Dear AOCRA Members,
Juniors are the heartbeat of any sport’s future. They arrive with curiosity, enthusiasm, and unfiltered passion—reminding us why we fell in love with sport in the first place. Their presence not only strengthens our clubs today but also ensures sustainability, growth, and cultural continuity for years to come.
The Benefits Juniors bring to Sport
Energy and Positivity
Young athletes bring a contagious excitement that lifts the spirit of entire clubs. Their energy creates a vibrant culture where sport becomes fun, inclusive, and dynamic for all ages.
New Perspectives
Juniors see the world differently. They question tradition, embrace technology, and learn rapidly. Their insights challenge us to evolve, modernise our systems, and rethink how we train, communicate, and lead.
Long-Term Sustainability
Developing junior programs is an investment in the future. Every young athlete is a potential senior competitor, volunteer, coach, or administrator. When we nurture juniors, we are building the next generation of club leaders and community role models.
Stronger Communities
Sport teaches life lessons—resilience, teamwork, responsibility, respect. Juniors who grow within positive sporting environments are more likely to stay connected to their communities and become agents of positive change.
Engaging the Generations: Rethinking How We Connect
Today’s juniors are growing up in a world that is fast, digital, and constantly connected. They value authenticity, collaboration, and choice. To effectively engage them, we must acknowledge and adapt to these generational shifts:
Meet them where they are
Communication must be timely, visual, and interactive. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and short videos can engage juniors far more than traditional newsletters or emails.
Empower, don’t dictate
Offer leadership opportunities, allow them to have a voice in decisions, and create a culture where feedback flows both ways.
Be purpose-driven
This generation is values-led. They care about inclusion, mental health, the environment, and fairness. We must reflect these values in how we run our clubs and programs.
Provide pathways, not pressure
Not every junior wants to be an elite athlete. We need to offer flexible participation options—social paddling, cultural learning, coaching development, and officiating—all of which allow them to stay connected on their terms.
Building a Culture That Welcomes Juniors
True engagement starts with mindset. Every club should ask: Do we value juniors as contributors, or do we see them as an add-on?
Inclusion is not about lowering standards—it’s about opening doors. Juniors don’t just need access to equipment or races; they need mentors, safe environments, and genuine belonging.
In Summary
Juniors bring energy, diversity, and the promise of continuity. To fully realise the benefits they offer, we must shift how we engage across generations. The future of our sport depends on how we welcome the next generation—how we inspire them, include them, and empower them to carry the paddle forward.
Because when juniors thrive, our whole sport thrives.
National Marathon Championships
The 2025 AOCRA National Marathon Championships brought together many of the country’s top outrigger canoe paddlers for a dynamic showcase of endurance, teamwork, and sporting spirit at Mooloolaba. Hosted over a thrilling weekend, the event featured a range of age divisions and canoe classes, highlighting the depth of talent across Australia’s outrigger community. The championships proudly welcomed a diverse membership base, with paddlers of all ages, backgrounds, and regions coming together to celebrate the inclusive spirit of the sport.
AOCRA acknowledges and sincerely thanks our valued sponsors and partners, who together with the AOCRA Events Team including V-Insurance, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, White Cloud Foundation, Sports Integrity Australia, Paddle Life TV, our volunteers clubs; Mooloolaba OCC, GC Wave, Panamuna OCC and Sunshine Coast Dragons came together to host a memorable national title.
Travel & Towing Assistance - National Marathons
Reminder to all clubs that Travel Assistance and Towing Assistance is available to eligible clubs who attended the 2025 National Marathon Championships. To access this support, clubs must submit their requests by Sunday, 13 July 2025.
Applications should be sent via email to both treasurer@aocra.com.au and secretary@aocra.com.au. This initiative is designed to help reduce the financial burden of travel and encourage broader participation at our national event.
National Sprint Championships
As the excitement builds for our next national event, a reminder of the dates being 14 – 16 November 2025 at Damian Leeding Park, Watersport Lane, Oxenford Lake, Gold Coast.
2026 Calendar National Events
Zones will shortly be provided with the opportunity to Expression Interest to host both Sydney Harbour Challenge and National Marathons.
Australian Representatives for Brazil 2025
The AOCRA Board congratulates the following members on their selection to represent Australia at the upcoming International Long Course Championships in Brazil.
__05Mar2025163404.jpeg)
