From 11 beginners to a rowing crew: Geraldine High School’s emerging programme takes flight
When Geraldine High School first took to the water, nobody quite knew what they were getting themselves into. The school’s rowing programme began with a series of conversations about why Geraldine students weren’t rowing, despite the school community regularly travelling to regattas to support family members already involved in the sport.
“We thought, why not bring a whole lot of kids with us?” says Geraldine High School Business Manager and rowing manager Rae Gaskin.
The answer was 11 students - ten girls and one boy - who signed up for the school’s inaugural season.
What followed was a steep learning curve, plenty of early mornings, a few mishaps on the water and, ultimately, a group of young people who discovered far more than how to row.
Now, after an encouraging first season, the programme has doubled in size and is preparing for its second year with the support of the Milford Foundation Emerging Schools Rowing Scholarship.
Once again this year the Milford Foundation is backing the next generation of school rowers - this time doubling their sponsorship to $20,000 - $10,000 for Ngāruawāhia High School in the North Island and $10,000 for Geraldine High School in the South Island. The funding will help both emerging programmes cover some of the costs of getting off the ground and, most importantly, open the door for more young people to experience rowing.
Following the success of Hillmorton High School’s scholarship-supported programme last season, the Milford Foundation chose to continue the scholarship and expand it to two schools - one in the North Island and one in the South Island.
“We saw how effective it was last year,” says Milford Foundation General Manager Lucy Doyle. “This year we really wanted to reach more young people, so we wanted to give that opportunity to two schools.”
Geraldine’s application stood out to the foundation.
“There was so much ambition in their plan for these young people,” Lucy says. “We’re so excited to be able to see them fly.”
The Geraldine squad, coach and manager with Milford Foundation representatives and David Meates - Rowing NZ Board Member (far left). Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Starting a rowing programme from scratch comes with its challenges.
Unlike established programmes, Geraldine’s first-year rowers had no previous experience to draw on. The coaching team had to start with the basics - from learning how to handle a boat to developing the skills needed to race.
“We had a really long learn-to-row time in our programme because no one knew what they were doing,” says coach Jeremy Gaskin.
For the students, even getting into a boat for the first time could be daunting.
“My first time, I thought I was going to tip,” first-time rower Annie admits. “If a little wave came, I thought the whole boat was just going to capsize.”
Fellow rower Paris was encouraged to give rowing a go by a friend.
“She talked me into it, and then when I came out here I really, really enjoyed it.”
The first regattas were very much part of the learning process.
“There were a few crabs, a few mishaps, but overall it went really well,” says Charlee.
For Rae, watching the students progress throughout the season was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
“We went to our first regatta with a bunch of kids who had never rowed before. They didn’t know what happened,” she says.
“By the end of the season, they were amazing, and they are all very accomplished rowers now. We couldn’t be prouder.”
One of the standout moments came at Maadi, when Charlee and Justina won their first medal.
“It was just such an emotional moment,” says teammate Terrilee. “We were all running down the side screaming and applauding them the whole way, and we were just so proud of them.”
Charlee Cooper and Justina Courage making history - winning the first-ever medal at the first-ever Maadi for the school in the Girls’ U18 Novice Double Sculls. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
For Geraldine’s rowers, the biggest impact of the programme has gone well beyond what happens on the water.
The programme has created a strong crew culture built around respect, encouragement, and a sense that everyone has a role to play.
“It’s not a team without other people,” says Charlee.
The mostly female squad has also given the coaching team an opportunity to watch the students grow in confidence.
For Jeremy, one of the most noticeable changes was seeing the students become comfortable enough to speak up and challenge their coaches.
“It was pretty cool seeing them go from almost being a little bit afraid of me and Dave Earl, the other coach, to sharing some pretty direct feedback with us during the season on the water,” he says.
For the students, rowing has become a way to test themselves and discover what they are capable of.
“Rowing has taught me that I’m strong, and that no matter what happens, I can get through it,” says Paris.
Paige has found the sport has changed the way she sees herself.
“Rowing has taught me that I am more capable and I can keep going.”
And while the early starts aren’t always easy, they are part of the lesson.
“Early mornings are tough,” Jeremy says. “But out of that, our squad understood that that’s when you’ve got to do the work.”
Matilda puts it simply: “Nothing comes easy. You have to work really hard, and you have no limits.”
With the squad doubling in size this season, the Milford Foundation scholarship comes at an important time.
Rowing is a resource-intensive sport, and for a new programme, there is a long list of equipment and costs to consider.
