John XXIII Rowing Club 

Dear Rowing Families

We are well and truly into our regatta season, with the girls’ squad competing in the second IGSSA regatta last Saturday and our boys’ squad ramping up for their first regatta in three weeks' time. 

In the meantime, however, JTC is hosting the next IGSSA regatta on Saturday, 6 June. Preparations are underway and the Committee are doing a wonderful job organising the cake stall and barbeque, hoping we re-gain the coveted Bacon and Egg Burger shield, while also raising funds for our Rowing Club and having a fun day out at Champion Lakes. To sign up to assist in the lead-up or on the day, please check the parents’ WhatsApp chat for the link. 

After our JTC regatta on the 6 June, we have a very busy month, with five regattas in three weeks. Head of the River is on the 20 June, and our first All Schools regatta is a double header for the coaches – an IGSSA regatta on 14 June and All Schools on a Sunday, 15 June. Sign up for the All Schools regatta has been sent to families.

Training days 

Due to the IGSSA regatta schedule and boat loading, the Years 9 and 10 calendar has been disrupted and is no longer operating on an alternating weeks basis for boys and girls. Please refer to the calendar on STACK in the ‘Documents’ section for your Friday training days.

With all that activity, please ensure you stay as healthy as can be. Get as much sleep as possible, stay hydrated, eat well and keep up the hand hygiene. 

Remember, if you can’t make a session, please email Claire.woolfitt@johnxxiii.edu.au, or jimmy.oregan@johnxxiii.edu.au for the Girls Squad or lauren.strong@johnxxiii.edu.au for the Boys Squad. Starting this week, an email will be sent to parents of rowers who did not attend the session without explanation. 

IGSSA Regatta

The second regatta of the IGSSA season was held on 16 May. 

Our squad raced in beautiful conditions for the second regatta and improved on their performances from the first, despite sickness and injury affecting some crews. 

Our crews handled these changes well, living by the motto ‘Any Seat, Any Boat, Any Time’. One of the great aspects of participating in sport is learning resilience, adaptability and teamwork, and these skills were tested on the day. We look forward to seeing the continued improvements at the next regatta on Saturday, 6 June. 

Music Camp coincides with the fourth IGSSA regatta. Please discuss with your coach if you are missing rowing, as crews will need to be re-jigged to accommodate these changes.

Year 8 Learn to Row 

The Year 8 Learn to Row students are seeing great progress out on the water. Many students took to the water in single or doubles sculls, which are far harder to balance, and so far, we have kept everyone dry!  

Students are very receptive to feedback and are getting up and down the inside course with improved technique, and crews are able to now row together. 

Please contact me at: claire.woolfitt@johnxxiii.edu.au if you have any queries. 

Year 8s row in their PE uniform, and there is no need for them to purchase any rowing uniform. 

The STACK group is up and running and the student and the parent who registered them will have received an email from STACK. 

Regatta signup 

Year 8s can sign up to row in two regattas, the first being on Sunday, 14 June. Please complete your child’s availability/unavailability by Wednesday, 27 May. 

Generally, the girls’ quad and mixed quad are early in the day, and the boys’ quad is around midday. Please note down any restrictions you have in the column next to your child’s name. 

Can you be oarsome and bake for JTC Rowing?

We are calling for donations of cakes, biscuits, slices, muffins and preserves to support the cake stall at the upcoming JTC-hosted IGSSA Rowing Regatta on 6 June 2026. In previous years, simple flavours sold the best (including lemon, banana, carrot and ginger). Gluten-free options are also very popular. Please note that no items can contain nuts.

If you can contribute, please confirm your donated item/s via the QR code on the flier attached or via the link below.

https://bit.ly/4fxfdpC 

Cake boxes (including an information note and cake box labels) will be available for collection from the PE Office and Secondary Student Services from Wednesday, 27 May. We will also be handing out cake boxes at the secondary loop on Tuesday, 2 June (8am to 9am). Donated items can be returned to the College on Thursday, 4 and Friday, 5 June.

This is the Club's BIGGEST fundraiser for the year, so we appreciate your support!

Thank you in advance from the Rowing Committee.

Uniforms

The new zootsuit is now in stock at the Uniform Shop. There is also a training top that can be worn under the zootsuit, and a ¼-zip fleece. The only compulsory item is the Zootsuit for racing at regattas.  There is a stock of the old zootsuits which can be worn for training. 

Stack Team App

This App is one of our main avenues for communication with rowers and their parents. Please download the ‘Stack Team App’ on your phone, as this is the central place for training schedules, training updates, access to the rowing handbook, to name a few. It is important that all rowers and parents have access.

To get this app please go to the App Store or Google Play and download the Stack Team App onto your mobile device, then follow these simple steps:

• Sign-up to Stack Team App. You’ll be sent an email to confirm your registration.
• Log-in and search for JTCRC, then request to become a member.

Buses

• Pick up: 5:05am at College Bus shelter
• Return: 7:30am from Boatshed

2026 Rowing Club Registrations are open for Years 9 to 12 

It's never too late to register; the John XXIII Rowing Club welcomes existing and new members for our 2026 season.

Registrations are still open. Please complete the online Registration form by clicking on the link: JTC Rowing Registration for 2026 – Fill out form

Those who have not rowed before, or who would like to be a coxswain and represent the College, are also encouraged to join. 

 2026 (Term 2) Rowing Training Schedule  

Key Rowing Events 2026

Absent from training procedure 

Asthma and Allergies

All rowers with asthma or allergies, please remember to bring your asthma puffers, EpiPens, or required medication to all sessions. 

Claire Woolfitt

John XXIII Rowing Coordinator