Head of the River: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School rowing shed more than a place to store boats.
In the build-up to the famous Head of the River on August 29, we take a peek at defending champions St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School and find how the school rowing shed is more than just a place to store boats.
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If you ever drive past the St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School rowing shed on Breakfast Creek at Albion, it looks like just that – a place to store boats. But believe it is much, much more.
It is a place where rowers are polished as athletes, but also as people as well.
“The best people make the best crews,’’ said St Margaret’s head of rowing Jared Bidwell.
“We are invested in supporting character development through the St Margaret’s Way and six core values in everything that we do.
“The Shed operates like a community – supporting each rower, each crew and the shed overall.
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“It’s not just about individual effort, but about being a part of something bigger than yourself and playing your part.
“These are invaluable lessons that move beyond the sport and continue to inspire the girls beyond the rowing program.’’
If you go inside St Margaret’s shed it is like walking into a sporting museum where the college’s past 14 Australian rowing representatives are honoured in some way.
For example, Rio Olympian Maddie Edmunds – who is a current coach – has a boat named after her.
Were the students aware of St Margaret’s rich rowing past?
“Yes, we often speak of the legacy of St Margarets rowing,’’ Bidwell said.
“How each student plays a part in adding to it and how we can leave the shed in a better place than when they first arrived.
“We have Olympian old girls still involved in the program coaching, inspiring and passing on the tradition to our current students.’’
Due to COVID-19, this year has been arguably the most demanding for schoolchildren since air raid sirens blasted out during World War II over cities like Darwin, Townsville, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle, particularly for year 12 students.
So how special is it for the year 12s to have the chance to compete at Head of the River given all sport was in extreme doubt not long ago?
“The year 12 rowers work incredibly hard to be the best people they can be,’’ Bidwell said.
“To have an opportunity to come together as a shed and contribute to the legacy of St Margaret’s means the world to the year 12s.
“To be able to row in their final year and final Head of the River for many has been years in the making, so it’s very meaningful for them to be able to compete in a year which has presented many challenges.
“They are very grateful for the opportunity.’’
Bidwell said Head of the River on August 29 would be a special event – even minus the spectators.
“It ss the culmination of six months of intensive training and sacrifice,’’ he said.
“For the seniors its been five years in the making.
“Everything gets put on line for one race. It’s a grand final involving 10 teams each race. It’s pretty special to be a part of.’’