Stroking the river

For a third year running, we’re fielding a 10-man team in the Australian Whale Boat Racing Championships. Under the watch of manager Larry Abrahams and coach Pat Groot, it’s all systems go for the February-19 river race that (almost) stops the nation. 

For Pat, SWH’s stroke liaison/clinical nurse consultant and the Department of Health’s Victorian Stroke Clinical Network regional stroke coordinator, there are plenty of good reasons for entering. Not just because it’s great exercise and great fun, but because it’s the perfect chance to spruik community awareness messages around stroke. And its causes.

Go to http://youtu.be/UdJFt8UTdqc and you'll see what we're talking about. It's fantastic!

One in six Australians will have a stroke sometime in their life and, alarmingly, more of it happens here than almost anywhere. The southwest is one of the highest stroke-incidence regions in mainland Australia. 

So impressed with the drive of this ‘rowing billboard’ is the National Stroke Foundation that it’s gone and sponsored them by way of a team outfit: white polo shirts emblazoned with the NSF ‘1 in 6’ message (*it’s at the end of this story). 

Win or lose, they’ll look the part. But will it make them go faster? 

‘Essentially we’ll be endeavouring to improve on last year’s times and if this gives us a place then that’s a bonus,’ says Pat. ‘Larry’s once again been instrumental in encouraging and promoting our involvement and I’ve been happy to engage as coach despite the fact that I won’t be in the country for the final. The team’s suggested I indicate to my wife that I should give our OS trip a miss in preference to competition day. I have not broached this subject!’ 

The team – which includes podiatrist Sam Abdelmalek, occupational therapy assistant John Brooks, registered nurses Peter Carty and Carl McMeel, graduate nurse Aaron Tuck, Environmental Services’ Tom White, Primary & Community Services Director Craig Fraser and a ring-in from Telstra, Bill Purcell – started training much earlier this year. As did our women’s team, The Allies (competing for a second year, this crew consists of speech pathologists Jenna Hogarth [coach] and Catherine Turland, physiotherapists Rose Morgan and Mellisa North, Allied Health Intake/Reception workers Julie McKenzie and Kathy Penny, Environmental Services’ Linda Johnson, RITH physiotherapists Julia Newton and Dina Selman and Emergency Department doctor Megan Cooney.). Each got a six-week head-start by being the only crews on the Hopkins back in October.

Strategic given getting to the finals won’t be easy. While there’ll be no overseas competitors this year, a Melbourne and Adelaide team have registered and organisers report that several other surf clubs along the coast are pretty keen to challenge the local surf club for supremacy. All up, 25–30 teams covering the women’s, mixed and men’s categories are expected to go head-to-head. 

‘As we’ve trained more than ever this year I think our teams will do well. Consistency and timing is the key, as well as good tight turns for the home leg. The boys are strong and very keen. If we make the final we will be very happy,’ Pat says. 

Their first year didn’t see them make the finals but this was the year three US teams participated and their men’s team was very competitive. Regardless, The Stroke Team came a respectable fourth. Last year, with some experience behind them, they made the final – finishing second to the Warrnambool Surf Club, who remain the best team in the comp.’ 

But it’s not all about winning. Larry’s subtle but significant orchestrations have once again thrown a group of individuals from across the organisation into a tight-knit team; a group of people who would otherwise have very little to do with each another. This, says Pat, adds an important dimension to everyone’s working day in terms of morale and engagement with those around them. 

‘Why else do we do it?’ he asks. ‘The journey and all it entails is as important as the competition. Being on the river, sometimes in very adverse conditions but always beautiful, puts us back in direct contact with an environment most of us have lost touch with, to some degree. Acting as a team and exerting ourselves in the efforts of attaining a common goal has been very enjoyable and indeed entertaining. Becoming proficient at handling a whale boat does give team members a sense of pride in their skill and becoming fitter in the process is a real bonus.’ 

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 *Know your stroke risk and live: THE 1 IN 6 MESSAGE… 

1. Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes and high blood cholesterol
2. Be physically active and exercise regularly
3. Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet
4. Limit alcohol consumption
5. Avoid cigarette smoke. If you smoke, seek help to stop now
6. Learn to recognise the warning signs of stroke and act FAST

For more information call 1800 STROKE or visit www.strokefoundation.com.au

PS… So into the sport is The Stroke Team that some of them are now looking at building their own Saint Ayles Skiff so that they can be on the river as often as they like, and be able to compete in another style of rowing competition if it takes their fancy. Watch this space.