Friday 29 August
ASC media release:
Australian sports chief Mark Peters departs
The Chairman of the Australian Sports Commission, Mr Peter Bartels AO, today publicly thanked the departing Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Mark Peters, for his significant contribution to Australian sport over the last eight years. Peters today announced his resignation from the post, effective from the end of September.
‘Since he joined the Commission in early 2001, Mark has provided wonderful leadership to the organisation and Australian sport. He leaves with a tremendous list of achievements which will have a lasting impact and legacy for sport in this country.
‘Perhaps the greatest impact Mark has had is the enhanced integrity and reputation of the Australian Sports Commission as an effective and efficient organisation with a proven track record of delivering outcomes to the Government and the Australian community,’ Bartels said.
‘There are the bricks and mortar of the upgraded facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport; the 150,000 Australian children undertaking sport and physical activity through the Active After-school Communities program around the nation; and the enhanced standards of governance and management in sporting organisations, all of which have occurred under the stewardship of Mark Peters,’ he said.
‘Special mention should be made,’ Bartels reflected, ‘on the overhaul of Australian football, formerly known as soccer, to which Mark provided great impetus and leadership, in conjunction with the Review Chair David Crawford. The more than half a million Australians who regularly play football are benefitting from the work of Mark Peters.
‘As Chairman of the Commission since 1997, I have had the pleasure of working with Mark for the entire period of his time with us. We have worked very closely, and I am only too conscious of the great personal commitment and effort that Mark has devoted to his role,’ Bartels noted. ‘I commend him for that, and I thank his wife Merilyn and family for the considerable time Mark has given to his work.
‘Mark leaves us with my personal best wishes and thanks, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.’
Bartels advised that Brent Espeland AM, the Commission’s Director of Strategic Planning and Implementation, would act as Chief Executive Officer while a recruitment process was undertaken.
Mr Peters would not comment on his possible future employment, only to say that his personal philosophy would not allow him to be involved in a sporting organisation directly competing with Australia. ‘An announcement on that will be made soon’, Peters said, ‘possibly in about two weeks.’
Contact:
Rachel Parry, General Manager, ASC Corporate Communications (02) 62141037 or 0409 227620.
Thursday 28 August
Media release:
Sydney 2009 World Masters Games is heading to Europe
The Sydney 2009 World Masters Games message will be brought to rowers from around the world next month when representatives from the team will exhibit at the World Rowing Masters Regatta in Trakai, Lithuania. The team will be present in the Accreditation area from 2 to 5 September to talk to competitors and looks forward to providing more information on what promises to be the largest multi-sport event ever staged.
To be held from 10-18 October next year, the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games is a once in a lifetime chance for an Olympic style experience with the majority of its 28 sports (including rowing) being hosted at the same venues used for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Coupled with an exciting program of social events and endless travel and sightseeing opportunities for participants, the Games are guaranteed to be enjoyable, exciting and memorable and will highlight like never before the remarkable achievements of mature-age athletes and the benefits of ongoing participation in organised competition.
Should any representatives of your organisation be attending the World Masters Rowing Regatta please encourage them to visit the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games expo booth for an introduction to the Games.
Alternatively, if your organisation would like to participate in the promotion of the Games, please contact Rochelle Geeves (02 8116 2012), Competitor Recruitment Manager for the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games Organising Committee, who will provide some tools and tips to assist.
Thursday 28 August
Woodvale Challenge Ocean Rowing — the world's toughest rowing races
Woodvale Challenge Ltd organise the world's toughest rowing races and want you to be a part of them.
There are currently two races to choose from:
Indian Ocean Rowing Race 2009
Starts: 19th April 2009
Geraldton, Western Australia Port St Louis, Mauritius
3,100 nautical miles
Classes: Solo / Pairs / Fours
The first-ever ocean rowing race across the Indian Ocean and the only race in the Southern Hemisphere.
Atlantic Rowing Race 2009
Starts: 6thDecember 2009
La Gomera, Canary Islands Antigua,Caribbean
2,500 nautical miles
Classes: Solo / Pairs / Fours
Set up in 1997 this is the most prestigious and historic ocean rowing race in the world. Each race is run every two years with teams from all over the world competing on equal terms taking on the elements and pushing their mental and physical capabilities to the absolute limit.
If you are looking for a challenge then ocean rowing offers you the ultimate test.
For more information about these extreme events please visit our website or contact us Tel: +44 (0) 1364 644432
Email: info@woodvale-challenge.com
Wednesday 20 August
Position vacant: Club Coach – Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC)
The MUBC Club Coach will be primarily responsible for recruitment and the coaching of MUBC members in the school age, junior, youth, club and pre-elite senior B (U23) categories. The Club Coach will report to Head Coach in developing and implementing the overall MUBC coaching program, and provide support to other MUBC coaches.
The Club Coach will provide coaching, leadership and direction to talent identified athletes, junior athletes and aspiring pre elite athletes and will assist with volunteer coaches. Jointly with, and under the direction of the Head Coach, the Club Coach will be responsible for talent identification of future MUBC elite athletes. As such the Club Coach needs to be innovative and remain at the forefront of rowing coaching techniques to recruit and to help develop rowers to club, junior, youth, varsity and pre-elite levels.
The position reports to MUBC Committee and the Head Coach of MUBC on day-to-day recruitment, talent identification and “club” athlete management. The Club Coach will manage MUBC’s regatta representation of club athletes and oversee general coaching matters to this section of the club. It is a clear objective that MUBC members race at numerous regattas.
