For more than 15 years, local Tasmanian volunteer Harold Bain has been a familiar and steady presence at Lake Barrington International Rowing Course.
A father of three former school rowers, Harold first stepped into the rowing community when his children began competing.
What began as helping out on the bank evolved into boat driving, officiating, marshalling, and taking on whatever roles the sport needed.
“We started when the kids were young and then started boat driving,” Bain said.
“I’ve been a boat race official the last nine or ten years or so.”
Harold first volunteered at a Rowing Australia event when the Australian Rowing Championships came to Tasmania.
While he has long supported local regattas, the opportunity to help on a national stage felt natural.
Last year, Harold once again managed one of the Championships’ most logistically demanding areas: the car park.
It is a role that can easily go unnoticed by spectators but is critical to ensuring the venue runs smoothly.
“Basically as the cars come in, just park them up so they’re in an orderly fashion,” Bain said.
“If you let people go and park randomly, they just got to bump the system up. You’ve got to keep right on top of it.”
With uneven ground and several bush-style parking areas, Harold and his small crew rely on teamwork, communication, and constant vigilance.
“You need people who understand how you can park in that area because it’s not straightforward,” Bain said.
Despite the challenges, Harold recalls countless moments of appreciation from competitors and spectators last year.
“Everyone walks past and says thanks… especially when they were coming back to get their cars. ‘Thank you, see you tomorrow.’”
Harold and his wife, Karen, share a long partnership in volunteering.
Karen works primarily in the Bow Numbers and Entries office, and the pair often spend the week prior to the Championships preparing the venue.
For Harold, giving back to the course and community that supported his own family has become a source of pride.
Last year he spent the days between Tasmania’s Head of the River and ARC ensuring the course was ready.
“I just stayed up there for the following week before the Nationals and helped the boys set up everything and tidy the course up… I’ll do the same this time.”
In recent years, Harold has also noticed the power of welcoming new volunteers into the fold.
Whether they are cadets, parents, or local community members, he finds energy in watching others discover the experience for the first time.
“You just say ‘come and have a look. You’ll enjoy it,’” Bain said.
“Most of them are interested… they’ve never done it before and think, ‘Wow.’”
For anyone considering volunteering at a national event like the Australian Rowing Championships, Harold’s message is simple: give it a try.
The camaraderie, the variety of roles, and the chance to be part of something bigger make it worthwhile.
“It’s just one of those jobs that’s got to be done,” Bain said.
As the Championships continue to rely on hundreds of passionate volunteers each year, Rowing Australia celebrates individuals like Harold, people who quietly and consistently ensure the regatta runs seamlessly for athletes from across the country.
To sign up to become a volunteer, please visit Rowing Australia's website: https://rowingaustralia.com.au/arc-volunteers