Goolwa Rowing Club

27/04/2026

Goolwa Rowing Club came together today to remember one of our own... Frank Skuce, a lifelong rower, cheeky story teller and friend to all.....particularly if you had chocolate cake..

Over 30 club members and friends rowed singles, doubles and quads to his special spot on the river and with a few chosen words and the rowers dozen we wished him well. Tears were shed but mostly happy stories were told and moments remembered.

Frank will be remembered for being generous with excellent humour, time and energy for his fellow rower and always having a story or two you hadn't heard....

Vale Frank. Deeply missed, always remembered.

06/04/2026

The Lower Lakes at Goolwa were the place to be early this morning. What better way to spend the day than on the mirror-smooth waters of the Murray. 24 Goolwa Rowing club members agreed and took to the river in singles, all the way to an octo, with a few visitors joining us today as well.

15/03/2026

Started with gold, finished with silver- not bad either way. Light play on the water never disappoints.

28/02/2026

‘Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening’ … and not much fun for a rowing regatta. But if anyone thought that meant a sleep in, our resilient and resourceful rowing coach, Stef, knocked that on the head. We moved our mini regatta indoors with a series of ergs set up for some fierce but fun competition. Here are a few of the highlights.

23/02/2026

Rowing has been as hot as the weather this month both at home on the pristine waters of Goolwa and over at West Lakes for the racing contingent.

It has been so lovely to see nearly all our members enjoying the water this month...the sun certainly helps to make it easier to get up early!

With the pelicans and seals for peaceful company at home there really is no better sport to try for a full body low impact workout among nature...

Rowing is the complete package.. if you've ever thought hey, maybe I could do that there's no better time to reach out and give it a go. Our come and try sessions are filling fast! Please contact [email protected], Libby on 0478 264 111 or drop us a line on here.

As you can see below we really are spoilt for scenery at Goolwa....flat water and the calming calls of the abundant bird life..... simply perfection...

Racing has been fast and furious at West Lakes with improvements being made across all boat classes, the wind has been particularly kind with gentle tail winds to help us on our way!
Special mention to the support crew who came to West Lakes to cheer, take photos and update the club.. it is so incredibly appreciated to have the volumes of support we do across the club...

We look forward to our next regatta at West Lakes on March 7 with Rowing SA

Photo credits to SW, KT, BF, PB, & KT.

06/02/2026

If you’re not rowing… you’re missing out!

29/01/2026

Oh what a beautiful morning…

08/01/2026

Our famous Octo Racing Picnic Regatta has been run and won for the third year by another Masters I grade composite coming out on top in some rather less than ideal Goolwa conditions!

As always with events such as these the planning and forethought that goes into it is a whole club effort.... the idea was born and the number crunchers take the data from the attendees and make the crews (and the handicaps) but everyone on the day and the days before has a job.... from the catering to the boat maintenance and positioning to the night guard watchmen to the safety tinnies and the lane buoy throwers it really is a full GRC effort. Special mention must go to the boat catchers at the bank who went above and beyond to keep the crews safe and coming in in a timely manner!

We get a lot of pleasure from bringing you this event and it pleases us no end to know that it is not only well received but the return attendees continue to climb.

This year wasn't without its challenges the wind in particular throwing us a curve ball but that can sometimes happen on the beautiful waters of Goolwa.

We have learnt a number of things over the 3 years and next year's racing will see a course upgrade with bigger coloured buoys and lane markers with toggles for coxswains to aim and hold onto at the start. We will also launch and land on the main land side where we can facilitate four boats at a time rather than the one boat at a time approach we have been doing. We also plan to offer a practice session on the Friday afternoon as well as a boatman for each boat to act quickly as a kind of 'pit crew' to quickly assess gate heights and stretcher positions as crews rotate prior to each race.

To see so many of our upstream neighbours coming down for the event plus our more local rowing friends has made this event into something really special and I'm pleased to say we had rowers, coxes and supporters from
Torrens Rowing Club
Mannum Rowing Club
Berri Rowing Club
Renmark Rowing Club Inc.
Riverside Rowing Club
Goolwa Rowing Club
Phoenix Rowing Club Adelaide
Adelaide University Boat Club
Port Adelaide Rowing Club
Wilderness School
Rowing South Australia

Thank you to all these clubs who have made the trek down for this event to share the passion of our fabulous sport and to enjoy breakfast and conversation at the wonderful Coorong Quays Hindmarsh Island community space.

