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 Association is grateful for the support of following organisations:

Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol (RVCP)

Provides over 50 vessels and support personnel. Many of the vessels are used as checkpoints and also provide a radio network to allow for search and rescue if required.

Sydney Voluntary Aid Detachment of Australian Red Cross.

Provides our frontline first-aid, looking after paddler’s welfare before, during and after the event. The team also provides an invaluable pre-race preventative bandaging service at the start.

WICEN

Volunteers from WICEN run a secondary more extensive radio link. In many sections of the race, WICEN’s radio network links computers that process much of the data concerning the whereabouts of paddlers.

NSW Maritime Authority

Authorises river closure from the start to the Sackville Ferry. This is invaluable to the safety of paddlers and we are indebted to NSW Maritime for their continued support.

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

Provide massages and stretching exercises to assist paddlers and help prevent muscle problems. A massage at Wiseman’s Ferry has enabled many a paddler to make it to the finish.

Other Groups involved at checkpoints include:-

Lane Cove River Kayakers, River Canoe Club, Allan Jones Hawkesbury Canoe Club, Windsor Canoe Club, Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation, Prostate Foundation, 2nd Gordon Scout Group and Boys’ Brigade Australia – 146th NSW Company Blacktown. Some checkpoints are still run by ex-students of Outward Bound .

The Classic is very grateful for the support of all the volunteers. It is only through their assistance that the event continues to go from strength to strength.

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

  • Hawkesbury City Council - Start
  • National Parks – Checkpoint A
  • Pacific Park Waterski Gardens & Motor Cycle Park - Checkpoint C
  • Ken & Mandy Anderson for Checkpoint D
  • David Hooker for Checkpoint F
  • NSW Waterski Association for Checkpoint I
  • Roy Fox for Checkpoint K
  • Greg Rowell for Checkpoint O
  • Gosford City Council – Finish