News
Try Rowing Day
Hi All, A big thank you to all the club members that turned up to assist and socialise. Thanks in particular to Linda, David and John for their part in the grant, advertising and organisation today. We had about 5 or 6 potential new members whom all enjoyed the experience and may sign up for learn to row sessions. It was a great socialising event with more than 15 members whom enjoyed the beautiful weather and Mick's renowned BBQ.
Thank you
Jim -Captain (Port Macquarie Rowing Club) 10/9/23
The Come Try Rowing Day on 10 Sept 2023 was a great success.
Advertising for this event was arranged as a one page written article, photo and advert by Dave and John. The advert cost was $715 but we have yet to receive an invoice, which is a budget item of the NSW Sporty grant $4356. This advert helps to raise the Club profile. As well as advertising, the Club printed and distributed flyers for the Come try day.
Excellent support from 15 Club members. We discussed the experience of the new comers on water in any situation from swimming, sailing, kayaking and rowing. Some of the new group had experience with one having rowed as a school boy in the mid1960s. He at first didn’t remember too much but some memories returned after being in a quad scull rowing boat for the first time in 60 years. A Few others had recent kayaking and sailing experience.
The New learners were introduced to rowing by sitting on a static rowing ergometer where the main points of rowing technique was explained, demonstrated and practiced.
Participants were then shown how to safely get into a rowing quad scull ie., four person row boat with two oars each and a sliding seat. Two newbies were taken out rowing with two experienced club members as well as a Coach in a power boat. In addition, one new rower was taken out in the power boat to enable a first-hand look at rowing coach method.
This process was repeated several times. In addition some new rowers were introduced to single scull rowing where only one person is in the rowing boat. Initially, this single training was done with the boat tethered to a long rope so that the learner could be retrieved or pulled back to shore and the learning process repeated. This is found to be a confidence enhancer.
After all this two hour process the learner group discussed their experiences with different Club members. A breakfast BBQ was provided of bacon, eggs and morning tea cake with tea or coffee. The learner group was invited to continue rowing learning by coming to the Club twice a week for the next three weeks. The cost was set at $120 for these next sessions including insurance provided by Rowing NSW. This cost would be deducted from full year membership for those who decided to join the Club.
The Club will debrief on this event and discuss the outcomes. We noted that the Article and Advertisement in Focus magazine was good for the Club image. However, Word of Mouth still appears to have a strong impact on attracting new members.
It is noted that some potential new rowers had already visited the Club because they were not able to visit on the Try Rowing Day. Other apologies said they wanted to attend on Saturday mornings, which is set aside as a learning morning.
It is also noted that new junior rowers have been attending the Club for several months and had attended the Club on Saturday 9 Sept. The junior new rowers have joined the junior rowing squad under a Saturday morning Club Coach.
A couple of our new junior rowers have also just rowed in our 3 Rivers local event.