Australia’s rowing fraternity will descend on Nagambie after the last-minute change, with Rowing Australia confirming a shift from the Sydney International Regatta Centre due to water contamination issues late on Tuesday night.
The decision has left organisers scrambling to make arrangements for the major event, with little time to find volunteers, arrange transport and find accommodation.
Former Rowing Australia chief executive and founding president of Shepparton Rowing Club David Schier said it was tremendous news for the Goulburn Valley.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for our local organisers because of the shortness of notice,” Schier said.
“The Nagambie Lakes regatta course is the best in Victoria, but it hasn’t had a regatta in 12 years.
“The fact that it’s coming to Victoria as the preferred venue speaks volumes for the facility and it will also assist the venue when it comes to the bid to have Commonwealth Games rowing at Nagambie.”
Schier said the championships would result in a boost for the region, with accommodation far and wide set to be booked out.
“We need as many beds and as many hands as we can get for this event,” he said.
“Last time we had it the supermarket in Nagambie ran out of supplies, so we’ve got to get around to those organisations and tell them there’s a big event coming.”
Nagambie Rowing Club captain Sue Andrews said things were already getting busy.
“We've got a lot of work to do both in Strathbogie and in Shepparton in relation to people and getting it ready, volunteers, there’s lots of jobs to do,” Andrews said.
“That’s probably the biggest stress I guess at this point, making sure that we can present a good championships.”
Andrews said it was a fantastic opportunity for regional Victoria to showcase what it could present.
She said since the course for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games had been built the national championships had remained in New South Wales.
“We have hosted Olympians and other national teams in recent times, so that is another reason why Nagambie was chosen,” she said.
With preparations now well under way for the event it is sure to be an exciting one.
The Australian Rowing Championships will be held at Lake Nagambie from Monday, March 28 until Sunday, April 3.
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