Row, row, row your boat...
Wesley College rowers don’t row their boats gently down the stream. Rather, they are fierce competitors who torpedo their craft past the finish line buoy in pursuit of glory! How do they achieve such feats? It helps that they are guided by highly trained coaches and row in first class boats, but what gives these rowers the edge is the incredible support provided by their parents and carers.
To develop and sustain a rower is an achievement, with the grocery bill rising in line with their progress through the program! Parents are required to deliver their rowers to the Wesley bus on time, often just after 5am on a Saturday morning, for regattas held as far away as Nagambie, Geelong and Ballarat.
For the past two years, I’ve been at the helm of the Wesley Rowing Parent Support Group (WRPSG) alongside Ros Hyde, who is secretary in name only, as Ros is more of a Co-President.
In our volunteer roles, the WRPSG has raised more than $20,000 over the last two seasons, buying megaphones, cox-boxes and hand-held radios for the program.
Our biggest achievement, besides feeding and hydrating hungry and thirsty rowers, is bringing the big rowing family together. We provide parents and supporters with a sense of belonging to the wider Wesley circle through our many events. Fostering the engagement of new Wesley rowing families has been a priority and this season, we have welcomed Year 8s to the program.
The first parent soiree at the newly minted Wesley College Boathouse was a great success. Many of our attendees donned striped blazers and boaters for the traditional Drinks Party, which is now in its second decade!
The Wesley Rowing Feathertop Shiraz and Savagnin made its debut this year – with funds raised going directly back to supporting the rowers.
A specially designed marquee decked out in Wesley bunting brought spectators together to enjoy a BBQ breakfast and rally around the rowers competing at the massive Head of Schoolgirls Regatta on the Barwon in Geelong.
The Head of the River regatta in Nagambie was a real spectacle, with a record number of supporters in the Wesley marquee and the river banks a sea of purple as we cheered on the 250 Wesley rowers competing in the event.
What amazing school spirit shown by the wonderful Wesley rowing community!
Melissa Aston-Welberry
President, Wesley Rowing Parent Support Group
Rowing supporters on the banks
The 8A crew
