Otago girls fundraise their way to Maadi

Otago Girls High School trained hard as they inched their way towards the Maadi Regatta, but it took more to get here.

The students, parents and coaches found many ways to fundraise for their trip from Dunedin.

Karl Morgan, he coach, said they would take any opportunity for funding.

The team took a lot of different approaches to raise the money including raffles, quiz nights and selling chocolates.

Other creative ways of raising money included knocking down chimneys and re-laying the roofs.

They also soldpine cones, held  a chef’s toolbox evening, and sold that well-known Southland specialty, cheese rolls.

Maryanne Anderson, camp mum, said she had sold 98 dozen of the cheese rolls, which are toasted cheese rolls with onion soup mix.

They try to save money by bringing the minimum number of boats they can and Otago Boys High has helped by taking boats in their load.

The two coaches, Karl and Michela Verwey, believe any student should have the chance to row and said the girls deserved to come to to Maadi.

“These girls should go, can go and deserve to go,” Karl said.

Although they said they are not a rowing school, they would like to see the students enjoy the sport.

“We try to make it accessible for any girl to row,” Michela said.

After 11 seasons, Karl will not be coaching the team next year but Michela will stay and coach. “I’m excited,” she said.

They competed in two double sculls, two quad sculls and Karley Wilden-Palms competed in the single sculls and came first in the C final.