Queensland

QUEENSLAND (QLD)

2021 was predominately a highly successful year for Queensland rowing, with high participation in regattas and in the sport in general. Unfortunately, the cancellation of two inaugural regattas, the Australian Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprints Championships (ACRBSC) at Noosa and the Head of the Outback Regatta at Longreach, both due to COVID-19 impacts, and the recent floods in Brisbane and Maryborough (twice) detracted from the overall successes of the year. Drawing on its strength and resilience, the rowing community is rising above these challenges as it moves forward into the 2022 season. Rowing Queensland’s (RQ) primary focus for the year has been to meet the needs of the sport in Queensland through the active support of its Member clubs and school programs and by forging strong relationships with Government, the Queensland Academy of Sport, our regulators including Marine Safety Queensland and Seqwater, the host of the Queensland State Rowing Centre (QSRC). Of note was RQ’s involvement in supporting the Queensland Government’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the outcome of which will see the QSRC further developed to host both the rowing and kayaking events. Across Queensland, 65 regatta events were conducted using mixed formats ranging from traditional short course racing through head racing to novel formats, all of which have been successful and recorded strong attendance. The State Championships proved to be the best attended Championship in recent history and was noteworthy for the high-quality racing and close outcomes. Likewise, the State Schools Championship, hosted by the Rockhampton Club, was a strongly supported highquality event with very close racing. Despite being partially impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and latterly the Brisbane flooding event, two successful regatta series were conducted for the Brisbane School Girl Rowing Association (BSRA) and the Great Public Schools Association (GPS) both of which culminated in excellent Head of the River regattas. Both Associations are going from strength to strength with strong participation and quality rowing evident across the programs. In support of the growth of school aged rowing, RQ has created a new school aged rowing conference to operate initially in the SE region (Gold Coast – Sunshine Coast). The design of the conference is to provide support to fledgling “non-traditional” rowing school programs, school aged participants through clubs and established school programs which are not members of the BSRA or GPS Associations. A positive start is assured with 12 clubs and schools with up to 500 athletes supporting the initial regatta series due to commence in April 2022. Enthusiasm was high as planning was undertaken and preparations made by Rowing Australia and RQ for the inaugural ACRBS to be conducted at Noosa in August 2021 only to have the excitement dashed by COVID-19 restrictions causing its cancellation. Fortunately, all the work undertaken will not be wasted with the event now scheduled for 18-22 August 2022, again at Noosa. Likewise, planning for the Head of the Outback on the Thompson River at Longreach had to be shelved due to COVID-19 but with the event now rescheduled for 1-2 October 2022 it will not be wasted. The QSRC facility at Lake Wyaralong was further developed which, in conjunction with regional courses at Bucca Weir near Bundaberg, the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, the Ross River in Townsville and the Brisbane River are the location of the majority of the State’s regattas. On two occasions during the year Queensland was able to support Australia’s international high performance aspirations initially as host of the World Cup 2 Simulation Regatta at the QSRC and then Rockhampton as a staging camp for the successful Rowing Australia Olympic Squad. RQ continued to strengthen its organisation across 2021 and again finished the year in a stronger position than it started. This trend is continuing into 2022 despite the impacts of the recent flooding on the rowing community. State-wide, the organisation’s boat race officials, volunteers, staff members and Board’s strong commitment to the wellbeing of rowing in Queensland is unquestioned. We extend our sincere thanks to all.

NICK PARR

Chairman - Rowing Queensland Limited