The end of the rowing season at Kinross Wolaroi School (Orange) was celebrated with a dinner for parents and rowers in the school’s new auditorium.
There was much to celebrate as the school won the NSW Rowing Association’s award for the highest point score throughout the season and the real achievers on the night were students from the local area who performed well in Sydney and Canberra.
Matt and Angus Whittaker have both taken up rowing with great enthusiasm.
Matt (Year 10) rowed in the second seat in the under 17 years School Boys Eight at the Australian Nationals.
He is also a capable sculler and took out third place in the open school boys quad event at the School Boys Head of River at the end of March.
Younger brother (Year 8 student) Angus rowed in the winning Year Eight Quad and the Year Eight Double Scull at the Head of the River Regatta in late March. The boys are the sons of Glen and Narelle Whittaker of Warren.
Parents were able to see video clips of the season’s events at the dinner that also served as a fundraiser with a silent auction. Special guest was national coach and former Olympic silver medallist at the 1968 Mexico Games Michael Morgan.
Head coach (school’s bursar) Joe Donnelly was one of three nominations for best schoolboys coach. Mr Donnelly a former cox with the Australian National team began the rowing program at Kinross Wolaroi four years ago.
The program has grown to include 80 boys and girls. Rowing is offered as a summer sport at Kinross Wolaroi but a training program continues throughout the winter months in the school gym on special rowing machines.