Get ready for a packed September edition as we dive into the stories shaping our paddling community:
We’re building a vibrant, inclusive paddling community that celebrates elite, social, and junior members across all generations,
A moment of pride for the IVF World Distance Championships 2025,
Everything you need to know about the upcoming AOCRA AGM 2025 and how you can get involved,
Stay informed with the latest updates from our ongoing discussions with Paddle Australia and what it means for you.and more!
Warm regards, Scott Cranfield
president@aocra.com.au
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MAINTAINING OUR PADDLING COMMUNITY | EMBRACING ELITE, SOCIAL AND JUNIOR MEMBERS
A thriving sport is more than competition, it’s a community. It’s built on the backs of those who chase gold medals, those who paddle for the joy of it, and those who are just beginning their journey. In outrigger canoeing, the strength of our sport lies not in one group, but in the unity of all: elite, social, and junior paddlers. When we embrace every member—across ages, abilities, and ambitions—we build a sustainable, inclusive, and connected paddling culture.
THE POWER OF A BALANCED COMMUNITY
Every paddler brings value. The elite athlete demonstrates what is possible when talent meets discipline. The social paddler shows us the joy of connection and wellness. The junior paddler represents our future and carries the potential to reshape the sport. When these groups are welcomed equally, clubs become more than performance centres—they become places of belonging.
BENEFITS OF INCLUSIVENESS ACROSS ALL GENERATIONS
Stronger Club Culture: When clubs prioritise inclusion across all paddling levels, they foster mutual respect. Juniors learn from seniors, social paddlers support elite programs, and high-performance athletes give back through mentorship. This creates a vibrant ecosystem where everyone feels seen, valued, and part of something greater.
Improved Retention and Growth: People stay in sport when they feel they belong. A club that only focuses on winning will lose members who seek community or recreation. A club that only offers social paddling may miss developing talent. Balance brings growth—attracting and retaining members of all interests and stages of life.
Generational Knowledge Sharing: Older paddlers carry experience, stories, and cultural knowledge. Younger paddlers bring energy, innovation, and fresh perspective. By mixing generations, we ensure that tradition is honoured while the sport continues to evolve.
Role Models and Mentors: Young paddlers are inspired when they see elite athletes achieving at the highest levels. Equally, elite athletes gain perspective when they engage with social paddlers who bring balance, humility, and enduring commitment. This cross-pollination builds more grounded, well-rounded athletes and communities.
Resilience Through Diversity: A diverse membership base ensures that clubs are not reliant on one group or season. When juniors are away, social paddlers sustain the momentum. When elite events peak, the whole club rallies. The more diverse our participation, the more resilient and adaptable our clubs become.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO FOSTER AN INCLUSIVE PADDLING COMMUNITY
Program Design: Offer a range of sessions—competitive training, social paddles, junior development, and inclusive events that encourage all members to participate.
Leadership Opportunities: Ensure representation from all groups in club committees and decision-making.
Shared Events: Create club days, festivals, and regattas where juniors, social, and elite paddlers share the water, stories, and food.
Mentorship Programs: Pair experienced paddlers with juniors or new members to pass on skills and strengthen relationships.
Celebrate All Achievements: Recognise not just wins, but personal milestones, volunteer contributions, and community impact.
IN SUMMARY
When we embrace every paddler—elite, social, or junior—we honour the full spectrum of what our sport offers. We create not just better athletes, but better people. We build not just stronger clubs, but stronger communities.
Inclusivity is not a strategy—it’s a responsibility. And when we get it right, the rewards are lasting: loyalty, growth, wisdom, and joy shared across generations.
Because in the end, the canoe moves best when all paddlers are in sync—each with their own strength, paddling toward the same horizon. As does our community.
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A MOMENT OF PRIDE | IVF WORLD DISTANCE CHAMPS
With the 2025 IVF World Distance Championships now complete in beautiful Rio, Brazil, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been an incredible journey representing both AOCRA and Australia on the world stage.
Before anything else, let me extend heartfelt thanks to all those behind the scenes who remained at home—our unsung heroes.
To the families, friends, supporters, clubmates, club coaches, and training partners—thank you. Your unwavering support made this possible, and on behalf of all our athletes: we hope we made you proud.
A special thank you to CC, Kevin, and Zillah (our Area Coordinator) for your tireless work preparing our teams for the international stage. To our coaches Pete and Grant, and with sincere appreciation for Robyn’s invaluable contribution, thank you for guiding our athletes.
