Last Saturday I was pleased to join parents and speak at the Barwon Heads Golf Club on the evening before the Head of the Schoolgirls’ Rowing Regatta. It was a wonderful evening sitting down over dinner and celebrating our Rowing season. In my speech, I spoke of the extraordinary efforts of the girls in the Rowing Program. Training for the girls commences in July the year before, continues in earnest over the summer break and then the hard work really begins when school resumes in February. 

The Program involves early morning sessions on the Yarra, regular sessions in our Strength and Conditioning Studio and of course, racing in regattas every weekend, and not just in Melbourne, but all over Victoria. The work put in by the girls is extraordinary and somehow, they also manage all their other School commitments including the arduous study demanded by the VCE. 

While the girls deserve great credit for their efforts, my speech at the Golf Club focussed on the parents. I’m sure when they first enrolled their daughters at St Catherine’s, getting up at 4.30am in the morning and ferrying their daughters down to the Yarra for a 5.30am start, was not in their calculations for what a St Catherine’s education involves. The commitment of all parents, not just those in the Rowing Program, is extreme. All parents will do whatever they can to support their child. 

During my speech, I acknowledged our remarkable parents and what they do for their daughters. I highlight that through this commitment they support our School significantly. Parent involvement is what makes our School the amazing community that it is. 

The Heyington Club provides an opportunity for parents to be involved in Rowing. The current group of parents are committed, enthusiastic and above all, provide support for each other during the season and especially during those early morning drop-offs and the travel which takes them far and wide to regattas. The current President is Mr Tom Shelton (father of Scarlett), who is an absolute dynamo along with his band of willing helpers supporting all the girls throughout the season.  

At the conclusion of my speech, and before Tom conducted the annual auction to raise funds for the Program, Tom gave an impassioned speech about the girls. He spoke from the heart of how proud we all should be of the girls. “Your girl, our girl, the fearless girl, the St Catherine’s girl!” Tom roared to the enthralled audience. Of course, what Tom was endeavouring to convey was that our girls are already winners regardless of what they achieve on the water. 

The Head of Schoolgirls’ Regatta results this year showed for a relatively small school we are still punching well above our weight, finishing high up the ‘ladder’ of results. At St Catherine’s we believe in achievement of course, but the crucial factor is the effort rather than the result. Who can do more than one’s best? Who can ask more than to give the most one has? A successful person or team is one who is productive to the peak of their capacity and who is comfortable with their own self. Last weekend I couldn’t have been prouder of all the girls in our crews. They rowed as hard as they could, acknowledged the efforts of their competitors, and conducted themselves with grace and good spirit throughout the Regatta. 

This weekend I will be in Sydney, supporting our girls as they compete in the National Rowing Championships. I will sit alongside their parents, cheering every stroke they make on the water. Win, lose, finish in the middle of the field, it doesn’t matter. It is in the doing rather than the achievement that really counts. Never giving in, taking the next step no matter what is in front of you, and just being there and present in the moment. This is true on the sports field as it is in life.