Suitable candidates should have experience in either or both of club and school rowing programs tertiary qualified in human movement, coaching or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training.
Package will be determined by reference to experience.
Applicants can send applications and resumes to admin@mubc.asn.au
Rowing coach and other position vacancies are regularly advertised — here —
Monday 18 August
Australia Post media release:
Gold medal winning rowers latest to feature on Gold Medallist Stamps
Rowing gold medal combinations Duncan Free and Drew Ginn (men’s pair) and Scott Brennan and David Crawshay (Double Sculls) have become the latest Australian Olympians to feature on a stamp after both teams claimed gold for Australia in the Olympic Rowing in Beijing on Saturday.
Stamps featuring the two rowers will be available in Australia Post outlets throughout Australia from lunchtime on Monday 18th August.
Duncan Free and teammate Drew Ginn combined to steer Australia to a courageous victory in the men’s pair, holding out the Canadian duo in a time of 6:37.44, while Brennan teamed with David Crawshay to produce the best row of their careers and snatch gold in the men’s double scull in a time of 6:27.77. The two victories were Australia’s sixth and seventh overall and first two in the rowing.
The two rowing combinations join other Gold medal Australian athletes from the 2008 Olympic Games in having their images featured on a stamp through the Australian Gold Medallists Stamps program. Australia Post is producing stamps for every Australian gold medallist from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and they are expected to be available in metropolitan Australia Post outlets within 48 hours of each gold medal presentation.
“The public response to the 2008 Australian Gold Medallists Stamps has been overwhelming and we expect the enthusiasm and excitement to continue throughout the Games,” said Noel Leahy, Group Manager Philatelic, Australia Post.
“This is a program that not only excites the public, but has also truly won the hearts of the Australian Olympic Team as it provides added public recognition of their hard work and success,” he added. “The stamps act as a special memento of the Games and are true collectors items.”
The Australian Gold Medallists Stamps are part of Australia Post’s continuing support of the Australian Olympic Team. Australia Post has already released Australia’s first ever ‘stamp-coin’ on June 24 in commemoration of the Beijing Olympic Games, and three commemorative sport stamps were released on August 1 to celebrate Australia’s proud tradition at the Olympics.
For further information on Australia Post’s entire range of Olympic stamp products, please visit www.auspost.com.au/olympics
Monday 11 August
Position vacant: Wesley College, Head of Rowing
Wesley College Melbourne has been proudly involved in rowing since 1871 and has fostered several Australian Rowing Olympians and King’s Cup champions.
Today, the College’s rowing program has expanded to become one of the largest for boys and girls in Australia, with excellent contemporary facilities at two fully equipped boat sheds on the Yarra River and at Albert Park Lake, and at an exceptional indoor rowing development centre at the Glen Waverley Campus. The College is committed to realising the enormous potential of our rowing crews and to achieving success at school, state and national levels.
We are seeking to appoint a person with extensive experience and qualifications as a rower, coach and administrator at an elite level in rowing, and one who has the ability, commitment and enthusiasm to inspire and develop successful coaches and outstanding crews.
The successful applicant will be responsible for leading a team of coaches and crews and for the development of the College’s total program.
This is a rare opportunity for a highly motivated person to make a great contribution to Australian rowing.
For additional information, please contact the Director of Human Resources on 8102 6367 or visit www.wesleycollege.net to apply by 1 September 2008.
Rowing coach and other position vacancies are regularly advertised — here —
Tuesday 5 August
World Rowing e-newsletter, July 2008: now available
Participate in the July 2008 Poll
Which nation do you think will top the medals table in rowing at the 2008 Olympic Games?
- Australia - with Tomkins leading the way
- China - they have 1.3 billion people behind them
- Germany - the rowing superpower will return
- Great Britain - one step towards London 2012
- New Zealand - super Saturday will happen
- None of the above
— Click here — to read the full e-newsletter and to vote in the poll.
Tuesday 5 August
FISA media release:
Iraq rowers to compete in Beijing
30 July 2008
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has received confirmation that the Iraq men's double scull will be allowed to compete in the Beijing Olympic Games.
In a press release issued late last night, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that, following an agreement reached with the Government of Iraq to establish an independent National Olympic Committee in Iraq, the ban on the participation of Iraqi athletes in the Beijing Games had been lifted. When the ban on the Iraq delegation was announced, the IOC informed FISA that the Iraq rowers' invitation to participate in Beijing had been withdrawn. At midday today, the IOC confirmed that the Iraq men's double would be reinstated and could compete in the Beijing Games.
The Iraq men's double obtained its qualification place by means of an IOC Tripartite Commission allocation. Reached in Baghdad today, Iraqi rower Haidar Nozad said, "We are very happy now to be able to go for Beijing". Nodar will line up with his rowing partner, Hamzah Hussein Jebur, against 14 other men's doubles for the first round of competition on Saturday 9th August.
For more information - FISA media officer:
Débora Feutren
Tel: +41 21 617 8373 or direct +41 21 612 0228 Mobile: +41 79 793 5600
E-mail: debora.feutren@fisa.org
Friday 1 August
Issue 42 of Australian Rowing News: now available
Contents include:
- From the CEO
- Lightweight women top of the world again
- Athlete watch
- Cottam lights up Germany in Under 23 World Championships
- Australian team bids farewell on the Road to Beijing
- 2008/2009 Events of Interest
- Talent hunt for London 2012 goes online
- Athlete profile
— Click here —
