BENDIGO Rowing Club's efforts to promote women's participation is paying dividends, with increasing membership and medal winning regatta performances.
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The club's junior program is expanding under club captain Sally Morgan, and female athletes are proving hard to beat under coaches Tess Forest, Amy Morgan, Neve Coleman and Scott Balmer.
Livia Rosaia has dominated women's single sculling events at four-consecutive Rowing Victoria regattas, including the challenging Head of the Goulburn.
In cold choppy conditions, Rosaia completed the winding 7.2km river course from Lake Nagambie to Tahbilk Winery in a time of 41:41 minutes, defeating rival Mariena Madar, from the Barwon Rowing Club.
Indiana Crone has also tasted victory in women's single sculls at the Dimboola Regatta, winning the female C-grade title on the Wimmera River against athletes from Melbourne, Geelong and Wentworth.
In women's double sculls events, BRC's Amy Morgan and Pip Robertson, and Livia Rosaia and Miki Oxley, have achieved podium finishes at the Bendigo and Hamilton regattas respectively.
According to president Cathleen Farrelly, the BRC is working hard to encourage women's participation in rowing both on and off the water.
"The club is working hard to be welcoming and inclusive.
"We have created a gender equity strategy to encourage women and girls to be a part of club activities and decision making processes.
"It makes sense for the club to attract more women and to tap into their talents and skills."
Off the water, the BRC has supported several young women to gain rowing coaching accreditation and increased female representation on the club committee.
The City of Greater Bendigo is supporting the club's promotion of women in rowing.
A Council grant of $7650 has enabled the club to purchase new light weight carbon composite oars which are more suited to women.
In turn, the BRC is expanding its rowing programs by introducing a women's introductory rowing program on Thursday nights over the summer period.
"The new program will be run by women for women," Farrelly said.
"It will teach the fundamentals of rowing in a non-competitive, fun way.
"The focus will be on personal achievement.
Rowing is uniquely suited to women as it doesn't rely on brute strength but requires a fine sense of balance,technique and co-ordination.
"Yet women's participation in sport is well below the national average."
"The Bendigo Rowing Club is working hard to address this."
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