ARC Update - 16th February 2026
- Feb 16
- 7 min read
In This Issue:
President's TED Talk
It's only been 2 1/2 weeks since our last update, but so much has happened since then!
I'm writing this update from the ARC balcony on Sunday morning while watching Erica, Petra & Zoe take out 12 new rowers for the first session of our rejuvenated Learn to Row programme. I've been outspoken in saying that getting LTR up and running again is the single most important action for defining our Club's season as a boom or a bust - so I'm incredibly thrilled to watch the reality of this programme coming back to life before my eyes. This first 5-week block was fully subscribed and sold out, and our next block in April & May is already 50% full... we knew the demand was there, and now it's up to the ARC LTR team to execute a quality programme - which I know we will!
Last weekend's State Champ regatta saw some brilliant moments and tenacious performances from ARC. While there were some great on-water results, I couldn't have been prouder of the culture, attitude and team spirit on display by every ARC member involved. Whether it was geeing up each other in the sheds, carrying oars or washing boats for others, sharing snacks and stories - and even cleaning up the mess of others at the after-party (kudos Igor!) - the behaviours from ARC were on point for the whole weekend. Well done!
Off the water, and the momentum keeps building with a steady resolve and determined effort.
Josh Lasscock has been busy pulling together plans for the 2026 ARC Winter programme for Year 8-11 school rowers. This remains a critical link in the school-to-club pathway, by establishing between the Club and school-aged rowers.
Full details will be released in the next 2-3 weeks, but the programme will start on 17th May, with registrations opening on 2nd March. If you are interested in coaching with the Winter programme, please get in touch with Josh.
A dedicated Year 12 School Leaver programme is also being worked up witha focus on supporting the school-to-club transition! Stay tuned!
The first 7-year term of our Torrens Boatshed lease comes up for renewal at month's end. Discussions are underway with our landlord - the Department of Environment & Water (DEW) - to roll over into another 7-year term to run out to February 2033 (with the lease providing another four 7-year options thereafter - in theory, running out to 2061). The renewal is subject to a market rent review mechanism, which will be worked through over the next few months. As we've seen with some of the recent developments in and around Adelaide, history & incumbency alone will not stop progress, and so, we can never allow our wonderful position on the banks of the Torrens to be taken for granted. Please help out to keep our boatshed neat and tidy where you can, because appearances matter...
After a relatively quiet December, February has seen a welcome uplift in function bookings, with a function most weekends this month. Thanks to our Clubroom Manager, Tim Santin, as well as Nick Miteloudis and his mates for working these events!
Best of luck to those racing this weekend, whether you are heading over to Penrith for this weekend NSW State Champs, or racing at West Lakes for valuable Rowing SA premiership points!
Get after it ARC!
Mitch
Welcome New Members & Thanks Volunteers
Welcome to the newest members of Adelaide Rowing Club!
Bernard Le Riche
Stewart Doube
We are definitely starting to see the benefits of having a healthy social rowing scene in the city, and we hope to see some more new members to sign-up soon!
Thanks to our amazing volunteers for their efforts behind the scenes!
Adam Pope, Erica Webb - Regatta volunteering
Nick Miteloudis & Tim Santin - Bar functions
Jess Lobban - Regatta support (& for always bringing an infectious smile!)
Claire Rogers, Mieka Webb, Celia Cowan - A particularly big effort to sort out entries for last week's 1st Grades regatta!
SA State Champs Wrap
The 2026 State Champs Regatta was run and won, and what a fantastic regatta it was! ARC crews won 8 Championship events, including a clean sweep of the Open Women's sweep-oared events rounded out with a superbly executed race in the Open Women's Eight.
Mitch might suggest that it was his 'cooking' at the Pasta Night that provided the secret sauce - but the reality is that it was all down to the maturity, resolve & teamwork on show from every ARC rower & cox, backed by the generous support of our coaches.
