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Our mission is to be the first ever surf rowing crew skippered by a woman to race the epic George Bass Surfboat Marathon.
It seems crazy to us that this feat hasn’t yet been achieved. The event has been running for 44 years this year....
but considering that less than 1% of surfboat skippers in this sport across Australia and New Zealand last year (yes, just 1%) were women....
It's not really that surprising.
Team Black Swans, together with the Women Surf Rowers Foundation is working to change that statistic.
Visible role models, support, access to equipment and mentoring, plus consistent positive public encouragment of the people and organisations that control these elements is critical.
Being vocal, being visible, pushing boundaries and taking action to achieve your dreams is what Team Black Swans is about.
We want to be visible role models for other women coming through.
We are raising money to help cover the costs to get to the start line of the George Bass Marathon to achieve a first for women in the sport.
We also want to help Women Surf Rowers Foundation build a legacy that will support other women to succeed and achieve their goals within the sport into the future.
Money raised through donations and sponsorship will go towards the costs of getting Team Black Swans to the start line, as well as to the purchase of new gear and equipment to support the development of female sweeps.
Plus it will go towards the establishment of a seed fund with the Women Surf Rowers Foundation.
This seed fund is being established to provide financial and equipment grants for women sweeps to help them on their pathway to success into the future.
Together we can smash the current 1% statistic.
We are hoping that through our efforts, we will be able to pay it forward, and pull other women up within the sport, with your generous assistance.
As lifesavers the women of Team Black Swans are every-day heroes giving their time to keep Australians safe on our beaches.
Can you help them to succeed in getting to the George Bass marathon, as well as giving other women a hand up within the sport of surf rowing in Australia?
Every bit counts!
Meet the Team
L-R: Natalie Dean; Fi Fewtrell; Raylene Symons; Jayne Freier; Lauren Abraham; Amanda Robb; Kate Vox; Gesine Berger
"Self-belief is such big thing for women, it allows you to step outside your comfort-zone. I’m often surprised by the number of people who make assumptions about my capablity simply because of my gender. I have an unshakeable belief that I can and will prevail over whatever obstacles arise and that confidence, that self-belief, is what allows me to overcome those doubters and get out there and have a go. I want to instill that kind of self-belief in other women and empower them to go out and achieve their dreams."
— Raylene Symons, Team Black Swans Skipper
Find out more about Team Black Swans
It seems crazy to us that this feat hasn’t yet been achieved. The event has been running for 44 years this year....
but considering that less than 1% of surfboat skippers in this sport across Australia and New Zealand last year (yes, just 1%) were women....
It's not really that surprising.
Team Black Swans, together with the Women Surf Rowers Foundation is working to change that statistic.
Visible role models, support, access to equipment and mentoring, plus consistent positive public encouragment of the people and organisations that control these elements is critical.
Being vocal, being visible, pushing boundaries and taking action to achieve your dreams is what Team Black Swans is about.
We want to be visible role models for other women coming through.
We are raising money to help cover the costs to get to the start line of the George Bass Marathon to achieve a first for women in the sport.
We also want to help Women Surf Rowers Foundation build a legacy that will support other women to succeed and achieve their goals within the sport into the future.
Money raised through donations and sponsorship will go towards the costs of getting Team Black Swans to the start line, as well as to the purchase of new gear and equipment to support the development of female sweeps.
Plus it will go towards the establishment of a seed fund with the Women Surf Rowers Foundation.
This seed fund is being established to provide financial and equipment grants for women sweeps to help them on their pathway to success into the future.
Together we can smash the current 1% statistic.
We are hoping that through our efforts, we will be able to pay it forward, and pull other women up within the sport, with your generous assistance.
As lifesavers the women of Team Black Swans are every-day heroes giving their time to keep Australians safe on our beaches.
Can you help them to succeed in getting to the George Bass marathon, as well as giving other women a hand up within the sport of surf rowing in Australia?
Every bit counts!
Meet the Team
L-R: Natalie Dean; Fi Fewtrell; Raylene Symons; Jayne Freier; Lauren Abraham; Amanda Robb; Kate Vox; Gesine Berger
"Self-belief is such big thing for women, it allows you to step outside your comfort-zone. I’m often surprised by the number of people who make assumptions about my capablity simply because of my gender. I have an unshakeable belief that I can and will prevail over whatever obstacles arise and that confidence, that self-belief, is what allows me to overcome those doubters and get out there and have a go. I want to instill that kind of self-belief in other women and empower them to go out and achieve their dreams."
— Raylene Symons, Team Black Swans Skipper
Find out more about Team Black Swans
Co-organizers4