Support Organisations

The continued success of the Classic is reliant upon the dedicated support of a number of volunteer organisations who give up their time to ensure the safety of paddlers, volunteers and landcrew alike.

The Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Race Committee and Association are grateful for the support of following organisations:

Marine Rescue NSW (Hawkesbury)

Provides 13 vessels (many of which are privately owned by MRNSW members) and support personnel. Many of the vessels are used as safety checkpoints on the stretch of the Hawkesbury from Wisemans Ferry to the FINISH at Mooney Mooney. They also provide a radio network to allow for search and rescue if required. On top of all that they manage the FINISH.

WICEN NSW

(A specialist emergency communications squad of the VRA Rescue NSW)

Amateur Radio volunteers from WICEN provide the backbone radio network and operators used to notify checkpoints of the progress of each canoe down the course.

Transport for New South Wales (Maritime)

The Classic is conducted under an Aquatic Licence issued by Transport for NSW (Maritime). The licence allows for “exclusive use” of the section of the Hawkesbury River from the START at Macquarie Park, Freeman’s Reach (Windsor) to Ulinbawn Ski Park, Sackville, our safety checkpoint D. This is invaluable to the safety of paddlers and we are indebted to Maritime for their continued support.

On water support is also provided by Maritime’s Boating Service Officer, Jon Moran.

NSW State Emergency Service

Provide assistance with rescue vessels, staff checkpoints and parking control at major checkpoints. They also provide safety vessels to control the car-ferry cable crossings.

The Sports Physiotherapy Group

Nick Stepkovitch, supported by the APA’s Sports Physiotherapy Group provide massages and stretching exercises to assist paddlers and help prevent muscle problems. Nick and his team are available at START, Safety Checkpoint D (Sackville), Safety Checkpoint I (Wisemans Ferry) and at FINISH (Mooney Mooney). A massage at Wiseman’s Ferry has enabled many a paddler to make it to the finish. Nick, in partnership with Rex WIllard, a qualified Remote Area First Aider, provides First Aid throughout the course.

Paddle NSW/Paddle Australia

Paddle Australia is very generously supporting the Classic this year. For the first time we will be using the Webscorer registration platform which will be familiar to our competitive paddlers.

PaddleNSW is your organisation. It is run by a keen group of volunteers, with limited administrative support, dedicated to providing member paddlers in NSW and the ACT with the best opportunities to pursue their sport or recreation.

Volunteer Support groups

Other Groups involved at checkpoints include:-

Lane Cove River Kayakers
River Canoe Club
Windsor Canoe Club
Central Coast Canoe Club
Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation
Nepean Blue Mountains Prostate Support Group
2nd Gordon Scout Group
Boys’ Brigade Australia – 146th NSW Company Blacktown.
Some checkpoints are still run by ex-students of Outward Bound.

Landowners

Thank you to the following landowners who have donated the use of their land as safety checkpoints –

Hawkesbury City Council - Start
National Parks – Checkpoint A
Riverside Oaks Golf Club - Checkpoint B
Pacific Park Waterski Gardens & Motor Cycle Park - Checkpoint C
Ken Anderson’s Ulinbawn Ski Park for Checkpoint D
Dargle Water Ski Park for Checkpoint E
Dragons Bay Ski Park for Checkpoint F
Cliftonville Lodge Resort - Checkpoint G
NSW Waterski Association for Checkpoint I
Roy and Primrose Fox at The Missions 1937 for Checkpoint K
Alex Savtchenko for Low Tide Pit-stop
Central Coast Council – Finish