Please enjoy the following photos to really highlight the fun and action of the day and mark down the first Saturday of 2027 in your calendar for next year's event!

Thank you for your continued support of the event and Goolwa Rowing Club

Photo credit goes to Heather E, Ian M, Berri club, Renmark club, Libby T, Kerry T & Kate T.

02/01/2026

OCTO RACING.....

Good morning, for those of you attending our fabulous Octo Picnic Regatta tomorrow here's a few last minute details we'd like to share with you....

**Athlete briefing is at 6am..... please park and walk across to the rotunda and be ready for the 6am chat. Racing starts at 0630 SHARP!

**Parking** there are a couple of options to park so we don't disturb our fabulous neighbours at Islanders' Tavern . Please check out the maps below for parking options.

**Toilets** toilets are within the CQ marina. Any issues ask a GRC member!

Please be mindful the new Coorong Quays Hindmarsh Island playground is up and running and this is a shared public space.

Goolwa Rowing Club has a pin drop on Google maps for ease of finding us. Please take care on the roads early the wildlife is active!

The format of the day will be much like previous years, fun, fast and fabulous.. if you're new to this event follow the helpful guidelines from our fabulous organisers and have a great time!! Don't forget to share your photos with us of the day for our social media!

Rowing South Australia
Renmark Rowing Club Inc.
Mannum Rowing Club
Berri Rowing Club
Adelaide Rowing Club
Adelaide University Boat Club
Port Adelaide Rowing Club
Phoenix Rowing Club Adelaide
Torrens Rowing Club
Murray Bridge Rowing Club
Riverside Rowing Club
Waikerie Rowing Club

26/12/2025

***OCTO RACING ENTRIES CLOSE TOMORROW 5PM***

Hi all, if you're thinking of a way to enjoy the new year with fun , friends and fast boats please grab your tickets today as they're closing entries at 5pm tomorrow.

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1499412

Here's the link with all the details.... for those that have been before, you KNOW it's a fun day!

Beers and breakfast after and the presentation of the President's Cup is not to be missed!

Rowing South Australia
Coorong Quays Hindmarsh Island
David Basham MP
Torrens Rowing Club
Port Adelaide Rowing Club
Adelaide Rowing Club
Adelaide University Boat Club
Phoenix Rowing Club Adelaide
Riverside Rowing Club
Mannum Rowing Club
Berri Rowing Club
Renmark Rowing Club Inc.
Murray Bridge Rowing Club

22/12/2025

This is you LAST WEEK to get our hotter than Christmas Day tickets for Octo racing!! All the action is Jan 3rd 2026..

*** Ticket sales close 5pm Saturday 27th December***

All you want for Christmas is a ticket to Octo racing.. I know..... me too!! Get yours today here:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1499412

Please share this with your rowing friends if you haven't already and spread the word far and wide that the only octo racing in SA is on and YOU CAN be a part of it... It's fun, it's furious and it's fast... what more could you want?!

Plus there's breakfast, beers and bubbles.... start the New Year with some some fun before the serious racing starts.. Octo racing.... 16 oars, 1 cox and 5 competitive boats..... come on down today!

Rowing South Australia
Coorong Quays Hindmarsh Island
David Basham MP
Torrens Rowing Club
Adelaide Rowing Club
Adelaide University Boat Club
Port Adelaide Rowing Club
Phoenix Rowing Club Adelaide
Riverside Rowing Club
Mannum Rowing Club
Murray Bridge Rowing Club
Berri Rowing Club
Renmark Rowing Club Inc.
Waikerie Rowing Club
Fleurieu Sun
The Southern Argus

19/12/2025

Get excited peeps.... OCTO RACING is on again!! You've heard the rumours.....
It's fun, it's fast, it's FABULOUS!

Join us on January 3rd nice and early to beat the speed boats for a morning of rowing with 16 oars, 5 lanes and some very dedicated coxswains.... followed by breakfast, beers and the President's Cup presentation 👌

Here's the link for all the details you need....

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1499412

ENTRIES CLOSE DEC 27TH... NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCOMMODATED.

Get in today with your crew or come as an orphan and we'll make sure you have fun!!

It's always great at Goolwa Rowing Club 😍

We provide the boats and oars! Try out your new rowing handicap on the first Saturday of the new year whilst holidaying down on the Fleurieu!...