Bringing Rowing to the Bush

One Town at a Time

Outback Rowing’s Bush Towns Programs are the backbone of our mission: to bring the sport — and the spirit — of rowing to rural and remote Australia.

With the generous support of the Thynne McCartney Family Foundation, we’ve launched grassroots rowing programs in towns such as Chinchilla, Cunnamulla, St George, Moree, Bourke, Barcaldine, and Longreach, with more in the pipeline.

These programs are not just about boats and oars — they’re about building community, improving wellbeing, and giving people of all ages the opportunity to move, connect and grow through sport.

How Bush Towns Get Started: Building a Bush Rowing Crew

Before we hit the water, here’s what you need to do:

Gather a Crew
• Aim for 8–12 interested people to ensure consistent participation
• Start in an eight-person boat to maximise teamwork, support, and fun

Check Your Watercourse
• Identify a safe, accessible waterway with minimal debris
• Send a short video of launch/landing sites if you need guidance—beach-style entry is preferred
• Nominate a local Safety Officer

Secure Storage & Transport
• Find a lockable shed, trailer, or safe area to store your boat and gear
• Plan how you’ll move the boat to and from the water

Care for Equipment
• ORA provides insured boats and equipment
• Your crew is responsible for day-to-day care and basic maintenance

Nominate Your Leaders
• Appoint a coxswain
• Identify someone willing to coach (inside the boat or on land)
• Nominate a team lead or coordinator to communicate with ORA

Find a Likely Sponsor
• Love rowing and want to keep going? Talk to your local council, community group, business, or generous local about supporting your town’s rowing journey into Stage 2. A $3,000 per/annum sponsorship keeps the program afloat — covering equipment, coaching support, insurance and more (full breakdown below).

The Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Learn to Row Weekend Camp

The program begins with a two-day Learn to Row / Return to Row camp in your community.

What’s included:
• On-land ergometer training for technique, fitness and confidence
• On-water sessions in stable coxed eights or quads
• Crew formation and community building
• Receive your boat for the season

This weekend lays the foundations — technically, socially and logistically — for a fun and successful season of rowing.

Step 2: 12-Week Supported Training Season

Following the camp, crews embark on a structured 12-week training block. While we aim for July–October, the program can run during any 12-week period in your first calendar year.

• Register as an *ORA member for full Rowing Queensland insurance
• Ongoing coaching support, guest visits, and shared training resources provided
• Emphasis on sweep technique, fitness, and fun

Halfway through your 12-week season, your crew can decide whether you’d like to race at the Bentleys Australian Outback Rowing Regatta in Barcaldine and Longreach (3–5 October).

If yes:
• ORA registers your crew and boat for the event
• You join one of our legendary Outback Convoys
• ORA handles boat transport to and from the regatta
• You experience a once-in-a-lifetime weekend of racing, road-tripping and regional celebration

Step 4: What’s Next?

Keep Rowing
If your crew is keen to continue after the regatta, ORA can make arrangements for your boat to remain in town. Options include:
• One continuous annual program
• 1 or 2 x 12-week blocks per year
• Local coach development and ongoing access to training resources

Return to the Boat Bank
If your season is done, no worries — the boat returns to the Morts Bush Boats Bank to be refurbished and shared with the next town.

All equipment use and training support beyond the first year is included in a low-cost membership fee — see our Cost Structure document for full details.

Looking Ahead: Staying in the ORA Family vs Going Independent

As your town’s rowing community grows, you might start to wonder: do we stay part of the Outback Rowing family or go out on our own? The good news? There’s no wrong answer — and we’ll support you either way.

While we encourage long-term connection through the ORA network, we know that every town is different and growth looks different for everyone.

Why Stay in the ORA Family?

Remaining part of the ORA community means you’ll continue to benefit from:

• Shared access to boats and equipment from the Bush Boats Bank
• Insurance and admin support through Rowing Queensland
• Coaching resources and visiting mentors
• Branding, media exposure, and sponsor recognition
• Easy access to convoys, regattas, and collaborative training
• Being part of something bigger — a national network with a country heart

When Might You Go Independent?

Some towns grow into full-blown clubs of their own. This might be the right path if:

• You have long-term local coaching and admin capacity
• You’re regularly travelling to competitions
• You’ve built up your own boat fleet and equipment
• You want to run your own events or local regattas

We’ll walk beside you through this process with our Club Incubation Pathway Guide, helping with everything from governance to grant applications.