To Trish, your support and steady guidance on the ground in Rio made a world of difference—thank you. And to Buck, thank you for your early leadership and smooth handover in the lead-up to this campaign.
To our athletes—you earned your place, and you wore your uniforms with pride, professionalism, humility, and fierce determination. You showcased the very best of Australian outrigger canoeing, both on and off the water. Congratulations and thank you for making this a campaign to remember.
We proudly celebrate our overall results:
???? 2 GOLD - OC6 70 Men | OC6 Open Women
???? 4 SILVER - OC6 50 Women | V1 J19 Women, Jess Crowe | V1 75 Women, Rose Evydean | OC6 40 Masters Women
???? 3 BRONZE - OC6 60 Men | V1 50 Women, Maria Pokia | V1 70 Men, Tony Compton
But medals are only part of the story. To every athlete who gave their all—whether you raced or not—your achievements, presence, preparation, and support were every bit as valuable to the success of the campaign.
As the sun has now set on Rio, we now turn our eyes to the horizon and begin our journey towards National Sprints and the IVF World Sprints – Singapore 2026.
Let the work begin!
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AO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) NOVEMBER 2025
AGM RESCHEDULE
This year’s AGM has been rescheduled to Sunday, 30 November 2025. The revised timing allows for:
- The South Queensland Zone AGM to be concluded.
- The successful staging of the National Sprint Titles prior, ensuring that members and clubs are able to participate in both significant events without conflict.
Formal notification of the AGM, including all relevant documentation, will be sent to members in line with constitutional requirements. This will include nomination information for those considering standing for election to one or more of the vacant Board positions.
BOARD CHANGES
Since our last AGM, we have experienced some changes to the composition of the Board. Most recently, our Treasurer tendered her resignation. We thank Zillah Dunton for her valued service and contributions and wish her well for the future. An Expression of Interest has been circulated for the vacant Treasurer position, and members are encouraged to consider nominating.
VACANT POSITIONS
The following four positions will be up for election:
- President, Treasurer, Junior Director, and General Director.
We encourage all members to stay informed, to consider nominating for leadership roles, and to remain actively involved in shaping the future of our sport.
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UPDATE ON DISCSSIONS WITH PADDLE AUSTRALIA
HISTORICAL DISCUSSIONS AND CHANGED LANDSCAPE
It is true that AOCRA has held discussions over many years with Paddle Australia (PA) —formerly Australian Canoeing. However, the environment today is vastly different. The strategic opportunity before us is not simply a repeat of the past; it is a response to evolving challenges, emerging possibilities and global trends in the sport landscape.
KEY CHANGES INCLUDE GOVERNANCE REFORMS ACROSS AUSTRALIAN SPORT
AOCRA FUNDS HELD AT NATIONAL AND ZONE LEVEL
AOCRA’s current funds, at all levels of the organisation would not be absorbed by PA. They would remain within AO to be spent on Outrigger activities.
AOCRA’s funds would not be redirected to pay for PA staff.
PA already have the staff and are already paying for them. PA doesn’t need AOCRA’s funds to pay its staff - even if those same staff are to assume responsibility for assisting in managing AOCRA membership, governance, etc.
On workforce, PA is unapologetic about the fact that it’s Paddle Forward 32 strategy speaks to an aspiration for continued growth. PA will continue to recruit and employ new talent to its organisational structure to align with Paddle Forward 32 and to bring in new skills and experiences required to be able to respond to the ever-evolving sport and business requirements.
OUTRIGGING CULTURE
Outrigger would not be lost within PA.
Marathon, Wildwater, Canoe Polo, Ocean Racing, etc, all continue to develop under the PA umbrella, and Outrigger would be the same. There is no reason to think it would be lost. This presents an outstanding opportunity for Outrigger to be developed even further.
COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
Yes, AOCRA is proudly community-based and culturally rich—and this is not in conflict with PA’s mission. In fact, PA’s purpose is to support, inspire, and develop all paddlers: fostering a sense of belonging for all, through a sport and lifestyle lens.
If we were to align, outrigger paddling would retain strategic leadership, cultural identity and governance voice—while benefiting from shared resources, streamlined systems, national-level support and a consistent and equitable approach the sport nationally.
