This is real, and it's happening to us, gang. Exciting times.
Jess Donnelly was our glorious page three girl today talking about the helicopter.
Just to update, Skyline Aviation has been in touch and is keen to work together.
This is the information provided in the City of Perth agenda, applied to a map:
I hope that helps paint the picture of what the situation is. In my view the issues we are facing are not insurmountable, but there are certainly issues.
In other news, your committee voted last night to buy a new NK coxbox. Just thought I'd share that :) HOORAY.
Oh yeah, for any non-rowers reading this... a coxbox is not what you think.
The next newsletter will be drafted soon...ish. By popular request, we are re-introducing our "Dear Sam" segment, where people can write queries about boat maintenance and Sam will answer them.
Here's a warm-up.
"Dear Sam:
The shoes in the boat I rowed this morning are really loose. Could you please tighten them up so my feet don't move around?
Thanks,
Rower."
"Dear Civilian-posing-as-a-rower,
There is a difference between boat maintenance and repairs. Maintenance is your job. Repairs are my job. To help you figure out whether something is your job or my job, I put together this handy flow chart.
Best wishes in learning to use a spanner,
Sam."
<insert lots of stuff about the start of the season, awesome nationals campaign, amazing learn to row program etc>
Right, now that's out of the way, let's get down to brass tacks.
You might read in the news that WARC is launching a gentle protest against a floating helicopter landing pad earmarked for a site 200m east of the club.
You can read all about it here and here.
The reason we are launching this soft campaign is when the prospect was first mooted, we contacted the Swan River Trust and the company involved, Skyline Aviation, to ask if we could have the opportunity to have a bit of input. The former told us it was too early for comment, and the letter never responded.
Then this Tuesday, it went to the City of Perth for approval (they're not the approving body, it's just that their opinion is sought through the process). The notes provided to the City of Perth don't once mention rowers - but do mention cyclists and pedestrians. You can read all about it here. The relevant section is on pages 11 and 12, or you can use the "find" function to search for "helicopter".
Our concerns are as follows:
This is the little video* we put online to get attention. It worked - tonight it has been viewed almost 1000 times and seen by more than 2500 people:
From here, the matter will go to the Swan River Trust. We have contacted the SRT but not heard back at this stage. If you want to voice your view, you can contact them on planning@swanrivertrust.wa.gov.au (as mentioned in the video. They're probably hating us for this though!)
Of course, all this could have been avoided if at any point they'd looked at the river and thought "gee I wonder what impact causing strong winds on the water at 7am will have" and come to say "hi." With all the consultation done with us through the EQ, Barrack Square and deck grant projects, I would have had a sufficiently high profile to be taken into account.
Anyway, we'll keep you in the loop. We are confident we find an agreement through this process that will allow us to keep operating, it's just another of the very many hurdles WARC has jumped in more than 145 years of rowing.
*Why video: Facebook metrics favours moving pictures above all other content, so if we're trying to get your attention, we'll use video. Otherwise, we'll just do normal picture and text posts!
Our new jetty number
Welcome to the first blog update of 2015, the 110th birthday of the building.
There's a bit to discuss so get on board.
SR76
You may have noticed Wakeford's vinyl handywork on the back side of the club. This is to bring us into compliance with yet another river requirement - which is to have our jetty number clearly displayed. You may recall from a previous post SR76 was painted on the club, but was removed long ago. These numbers are supposed to be there, so don't mess with them.
Australia Day
WARC will be part of the Perth Latin Festival on Australia Day, Monday January 26. There are limited tickets available, cost is $79.
https://www.facebook.com/PerthLatinFestival
To buy a ticket:
https://tickets.myguestlist.com.au/v254acf44d318f5/skyshow-oz-day-fiesta/evs54acf44d331ea/
Please note: The entire building is closed to all but ticket holders for this event. If you want to come along, you will need to attend the ticketed event.
BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series, Sunday Feb 1
WARC is hosting the third BHP Billiton Aquatic Super Series Swim the Swan event on Sunday, February 2. This is a major event for the club and we provide a great deal of support for this high-profile event, which is also a major contributor to our bottom line.
Volunteering and tasks:
Derigging: All inside riggers will need to be removed by Thursday, January 29. This means anyone rowing on Wednesday, Jan 28 and Thursday, Jan 29 need to spend some time derigging afterwards. I would like someone to coordinate this so if you're planning to be rowing on those days, please put your hand up to corral the troops into action. Let me know on president@warowingclub.org
Speedboat drivers on Sunday, Feb 2: We need about 10 speedboat drivers to help marshall swimmers etc during the race. You need a skippers ticket and to bring a packed lunch, hat, sunscreen and anything else you want out on the water. Mobile phones for live tweeting the event are encouraged, of course. #swimtheswan email captain@warowingclub.org to sign up.
Barbecue, morning Sunday Feb 2: WARC will be hosting a sausage sizzle at the spectators and awards area on the Swan River foreshore for this event. Janet is coordinating and will be looking for barbecue experts. Email janetmcsmith@gmail.com to put your hand up.
Today is international day of the volunteer. I thought I'd put a thanks together in rhyme for all the stuff this club does.
