With the Head of the School Girls Regatta beginning today, The Geelong College rower Aimee McLaughlin speaks to Luke Voogt about her passion for the sport.
Tell us about you…
I’m 16-years-old and in year 11 at The Geelong College.
I live in Leopold with my parents. I have two older sisters who have moved out of home.
My hobbies include rowing, netball, seeing my friends and watching TV.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming Head of the School Girls Regatta?
Head of the School Girls has always been a highlight of the regatta season. It provides a lively atmosphere that makes rowing enjoyable.
We have been training vigorously all season, and we all worked especially hard during lockdown last year to improve our own base fitness.
Our training schedule includes a mix of strength and conditioning sessions, and on-water training.
We have all been working hard to prepare for this regatta and I’m sure that all the girls are excited for it.
How did you get into rowing?
I first became involved in rowing in 2016. My eldest sister was already rowing with school and my dad and I would ride our bikes along the side of the river when she raced.
I found it interesting that she was so close to the water and wondered how it would look from that perspective, so I started coxing at the start of the 2016/2017 season.
Since then I have continued with coxing and then rowing. I love rowing because it is such a rewarding sport – when you put in the hard work it pays off.
Winning regattas has always been a major highlight. In the 2019 season, my crew placed third in the junior state championships, which was very exciting.
In 2020 we won quite a few smaller regattas and our heat of the Head of the School Girls before it was cancelled.
Pasta nights before regattas have always been a highlight of any season as they provide an opportunity to bond with your crew, relax and enjoy your night.
What are your favourite things to do locally?
I have always been an active person and I love visiting different places in Geelong.
I love going to the cinema or to Eastern Beach with my friends on a hot day.
As a kid, I would always make time to go to Adventure Park or surf at Ocean Grove.
How are you coping with COVID-19?
COVID-19 has been tough in terms of not being able to row.
During isolation, we were given training programs for rowing and had to have the motivation to work hard in order to come back to rowing fit and prepared.
My eldest sister was home from university during this time and so I was able to exercise with her, which made it much more interesting.
In terms of schooling, online learning was quite difficult and different, but I feel that I managed to keep up with the work and homework that we were given.
What’s something about you that people might not know?
Most people don’t know that I play the cello. I have played it since year 4 and I’m currently studying year 12 music investigation.
I love playing the cello because it provides something different from everyday life.