PA’s OLYMPIC FOCUS
PA’s website does have an emphasis on the Olympic disciplines (Sprint and Slalom) but that is because those disciplines provide access to the required content, and a large portion of the Media and Communications resource is available through PA’s / AIS HP Program Investment. When PA hosts a major international event like the International Canoe Federation Slalom World Championships then the PA digital and social platforms are also going to promote ticket sales, commercial partnerships and community activations.
PA works together with all their Discipline Technical Committees and the paddle communities, etc, to provide content - particularly where they do not have a presence until the period of their national events (once or twice per year). PA contracts all Media and Comms for the disciplines, and acknowledges that some are more proactive and motivated in this space than others.
Elevating PA’s “Home of Paddlesports” brand and reach is a measure of success. Promoting individual disciplines and community story telling is part of the strategy moving forward and resource-wise, PA has depth of experience with established networks to do this.
Given that Outrigger runs more events than the other disciplines, Outrigger would logically have a higher presence and would maintain and grow its exposure.
STAFFING AND RESOUCRING AT PADDLE AUSTRALIA
It is important to clarify that PA’s national High-Performance staffing (approximately 30-35 positions over a Games cycle) are dedicated to Olympic and Paralympic disciplines and are funded through the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) High Performance Investment Grant. Those staff are not funded through general membership revenue. These roles include coaches, performance support, sport science professionals, and high-performance administration.
A contribution from the AIS grant is allocated to shared corporate services to enhance the delivery of the sport overall—a standard practice in modern sport administration. The wider paddle community benefits from the ongoing success of our Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams.
REGATTA REVENUE
PA will not take a greater share of event revenue from Outrigger.
PA does not take a share now of Club or State event revenues from Marathon, Ocean Racing, Harbour Racing, Polo, etc and so the same principle would apply with Outrigger. In fact, under the model being discussed now, it is anticipated that Clubs will receive more of the event revenue than they do currently.
PA does receive a portion (50%) of the Single Event Insurance Fee ($24) that is levied against non-members, but this would not apply to AOCRA members under the integration. For the JB Run, PA/PNSW refunded the Single Event Fee to all AOCRA members who participated.
Under the integration, but only under the integration, member paddlers would be free to enter in other disciplines without having to pay the Single Event Insurance Fee. It can’t be automated without the integration. For clarity, the reciprocal agreement that has been alluded to by Jane Hall was never put in place (it couldn’t be), but it was discussed with PA who agreed that it would be possible, post integration.
PA & AOCRA did not revoke the reciprocal agreement, as was suggested, because it was never put in place.
INSURANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY
Under a unified model, the opportunity to establish single insurance program across all paddling disciplines, could deliver efficiencies of scale—helping reduce complexity, duplication, and long-term costs.
Sustainability, both financial and administrative, is critical for the future of our sport.
AOCRA’S NSO JOURNEY
AOCRA has previously pursued and held recognition as a National Sporting Organisation (NSO) and developed frameworks such as the National Coaching Framework.
While that recognition was recently lost due to several factors, the AOCRA Board continues to revise the constitution, write and approve necessary policies to meet NSO requirements—should we decide not to proceed with alignment. Obtaining and maintaining the recognition will take a lot of administrative resource to achieve.
However, alignment with PA would enable outrigger canoeing to be part of a recognized NSO, restoring access to national funding streams, safeguarding long-term viability, and providing governance certainty.
MEMBER SURVEY
The member survey, conducted in Dec 2024 - Jan 2025 resulted in a high percentage of members requesting we explore a relationship with PA.
DRAGON BOATING’S NON-ALLIANCE WITH PA
It is understood that the primary reason for the Dragon Boat federation in Australia not to align with PA was based on the fact that, as we would need to do, is have PA as the business entity become the member of the International Federation for Dragon Boat entity in Australia.
Whilst PA would become the member with the International Va’a Federation (IVF), Outrigging would (like all the Paddle disciplines under PA) enter into an agreement known as a Terms of Reference, where at a national level PA would create the unhindered ability for Outrigging to maintain the same level of communication and engagement with the IVF as we enjoy today.
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ACKNOWLDGEMENTS
Finally, on behalf of the board I wish to extend our appreciation to all members, clubs, Zones, volunteers, and supporters who contribute tirelessly to the success of outrigger canoeing in Australia.
Your commitment ensures that our sport continues to grow stronger and remains an inclusive, competitive, and community-driven discipline.
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