THE rowing community will mark International Women\u2019s Day with a celebration by Lake Wendouree\u2019s course finish line, opposite Loreto College.<\/p>\n
From 4pm to 6pm on Tuesday, 8 March a range of guest speakers – women in sport and business – will acknowledge the IWD 2022 theme, \u2018break the bias.\u2019<\/p>\n
With ABC\u2019s Penny Johnston as MC, the event is being driven by Strive Sport, in partnership with the Ballarat Rowing Association, and Ballarat City and Wendouree-Ballarat rowing clubs.<\/p>\n
Strive Sport director Jennifer Szuster said Tokyo Olympic gold medallist in the Australian women\u2019s four Rosie Popa, long-time rower, coach and mentor Hannah Every-Hall, Female Athlete Network founder Emily Shears, and successful rower and businesswoman Sarah Chibnall will present.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important for young girls to have role models in the community that they can look up to, so that\u2019s why we\u2019ve got a diverse panel to share those stories,\u201d Szuster said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe International Women\u2019s Day theme, break the bias, is all about asking, how is your community helping break the bias in terms of gender diversity and inclusion?<\/p>\n
\u201cRowing is gender-equal from a participation point of view, but from a coach and administrator perspective, we have some work to do to improve the roles that women play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe purpose of this afternoon is to help young girls be able to see that they can have a presence in the rowing community in other aspects, like coaching, and to also showcase some women that have achieved success in business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Video messages are expected from Olympic gold medallist Lucy Stephan – Popa\u2019s crewmate and former Ballarat resident – and old Ballarat Clarendon Collegian Katrina Werry, who rowed in the Tokyo Olympic women\u2019s eight.<\/p>\n