2021 Head of the Lake arrangements

Dear Parents and Families,

A strength of education in Ballarat is the collaboration between schools, which is particularly evident in the many sporting opportunities available for our students.  The Head of the Lake Regatta is an engaging sporting opportunity coordinated by the Ballarat schools for our students.

In 2021 we are delighted to be able to proceed with the Head of the Lake regatta, but there are significant adjustments needed to ensure the health and safety of all involved.  The Ballarat Association of Schools have taken direction and have clear guidelines from Rowing Victoria, Ballarat City Council, The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that this regatta can proceed in a COVID-safe way. Limitations will be in place for spectator groupings and how many spectators are permitted at one time in any given area.

Spectators and supporters

The distribution of school areas and spectator areas will be very different for the 2021 regatta, with requirements that students be separated from parents and members of the general public.

• All student athletes will be accommodated to the north west of the finish line, on either side of the judge’s box on the area traditionally referred to as ‘The Spit’. We are permitted to accommodate a maximum of 110 students per School, meaning that only athletes competing in the regatta will be allowed to attend and provide support.  We will be asking that no other students attend as supporters at the regatta but they will be able to watch a live stream of the event.  It will not be possible to have school ‘entries’ or ‘spit crews’ under the COVID safe requirements.
• Each school has a designated space for families in the Loreto Point area, to the south east of the finish line, to allow you to watch and support your young person at the event. A maximum of 110 people are permitted in each school area.  Parents and supporters will be unable to enter the student athlete area on The Spit.
• Families and supporters will be required to register via QR code and sanitise hands before entering the Loreto Point area.
• Within the spectator and school areas, attendees are asked to wear masks when social distancing cannot be achieved.
• Families are asked to only attend the regatta for the period of time that their child is competing to allow other families to have access to the spectator area to support their own children.

Overview of the event program

The event will commence on Friday, February 19 from 12.00 noon.  This LINK to a livestream of the regatta will allow community members to view the event online.  The order of the regatta will be reversed with the Head of The Lake senior boys and girls rowing at the beginning of the regatta.

Medallions and aggregate trophies will not be presented at the event.  These will instead be presented by the winning school community at an appropriate time following the regatta where achievement can be celebrated more broadly and in a COVID safe way by the school.

We are looking forward to a wonderful opportunity for the young rowers of Ballarat to showcase their dedication and hard work in a spirit of healthy competition between our schools.

Yours sincerely

Steven O’Connor

Principal