Penny-pinching Skulduggery From Corporations

Newcastle Herald

Monday December 8, 2008

By LISA BARRITT-EYLES

THE Paddling Puppies, Lay Down Sallys, Skinny Scullers and Lawful Foursome were among 18 teams of novice rowers from businesses around the Hunter who put their oars in the water yesterday to compete in a corporate rowing regatta at Berry Park, near Morpeth.

The Hunter River Paddle was organised by the Endeavour Rowing Club as a fund-raising and team-building event. The club provided equipment and coaching sessions for the teams before the regatta.

Endeavour club captain Julieanne Tilse said while the regatta raised funds for the club to build a viewing deck on its boat shed, it was also aimed at developing community spirit and encouraging people to enjoy the river environment.

"The regatta has been very successful, everyone has entered into the spirit of the day and worked out all the issues involved in rowing in a team mixed with different abilities, heights and sizes.

" As a community, we don't fully appreciate what we have here with the river. [When we're out on it] we can see the damage that humans do without even realising it."

Ms Tilse said rowing was a less invasive way to explore the river and enjoy the environment and the regatta provided the opportunity for people to learn about rowing at the same time as appreciating what the region's rivers have to offer.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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