After a challenging four months, the tide is finally turning for Shepparton Rowing Club.
When the Goulburn Valley was impacted by last year’s devastating floods, the rowing club was unable to escape Mother Nature’s wrath.
The club is wedged between Victoria Park Lake and the Goulburn River — which burst its banks during October.
It wasn’t until early last week the club’s members were able to access the lake and get out to do what they love most.
And with the 2023 Nagambie Regatta this weekend the club’s participants are grateful to be back out on the water.
“Yeah, it’s exciting, especially after everything with the floods recently and being able to get back to a competition at its full volume and having everyone there, so it’s very exciting,” club member James Eldred, 19, said.
“Last week was our first week back out on the water. It sucked not being able to be on the water
“It has been really hard, there’s only so much you can do inside on the rowing machines and not out there on the water.
“It’s good to be back out there now.”
Eldred and his fellow rowers have been hard at work preparing for the Nagambie Regatta.
Tom Nalder is preparing to compete in the male C-grade single scull, while Hamish Kerr will battle it out for glory in the male A-grade single scull.
Eldred will be joined in the mixed coxed quad scull by Emily Belcher, Robert Gordon and Anna Chalkley — with the four also competing in a raft of other events.
One of those in the quad is teenager Olivia Anderson, who will assume the role of cox in the scull.
“Yeah, I can’t wait,” the 16-year-old said.
“I’ll be competing in the double and I’m coxing for the quad.”
While the club’s eyes are firmly fixed on strong performances this weekend, it is always seeking new members to join the ranks.
Eldred encouraged anyone wanting to try their hand at rowing to come on down to the Victoria Park Lake-based club.
“We haven’t really been able to bring new people down to the club while we’ve been affected by the floods,” he said.
“Not being able to get out on the water makes it not very interesting, but now that we can it’s good and we’re going to try and get some new people down here.
“We do want to get some younger rowers, but we’re also not just a club for kids we do have adults who row with us and we’d love more so we can get a full team out.”
Anyone who is interested in being involved at Shepparton Rowing Club is encouraged to contact the club.