A full wrap-up is available HERE, and if you've not seen it yet, check out the Open Women's Eight Final on YouTube - well worth a watch if you haven't seen it yet!
New BikeErgs roll into the ARC Gym
The Club has purchased two brand-new Concept II BikeErgs to replace the well-used WattBikes in the ARC gym. Total expenditure was $4,500, with $3,000 coming via an ActiveClub grant from the Office of Recreation, Sport & Racing (ORSR), and $500 proceeds from selling two WattBikes.
Thanks to Claire Rogers, Mieka Webb and Jono McKay for assembling the Meccano sets, with Gen Glavas taking the honorary first spin!
Building Project Update
Progress on the Torrens Building renovation project continues steadily.
The keg system has been decommissioned and will go up for sale soon. This is required to make room for the new electric battery, to be installed in March.
For those who might be horrified at the thought of a Club with no beer - rest assured that this is not the case, and we will continue to focus on packaged beverage sales. Changing consumer preferences mean that we've not sold a keg of beer in over 3 years - we need to recognise changing commercial realities and adapt our offering accordingly. This approach will make space for an asset that will generate a better financial return than the idle keg system.
Our annual asbestos inspection occurred this week & many thanks to Alex Silz for managing this. We have elected to bite the bullet and undertake a comprehensive sampling regime to rule in or out whether we actually have any asbestos in the Club. We are pretty sure that we don't, but we need conclusive evidence to prove it beyond doubt for next steps. Hopefully, this will mean that we can put the issue behind us once and for all - results are expected in the next week or so.
The Committee has approved another release of project funds to repair and paint the early 90s timber 'match-stick' ceiling of the main room. This will go a long way towards modernising and lightening the room. The trusses will be left as bare timber and will not be painted at all, to preserve them as a feature element. The while ceiling will also make the wonderful clinker four in the rafters stand-out, rather than being camouflaged against the timber ceiling. Feedback received has been overwhelmingly in favour of painting the ceiling.
To preserve project funds for other elements, a series of working bees will be held through March to re-pin and paint the ceiling, scheduled around existing function commitments. Please be on call to help out if and when you can.
Perhaps contentiously, painting the timber wall panels was explored as an option, and we received a range of views from the membership, with many expressing reservations. We have carefully considered this feedback and decided to pause this element for now. The approach to the walls will be revisited once flooring materials and colour options are better defined, allowing all elements to be considered together.
2026 Coxing Equipment Fundraising Appeal!
Many thanks to those who have made generous contributions already - we are now on our way to our goal!
It takes village to run a rowing club, with many hands making light work. But if you're not in a position to donate time, then please consider getting behind us by making a tax-deductible donation instead. All donations over $2 made through the Australian Sports Foundation are tax-deductible.
Crows Central returns to ARC for 2026
We are pleased to welcome the Adelaide Crows Supporter Group back to ARC again for the 2026 AFL Season, with the first Crows home game on Friday, March 20.
Crows Central opens 3 hours before the first bounce serving great food and drinks -without the Adelaide Oval prices...
Regardless of which AFL team you barrack for, make ARC & Crows Central part of your pre-match routine, knowing that with every dollar spent is directly supporting our rowing activities.
Members Facebook Groups & Squad Chats
Are you keeping up with the latest happenings at ARC? Check out the invite links below to ensure you are informed about who is doing what at ARC!
What's Coming Up at ARC?
New Merch Arrivals
New stock has arrived, just in time for the 2nd half of the regatta season! Whether you're looking for on-water attire or supporting from the bank, you'll look the part in official ARC merch!
Avoid postage costs - order by 5pm Wed & collect from ARC on Thursday night!
Could You See Your Brand Here?
We are a proud local club with a growing online voice, locally and across the national rowing community.
If your business values connection, commitment, & being part of something that lasts, we’d love to explore a partnership.
Please get in touch with
Mitch Oliver to see what we can achieve together!