Community Success Story: Renmark's 'Wharf to Woolshed Long Row' Event

Three hours northeast of Adelaide, nestled along the bank of the Murray River you'll find Renmark Rowing Club. Established in 1919, the club has built a long and proud history, and for the past nine years it has played host to a unique and innovative event that has captured the attention of local and interstate rowers alike – the Wharf to Woolshed Long Row.

Each year, participants undertake a casual 36km row from the township of Renmark to a 100-year-old woolshed (since repurposed into a local brewery), enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Murray River and its surroundings along the way. The focus isn't on racing and times, it's about meeting with new people and engaging with the local community amongst nature and some incredible rural landscapes.

Now in its ninth edition, Wharf to Woolshed Long Row has grown from what started as a casual row amongst around 30 friends in 2017 into a celebrated community event that has brought together over 300 participants from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, the ACT and New Zealand. The event is no longer simply a rowing activity, it has become a showcase of what can happen when a club places community at the centre of everything it does.

Crews spend between four-and-a-half and five hours rowing together along one of the Murray River's most picturesque stretches before finishing at the Woolshed Brewery. There are no winners or losers, no medals for crossing the line first.

Photo: James Braund

Instead, the focus is simple. Complete the journey together.

That approach has become one of the event's greatest strengths, and Renmark Rowing Club President Tony Townsend believes removing the competitive element has fundamentally changed the experience.

"We've never wanted it to be a race," Townsend said.

"It's about celebrating rowing for the sake of rowing. Every boat helps each other get to the finish, and that's created an incredibly supportive atmosphere."

Townsend has worked tirelessly over the years alongside an army of volunteers in delivering the event and was quick to acknowledge the ingenuity of Anna Petersen who brought the event to life back in 2017.

Back then the event looked different to what it is now, with Petersen - in collaboration with fellow rowers from Mildura - creating the event as a simple social outing amongst friends. Since then the Long Row has undergone consistent transformations, however the core purpose has stayed the same.

"The event challenges what people think rowing is about," Petersen said.

"It's not about winning or being the best. It's about participating, enjoying being on the river, reconnecting with friends and building community."

After reaching around 200 participants in 2025, the club saw an increase of around 50 per cent this year, welcoming more than 300 rowers from across Australia and overseas.

The event also includes a dinner held at Renmark Rowing Club following the Long Row, adding to the social connection and creating a new way to celebrate everyone who participated.

Rowing Australia President Stephen Donnelley attended the event and commented on the atmosphere which left a lasting impression.

"In a regional town of around 10,000 people, seeing more than 300 participants come together for this event is extraordinary.

"What stood out wasn't just the numbers. It was the excitement, the sense of belonging and the genuine pride the community has in making this event happen."

Perhaps the biggest reason for the event's success is a subtle but powerful shift in mindset.

Rather than seeing themselves as a rowing club within the community, Renmark Rowing Club consciously set out to become a fully inclusive community club.

That philosophy has changed everything.

"We've tried to encourage the perception that we're a community club first," Townsend explained.

"We have members who don't row at all, but they feel welcome, safe and valued because they know they contribute to something that's making the community stronger."

Photo: James Braund

That broader sense of ownership has helped build an army of volunteers who are the backbone of the club.

This year's event relied on around 65 volunteers supporting participants throughout the day, from preparing food stops along the river to managing safety boats, logistics and the evening celebration.

"My biggest reward is seeing 65 volunteers put their hand up to make this event happen," Townsend said.

Rowing SA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Swift has experienced the event first-hand over the years, and commends Townsend and Renmark for what they have created with the Long Row.

"The Wharf to Woolshed Long Row is one of the most unique and community-focused events on our rowing calendar. While it certainly celebrates endurance and achievement, what makes it truly special is the way it brings people together.

"Clubs put competition aside, share boats, equipment and crews, and come together as one rowing community. It is a wonderful reflection of the camaraderie, friendships and volunteer spirit that make our sport so special.

"The event also showcases the strength of regional rowing and the important role that clubs like Renmark Rowing Club play in connecting people through sport. It attracts participants from across South Australia, interstate and overseas, providing a significant boost to the local community while highlighting the Murray River as an iconic destination for rowing."

The community-first approach adopted by Renmark extends beyond the Wharf to Woolshed event.

One of the club's proudest partnerships has been its ongoing collaboration with St Francis of Assisi College, helping introduce rowing to students and families who may never have considered the sport.

Before the school opened in 2022, club representatives met with the incoming Principal to explore how rowing could become part of the school's identity and strengthen its connection with the Murray River and the wider community.

Today, the club and college are into their second Memorandum of Understanding, sharing boats, equipment and coaching expertise while working together to grow participation.

College Rowing Coach Stephanie Turnbull says the partnership has created opportunities that simply didn't exist before.

"Ball sports often dominate school sport," Turnbull said.

"Rowing provides another pathway for students to get involved in the sporting environment."

The program has also strengthened ties between the school and the wider community.

Students, parents and families who previously had no connection with rowing have become active members and volunteers within the club.

Importantly, both organisations allowed the partnership to evolve naturally rather than trying to follow a rigid blueprint.

"Not having all the answers at the beginning actually helped us," Turnbull said.

"It allowed us to build something that suited our community."

The Wharf to Woolshed Long Row has also earned recognition beyond the rowing community.

The event has received numerous accolades including Renmark Paringa Council 'Community Event of the Year' in 2023 and runner-up in the State Finals that same year. South Australian Governor Frances Adamson, who presented the award to the club, later accepted an invitation to participate in the Long Row herself, becoming another advocate for the event's unique community spirit.

Photo: James Braund

Working closely with local council and government partners, Renmark Rowing Club has secured infrastructure upgrades, including a new floating pontoon following flood damage, ensuring the club continues to grow alongside the community it serves.

Even with the success of the Long Row, Renmark is still looking at other ways they can engage with the local community.

The club is currently working with the Renmark Paringa Council to explore a twilight sprint regatta on the town's illuminated riverfront, transforming rowing into a spectator-friendly showcase featuring side-by-side racing, music, live commentary and live-streamed drone coverage.

The vision is to introduce even more people to rowing by taking the sport beyond its traditional audience.

The success that Renmark Rowing Club has experienced with these events hasn't happened overnight.

The club, backed by the tireless support of local volunteers and the broader community, placed its focus on trying new ideas and allowing them to progress naturally rather than pointing to strict targets or goals.

It's this approach that has helped Renmark in delivering their events, and they believe that other clubs can do the same simply by taking the plunge and trying something new.

By focusing on inclusion and participation, engaging with volunteers, building genuine partnerships with local schools and embracing the broader community, Renmark has proven what is possible.

They hope the lessons learned through the Long Row can encourage other clubs to think differently, strengthen local connections and create experiences that bring new people into rowing.

Photo: James Braund