Pembroke School has appointed a world champion rower and former Australian Rower of the Year as new head of rowing

One of Adelaide’s most prestigious schools has announced its new head of rowing – a multi-time world champion who’s “honoured and thrilled” to get the coveted gig.

One of Adelaide’s most prestigious schools has announced that a former student – a world champion rower and former Australian Rower of the Year – has been appointed as its head of rowing.

Sally Martin nee Causby, who has been a teacher at Pembroke School since 2009, was voted Australian Rower of the Year in 2002 amid her time as an athlete on the world stage.

Sally Martin has been appointed head of rowing at Pembroke School. Pictured with former rowing partner and Olympian Amber Halliday.

Mrs Martin made her first Australia senior representative appearance at the 2000 World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. She won a silver medal as part of the lightweight quad scull crew at the 2000 World Rowing Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.

The following year she won the gold medal and the lightweight quad scull world championship title in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The crew she was in – which also included Pembroke old scholar and Olympian Amber Halliday OLY – set two world records.

Mrs Martin again partnered with Ms Halliday for her second world championship title in the double scull at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Seville, Spain. In 2003 the pair also won a silver medal in the double scull in Milan.

Amber Halliday and Sally Causby in the Lightweight Womens Double Sculls during the World Rowing Championships in 2003 at Fila Idropark in Milan, Italy. Picture: Harry How / Getty

Sally Causby and Amber Halliday win gold in the Lightweight Double Sculls during the FISA World Rowing Championships held in Seville, Spain in 2002. Picture: Jamie McDonald / Getty Images

“I am honoured and thrilled to be leading the Pembroke rowing community into the future. I look forward to working closely with the program’s excellent coaching staff and supportive parent group to deliver a fun and engaging program that develops our current and future rowers,” Mrs Martin said.

“I hope to draw on my personal experience in the sport to achieve on-water success for those athletes seeking to pursue a high performance pathway at Pembroke School and beyond.”

Ms Halliday also praised her former rowing partner Mrs Martin.

“Sally’s calm, encouraging, playful and insightful ways got the best out of me as a rower, and as a person. I’m sure all young Pembroke rowers will have the same experience,” she said.

Pembroke School principal Mark Staker marked the “exciting new chapter in the proud history of the Pembroke Rowing Programme,”

“We have high hopes for the future of Pembroke Rowing, and having a head of rowing of the highest calibre will support not only the school’s continued success in rowing, but also will help to shape a respectful and inclusive culture that is supportive of all rowers and abilities,” Mr Staker said.