Every day we scrub the deck
Resulting in stinky socks, what the heck
Patch the hull, mend the door
Replace the planks, mop the floor
Coach the noobs, meet the board
Enter the crews, check the dinghies are moored
Rig and derig and rig again
And derig and rig just to begin
Order new riggers, replace the shoes
Collect the names to put them in crews
Fill out tedious forms for cash
Drive someone to hospital due to a gash
Straighten the fin, check it is linear
Go down to Bunnings and pick up vinegar
Mix the fuel and make sure it’s two-stroke
Service the speedboats so they don’t choke
Beg for money from big corporates
Ask again and again until we feel murderous
Take names and numbers and forms and fees
Know your homepage is set to seabreeze
Measure and pitch and polish and label
Oil the ergos, make sure they’re stable
Cringe at the hefty insurance bill
Be careful so the fuel can’t spill
Fix the tap, plug the leak
Return the oars so Sam won’t freak
Tow the trailer in the morning
Help Bill Irvine fix an awning
It is this stuff that keeps Wests afloat
So we can all get out in a boat
Happy international day of the volunteer.
Rowing WA hosted its first ever rowing conference this weekend, and we sent WARC coach and all-round-bogan-hero Jimmy O to learn some stuff.
This is what Jimmy had to report:
Nutrition
Nutrition is a key ingredient for rowing well. All rowers need to make sure they are taking n enough fuel during the rowing season. This fuel is best found in carbs which are required to allow your body to recover after hard sessions. If you have special dietary requirements due to food allergies etc it may be important to speak to a nutritionist about how best to manage your situation and make sure your body can recover properly. Emily Eaton works part time with WAIS and has experience working with rowers and is a qualified nutritionist who also works in private practice. Her email is emily@nutrionworks.com.au or website www.nutritionworks.com.au.
(Ed note: The Vine above was not from Jimmy. That was the president learning to use new social media toys. Badly, I might add).
Volume:
Australian rowers don’t row enough. Nationally Rowing Australia has come to the realisation that our athletes don’t row enough distance to be competitive across multiple boat classes.
As a result they are increasing the workload on National level athletes and this is likely to flow down to lower levels. As a result, for the club to be competitive next year we will need to increase the distances we are rowing. To do this in the same length of training session will require u to become more efficient in our stroke and provide greater speed.
Style/Technique:
There is no perfect style or technique! If you look at all of the current rowing world champions you will see a variety of rowing techniques and styles. The key thing all of these rowers do is move the boat well and they work together with the rest of the crew they are in. It is important that as rowers we work together and listen to the coach. This requires a compromise by all in the boat to help the boat move as fast as it can.
I learnt a few other things but I'm going to keep those under my hat for now.
- Jimmy.
So, that's the latest word from our senior coach.
On other things going on around the Club:
Parking and access
The never-ending Barrack Square works are ongoing and the western end of the service lane will be blocked on Monday and Tuesday. If you want to access the loading bay, you'll need to enter from the eastern end and reverse back out again. PLEASE don't drive on the bloody wooden planks, they're expensive and irritating to replace.
Jetty Inspection
The Department of Transport will be inspecting jetties on the Swan River in coming weeks. For the record, our jetty number is SR76, presumably meaning we were the 76th jetty to be registered on the Swan River. We'll be affixing this numeral to a visible spot on the river-facing side of the club. The ever-reliable Vos-dog did send through this pic where you can just see the requisite 76 to the right of the picture. He confessed he'd never known why it was there but this process has revealed yet another strange secret of WARC history.
(from left) the mostly naked person is Guy Negus, with Vossy (centre) and Clem Williams in the lemon-coloured shirt.
Lots 9 & 10 at Elizabeth Quay:
I caught up with Stewart Johnston who is project manager for Lots 9 and 10 at Elizabeth Quay. I gave Stewart the run-down on the club, how long we've been here and how we operate. Stewart is now aware the City of Perth has given permission for Leighton Broad to build a second exit from the service lane to the east of the club (see previous post) which will negate the need for the rowing trailer to negotiate Barrack Square. Stewart is confident Fareast (the Ritz-Carlton site developer on Lot 10) and probably Brookfield (site 9) will support the retention of this additional exit throughout construction of their sites as well.
Welcome Daniel Tackenberg and Deirdre James
Luke Callier has left the position of CEO over at Rowing WA and Daniel Tackenberg has taken up the role. We're looking to invite Daniel to a famous Sassys breakfast soon to catch up and talk all things WARC. We'd also like to welcome the very accomplished Deirdre James. Deirdre will be taking up the position of functions manager here at WARC over the next few weeks as our beloved Stefanie travels through Europe.
Bit of a monster blog today, so hope you got through it all. Happy rowing all and keep your eye out for a newsletter next week that will encompass upcoming events and the Chevron Work/Life balance event.
To circumnavigate the globe, one must travel 40,075km.
Given it is 18,695km one-way from the WA Rowing Club to the Charles River in Boston, it would be fair to say the West Australians who competed in this year's Head of the Charles were literally the ones who traveled the furthest to get there.
Want more proof?
Using this swanky online tool, the exact polar opposite of Boston is... out in the ocean off the south-west of WA. Check it:
So, I thought I'd take this opportunity just to put some perspective on the achievements of the Boston Four, their trusty addition Jules from Freo (who technically is further from Boston than WARC) and Kev.
Well done gang.
