What we are doing about COVID

Last night the committee met and central to the agenda was the question of COVID measures. This email communicates the general approach that the committee advises. Further emails will expand on the detail. There are two parts to the club's response to Coronavirus:

• remaining connected in a time of potential isolation

• staying safe and flattening the curve together

Further information below and here.

The Message: Remaining connected

The club is open.

Barwon Rowing Club will keep rowing throughout the coronavirus crisis. If we cannot row on the water, we will train off the water. If we cannot train together at the club, we will train from home. Let's work together to make our rowing club a place of resilience and cheerfulness--a true community--in this time of crisis.

But the Spirit of Barwon does not stop there. We will look after our members in every way that we, as a community, can. We will do everything in our power to look after the health of other club members (see the measures below). There are several of us who are potentially very vulnerable, and we will never forget this in our day-to-day actions at the club and with others.

We will not let the physical isolation of members, those who have to remain away to protect themselves, or because they are sick, mean that they become socially cut-off. Today's communications technologies mean that no one needs to lose connectedness, even when they have to isolate. And there are old fashioned technologies, like buying their groceries for them, that work pretty well too.

In the coming days, the committee will be in touch with a proposal for "towers" of members, groups who can do volunteer work such as routine cleaning together and look out for each-other. 

A community organisation is different to a fee-for-service gym. A rowing club is its members--us--staying connected with each other. These moments of crisis are when the truth of that idea becomes clear. 

Now, more than ever, it is important to be involved with the activities of the club--in a responsible way. The Spirit of Barwon developed during the terrible ordeal of the First World War. We will come through the present test stronger than ever--and we hope that you are a big part of how we do that.

The Rules: Staying safe

The committee has set two levels of response:

• Level 1: keeping the club as safe as possible.

• Level 2: dealing with a confirmed positive case.

Non-compliance with these measures will not be tolerated.

Level 1 

There are four parts to the "orange" stage of Level 1:

• being responsible about risks to others

• good hygiene and social distance

• cleaning the club regularly

• rowing specific measures

Being responsible means not coming down to the club with any coughing or sneezing condition or fever-like symptoms. If you have a confirmed case of Coronavirus, report it to the secretary or president. Your identity will be kept strictly and absolutely confidential.

Report your situation here. 

Good hygiene means washing hands, wiping doorhandles, cleaning equipment, washing oar handles, cleaning boats.

Use the provided cleaning solution to clean down equipment; All gym equipment including mats, bars, must be cleaned down after use. No exceptions. Gym towels are compulsory, do not use the gym or ergos without one. Washing oar handles after use is compulsory.

Further information is here. 

Social distance means training in a well ventilated space, keeping a 1.5m distance from others, and restricting numbers in the gym (to 4). It also means reducing your potential impact on others--wash cups or bring your own, wipe surfaces, pay by tapping a card rather than cash.
Further information is here.

Rowing specific social distance relates to boat classes and squad frameworks. The advice may change as time progresses, but the club presently endorses the Rowing Victoria advice. The club prefers, but does not demand at this stage, that small boats be rowed rather than larger boats.

Further information is here.

Level 2

The "red" stage of Level 2 kicks in if we have a confirmed case within the membership who also reports that they have recently used the club facilities or been in close personal contact with active members. 

Members who have tested positive can remain anonymous. This information will never be shared with other members by the club's officers without consent. 

Two measures are under consideration:

Full cleanup

It is possible that the club will undertake decontamination in accordance with the government's protocols. This means that the building will be closed for a period of time.

Close the building.

It is possible that the club will be closed the moment that a confirmed case is known. The club would then re-open when health authorities advise it safe.

If you have any questions about these measures, please contact Geoff Boucher.