Joining Hawthorn Rowing Club
Hawthorn Rowing Club welcomes newcomers to our volunteer-based community sporting club, which is home to Australia’s world-renowned Head of the Yarra regatta. We want all members to fully enjoy the facilities and contribute to the activities of the Club.
Membership of the Hawthorn Rowing Club allows access to boats appropriate to your rowing level, the opportunity to meet and row with other members, use of the gym equipment and other facilities, and of course the ability to race competitively for the Club.
Membership has many benefits and we expect members to actively contribute to the running of the Club, in particular as volunteers for the Head of the Yarra held annually on the fourth/last Saturday in November.
Pathways to Rowing at Hawthorn
There are several ways to join in the rowing at Hawthorn:
if you have experience as a rower, e.g. at school or in another club, you can join directly. It is a good idea to contact the Club Captain captain@hawthornrowingclub.com first to discuss the opportunities for rowing at the Club. A visit to the clubhouse is very appropriate too.
if you are a student, you have the opportunity to join the Club's highly regarded junior learn to row program. See below for details of this. Membership of the Club will be established as part of your joining the program.
if you are an adult and have not rowed before, you may wish to have some lessons via the Club's adult learn to row program. See below or click here for more information.
if you only wish to row socially it may be possible to join one of the Club's social rowing groups and have some informal lessons that way. Contact the Captain.
Download and read our Welcome to HRC document under Club Info
Joining the Club
Once you have contacted the captain, coach and/or other Club members, it is necessary to take out membership (which covers boat and equipment insurance, public liability, etc.) The initial membership categories are:
Full Membership - pro rata - all rowers over the age of 18. Please see application form for fees.
Junior Membership - pro rata - all rowers up to the age of 18, and full-time students to age 24. Please see application form for fees.
Coxswain Membership ($0 pa incl. GST *, for registration with Rowing Victoria) - anyone who only wishes to cox boats voluntarily.
Private Boat Storage fee ($555.60 per seat incl. GST *) - Committee request & approval required as rack space is limited.
* these membership rates apply for the year commencing July 1, 2024 for 2024-2025 season.
(The Club also awards Life Memberships to members who have provided outstanding service, and annual Honorary Memberships to people who provide special service to the Club.)
The process for joining is:
download, print, fill in a membership application form, and arrange to be proposed and seconded by current Hawthorn members.
arrange payment of your subscription fees by making an electronic payment (details on our contact page.)
submit the application form along with (a) your cheque or proof or payment, and (b) evidence of your date-of-birth (e.g. copy of driver's licence, passport, etc.) to the Membership Secretary.
Membership applications can be submitted:
by mail to the Club's postal address
dropped in the box near the kitchen in the clubhouse
scanned and emailed to applications@hawthornrowingclub.com (electronic payments only)
Membership applications must be approved by the Club Committee. You will be contacted by the Secretary once this has been done. Members are also entered into Rowing Victoria's database.
Junior Learn to Row Program
Hawthorn has a major learn to row program which is particularly designed for secondary school students in the City of Boroondara. Other students are welcome to join the program. It combines lessons and coaching with junior club membership. All enquiries should be initiated by contacting the club through Tristan Krstevski, via tristankrst@gmail.com
Adult Learn to Row
Hawthorn welcomes those looking to learn to row and perhaps join the Club as members. For information please visit our Learn to Row page, or contact learntorow@hawthornrowingclub.com
Rowing Competitively
If you wish to row competitively, you will need to be organized into a crew and be prepared to train and attend regattas. The first step is to contact the Club Captain captain@hawthornrowingclub.com.
Social Rowing
There is a significant amount of social rowing at Hawthorn, especially among the older members, who often prefer to have an unpressured row once or twice a week, and perhaps a drink afterwards. There are several "drop-in" times when rowers will gather and make up crews for a row. All enquiries should be initiated by contacting the club at hrc@hawthornrowingclub.com
If you wish to try out some social rowing at Hawthorn, simply turn up and introduce yourself. However before you can row you first need to pay $20 incl. GST *, for registration with Rowing Victoria. This is for cover under our insurance policy.
