Rowing for All

John and Jeanette Gasson are spending $10 million to get public school kids rowing

Transcript

00:00Our mission here is to put 1,000 public school kids through rowing.

00:04Typically, rowing is not really available to the general population

00:08and we've got a passion for doing that,

00:12for bringing rowing to the general population.

00:15My background's from a public school

00:17and I just feel so lucky to have had this opportunity

00:19to be able to have the resources to build this incredible facility.

00:23Generally, rowing is only offered in the private school sector

00:27and if you look at even the Olympic team this year,

00:32most of them are from private schools.

00:35We just feel it's a lost opportunity.

00:38Also, it's a great team sport.

00:40You know, it's the ultimate team sport.

00:42If you don't show up for your eight,

00:44the eight can't go rowing in the eight.

00:47So there's a big...

00:49You know, there's a lot of responsibility for your team-mates to show up.

00:54Also, there's no stars in rowing.

00:56Unlike a football team, you might have, you know,

00:59the tri-scorer or the goal-kicker.

01:02In rowing, it's all about working together as one.

01:06And it's in a beautiful location, Black Mountain Peninsula,

01:09such an under-utilised resource in the national capital.

01:12And hopefully Red Shed will help put Black Mountain on the map as well

01:16and really get the public to understand what you can do around the lake edge.

01:20A lot of Canberrans have never actually seen Canberra from the middle of the lake.

01:25And that's a great experience.