#ARC25 Volunteer of the Day: Jeremy Parsons

Volunteer of the day: Jeremy Parsons

Jeremy Parsons is a passionate father and volunteer who has recently stepped up to become an Australian umpire. 

Jeremy has been involved in rowing since his daughter started the sport in 2001, where he has transitioned from pulling tinnies out of the water after coaching, coordinating and volunteering, and spending the past 12 years as a Boat Race Official (BRO). 

From Queensland, Jeremy has been a state (Level 2) umpire for 10 years and recently decided to progress to become a national (Level 3) umpire to assist Rowing Australia in their large-scale events such as #ARC25.

This entails undergoing three exams, the final one of which he completed on day three of the regatta. Jeremy would encourage any other state-level umpires to consider taking the next step and becoming a Level 3 umpire.

Interacting with athletes, particularly at a school level, is a key highlight for Jeremy as he thoroughly enjoys watching how they progress through the sport.

It was just the other day at #ARC25 when he was on boat weighing duties when an athlete recognised him as the BRO who helped her fix her rigger when it came off at the start line many years ago.

It’s experiences like these which demonstrates the impact officials can have on athletes’ experiences and their perception of the sport. 

“It’s then when you realise you actually have made a difference and an impression,” Jeremy said.

Jeremy is passionate about ensuring his efforts and positive attitude as an official makes rowing and racing an enjoyable experience for young athletes, so they feel encouraged to progress with rowing.

Jeremy sees umpiring as a great opportunity to get closer to the action and put time and effort into a sport that gives so much.

He encourages anyone who may be considering getting involved to do so.

Stay connected and immerse in the action at #ARC25. For real-time updates and live results, click here. Don’t miss a moment – watch the action on our live stream as it unfolds on our YouTube channel. For more information, visit our official #ARC25 Website. Photos from the regatta are available at: https://www.australianrowingimages.com/

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