The $10,000 grant will help Geraldine High School purchase some of the equipment it needs and reduce some of the barriers to participation.
“We don’t think that rowing should be just down to who can afford to row,” says Lucy. “We wanted to make sure that we were reaching more young people and giving more people that opportunity to get behind what is an awesome sport for teamwork, capability and confidence.”
PHOTO: PICTURE SHOW LTD
The programme also continues to rely heavily on the support of Timaru Rowing Club and the wider Geraldine community.
“We’ve got an amazing bunch of parents who had no idea what they were signing up for because no one had done it before at Geraldine,” says Rae.
“So they’ve come along for the crazy ride as well.”
That community support, combined with the scholarship, is helping the programme build a stronger foundation for the future.
For Holly, the hope is that the programme will continue to grow alongside the students.
“We hope that when we’re seniors, the Geraldine rowing programme will grow, and that we’ll have lots of support from friends, family and the school.”
For the Milford Foundation, that is ultimately what the Emerging Schools Scholarship is about.
“At the Milford Foundation, we’re all about helping young people to thrive, and we see sport as a tremendously powerful vehicle for that,” says Lucy.
“Through sport, and particularly through a sport like rowing, they get to learn teamwork, they get to learn leadership, they build resilience.
“These are really incredible skills that will set a young person up for success way beyond the sport itself.”
For Geraldine High School, the first season has already shown what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to try something new.
From 11 beginners who weren’t sure they could stay upright in a boat, to a growing squad preparing for another season, the programme is gathering momentum.
And if the students have anything to say about it, the next chapter is going to be just as exciting.
“I’d say, yeah, definitely just do it,” says Milly. “It’s so much fun, and the team environment we have is just awesome.”
The Milford Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Milford Asset Management. Its vision is for every young person in Aotearoa New Zealand to reach their potential, whatever their starting point.
The Foundation invests in opportunities, skills and support that help young people build secure, resilient and fulfilling lives. Its approach balances impact today with impact tomorrow. Fifty percent of donations are invested and grown to support future generations, while the remaining fifty percent is used to fund grants, partnerships and initiatives that support young people today.
Through funding, partnerships and the expertise of Milford people, the Foundation helps create better futures for young New Zealanders.
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From 11 beginners to a rowing crew: Geraldine High School’s emerging programme takes flight
When Geraldine High School first took to the water, nobody quite knew what they were getting themselves into. The school’s rowing programme began with a series of conversations about why Geraldine students weren’t rowing, despite the school community regularly travelling to regattas to support family members already involved in the sport.
“We thought, why not bring a whole lot of kids with us?” says Geraldine High School Business Manager and rowing manager Rae Gaskin.
The answer was 11 students - ten girls and one boy - who signed up for the school’s inaugural season.
What followed was a steep learning curve, plenty of early mornings, a few mishaps on the water and, ultimately, a group of young people who discovered far more than how to row.
Now, after an encouraging first season, the programme has doubled in size and is preparing for its second year with the support of the Milford Foundation Emerging Schools Rowing Scholarship.
Once again this year the Milford Foundation is backing the next generation of school rowers - this time doubling their sponsorship to $20,000 - $10,000 for Ngāruawāhia High School in the North Island and $10,000 for Geraldine High School in the South Island. The funding will help both emerging programmes cover some of the costs of getting off the ground and, most importantly, open the door for more young people to experience rowing.
Following the success of Hillmorton High School’s scholarship-supported programme last season, the Milford Foundation chose to continue the scholarship and expand it to two schools - one in the North Island and one in the South Island.
“We saw how effective it was last year,” says Milford Foundation General Manager Lucy Doyle. “This year we really wanted to reach more young people, so we wanted to give that opportunity to two schools.”
Geraldine’s application stood out to the foundation.
“There was so much ambition in their plan for these young people,” Lucy says. “We’re so excited to be able to see them fly.”
The Geraldine squad, coach and manager with Milford Foundation representatives and David Meates - Rowing NZ Board Member (far left). Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Starting a rowing programme from scratch comes with its challenges.
Unlike established programmes, Geraldine’s first-year rowers had no previous experience to draw on. The coaching team had to start with the basics - from learning how to handle a boat to developing the skills needed to race.
“We had a really long learn-to-row time in our programme because no one knew what they were doing,” says coach Jeremy Gaskin.
For the students, even getting into a boat for the first time could be daunting.
“My first time, I thought I was going to tip,” first-time rower Annie admits. “If a little wave came, I thought the whole boat was just going to capsize.”
