Rowing Geelong Jeff Sykes Rowing Centre Grand Opening
Rowing Geelong commenced work on it’s new Rowing Centre in March last year and this Friday it will celebrate the Grand Opening of the facility in front of local dignitaries, its donors, and the local rowing community.
Rowing Geelong President Sam Elliott said he was pleased to see the centre come to fruition so soon after initial talks with the major donor started only two and a half years ago.
"In August 2019 the Executive were approached by a donor willing to contribute a sum of money towards a new boatshed for Rowing Geelong", said Mr Elliott. "That very kind donation along with other donations from the general rowing community and funds from Rowing Geelong have led to the creation of the facility we have today”.
The new boat shed is named the Jeff Sykes Rowing Centre to honour the enormous contribution Geelong’s Jeff Sykes has made to our sport. Jeff was also recently recognised by Rowing Australia with the privilege of Life Membership. For many of us, the name ‘Sykes’ is synonymous with rowing.
Jeff’s history includes medal wins at World Rowing, Rowing Australia, and Rowing Victoria Championships. He famously founded and developed ‘Sykes Racing’ into a world-class rowing boat provider in Geelong and since, the majority of medals awarded in Australia have been won in a Sykes.
Following a lifetime with rowing, Jeff’s wish is to give back to the sport and community he loves. To this end, Jeff has been a substantial founding donor in the hope that Geelong youngsters will also experience the great joy rowing has brought him.
The Jeff Sykes Rowing Centre provides school students from the wider Geelong region with not only a place to store boats but also changerooms, a kitchen, a large meeting room as well as providing a high-tech coaches room.
"Rowing Geelong is very humbled by the incredible generosity of our financial and in-kind donors that have enabled the Centre to be wholly community funded," Mr Elliott went on to say. "When we set out to fundraise for the Centre, not in our wildest dreams did we expect the community to donate like they have. We are very grateful for their contributions".
"We must also thank our construction partners, Spence Constructions for creating such an incredible facility to such a high standard and finish", said Mr Elliott. "Even with the challenges around COVID-19 restrictions and supply shortages in the construction industry, Spence Constructions were still able to handover the Centre prior to the commencement of the rowing season".
Although the facility is completed, Rowing Geelong are still seeking additional funds to fully fit-out the high-tech coaching room, office, social/meeting areas, and kitchen.
Donations to the project can be made through the Australian Sports Foundation. Donors may also contact Rowing Geelong President to discuss the project further on president@rowinggeelong.asn.au
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Note:
The Barwon River is jointly managed by the City of Greater Geelong and Corangamite Catchment Management Authority. It is the only venue for rowing in the region.
As our home of rowing, the Barwon River provides an excellent rowing resource with a 7.5km wind protected stretch of water and boutique 1500m four lane regatta course. It is estimated over 1000 local rowing participants utilise the Barwon River, of which 65% are female. The river also hosts around ten Melbourne-based school rowing camps each season and regular school regattas bringing rowers and spectators from all over Victoria to Geelong.
The project will additionally provide much needed digital support facilities to improve regatta hosting capabilities on the Barwon River, particularly for the prestigious Head of the School Girls Regatta. The Head of the Schoolgirls regatta hosts over 2,000 schoolgirls in Geelong each March and is reported to contribute $2.5M to the local economy. Geelong has secured the event till 2024, however hosting rights beyond this are hotly contested by other Victorian regatta centres.