Fellow rower Paris was encouraged to give rowing a go by a friend.
“She talked me into it, and then when I came out here I really, really enjoyed it.”
The first regattas were very much part of the learning process.
“There were a few crabs, a few mishaps, but overall it went really well,” says Charlee.
For Rae, watching the students progress throughout the season was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.
“We went to our first regatta with a bunch of kids who had never rowed before. They didn’t know what happened,” she says.
“By the end of the season, they were amazing, and they are all very accomplished rowers now. We couldn’t be prouder.”
One of the standout moments came at Maadi, when Charlee and Justina won their first medal.
“It was just such an emotional moment,” says teammate Terrilee. “We were all running down the side screaming and applauding them the whole way, and we were just so proud of them.”
Charlee Cooper and Justina Courage making history - winning the first-ever medal at the first-ever Maadi for the school in the Girls’ U18 Novice Double Sculls. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
For Geraldine’s rowers, the biggest impact of the programme has gone well beyond what happens on the water.
The programme has created a strong crew culture built around respect, encouragement, and a sense that everyone has a role to play.
“It’s not a team without other people,” says Charlee.
The mostly female squad has also given the coaching team an opportunity to watch the students grow in confidence.
For Jeremy, one of the most noticeable changes was seeing the students become comfortable enough to speak up and challenge their coaches.
“It was pretty cool seeing them go from almost being a little bit afraid of me and Dave Earl, the other coach, to sharing some pretty direct feedback with us during the season on the water,” he says.
For the students, rowing has become a way to test themselves and discover what they are capable of.
“Rowing has taught me that I’m strong, and that no matter what happens, I can get through it,” says Paris.
Paige has found the sport has changed the way she sees herself.
“Rowing has taught me that I am more capable and I can keep going.”
And while the early starts aren’t always easy, they are part of the lesson.
“Early mornings are tough,” Jeremy says. “But out of that, our squad understood that that’s when you’ve got to do the work.”
Matilda puts it simply: “Nothing comes easy. You have to work really hard, and you have no limits.”
With the squad doubling in size this season, the Milford Foundation scholarship comes at an important time.
Rowing is a resource-intensive sport, and for a new programme, there is a long list of equipment and costs to consider.
The $10,000 grant will help Geraldine High School purchase some of the equipment it needs and reduce some of the barriers to participation.
“We don’t think that rowing should be just down to who can afford to row,” says Lucy. “We wanted to make sure that we were reaching more young people and giving more people that opportunity to get behind what is an awesome sport for teamwork, capability and confidence.”
PHOTO: PICTURE SHOW LTD
The programme also continues to rely heavily on the support of Timaru Rowing Club and the wider Geraldine community.
“We’ve got an amazing bunch of parents who had no idea what they were signing up for because no one had done it before at Geraldine,” says Rae.
“So they’ve come along for the crazy ride as well.”
That community support, combined with the scholarship, is helping the programme build a stronger foundation for the future.
For Holly, the hope is that the programme will continue to grow alongside the students.
“We hope that when we’re seniors, the Geraldine rowing programme will grow, and that we’ll have lots of support from friends, family and the school.”
For the Milford Foundation, that is ultimately what the Emerging Schools Scholarship is about.
“At the Milford Foundation, we’re all about helping young people to thrive, and we see sport as a tremendously powerful vehicle for that,” says Lucy.
“Through sport, and particularly through a sport like rowing, they get to learn teamwork, they get to learn leadership, they build resilience.
“These are really incredible skills that will set a young person up for success way beyond the sport itself.”
For Geraldine High School, the first season has already shown what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to try something new.
From 11 beginners who weren’t sure they could stay upright in a boat, to a growing squad preparing for another season, the programme is gathering momentum.
And if the students have anything to say about it, the next chapter is going to be just as exciting.
“I’d say, yeah, definitely just do it,” says Milly. “It’s so much fun, and the team environment we have is just awesome.”
The Milford Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Milford Asset Management. Its vision is for every young person in Aotearoa New Zealand to reach their potential, whatever their starting point.
The Foundation invests in opportunities, skills and support that help young people build secure, resilient and fulfilling lives. Its approach balances impact today with impact tomorrow. Fifty percent of donations are invested and grown to support future generations, while the remaining fifty percent is used to fund grants, partnerships and initiatives that support young people today.
Through funding, partnerships and the expertise of Milford people, the Foundation helps create better futures for young New Zealanders.
