Robyne has always gone the extra mile to support CDBA and DA, willingly taking on organisational, training and coaching roles. Over the years she has acted as a trainer/coach for DA, has trained and mentored many of the CDBA sweeps, has played an active role as an official and sweep at many regattas, both local and national and has been an active member of DA and CDBA committees. Robyne has served as Training Director of CDBA and Technical Director of DA and coached the Canberra Dragon Flyers Grandmaster Women’s crew competing at the 2010 World Club Crew Championships in Macau, China.

Robyne has played a key role in the DA Corporate Challenge Regattas, organising the coaching and training of these teams. She also has had extensive Officials experience as Boat Wrangler, Marshal, Chief Marshal and Water Umpire.

Robyne has worked on furthering her own skills as a coach and official and has willingly used and shared this knowledge.  She is a Level One Dragon boat Coach  (check), is an Accredited Sweep and Sweep Accreditor.

 She provides opportunities for people to enjoy dragon boating in a spirit of enthusiasm and involvement.

Robyne has demonstrated an enormous capacity and generosity of spirit in her ability to motivate and inspire others to enjoy dragon boating.  Her role with DA as coach has been inspirational.  Her open, friendly manner combined with her amazing level of patience has enabled her to deal positively with a diverse range of women, many who have never been involved in sport prior to their breast cancer diagnosis.

In her role of organising the coaching and training of teams in the DA Corporate Challenge Regattas, Robyne has positively introduced hundreds of new paddlers to the sport

Assists participants to reach their full potential 

Robyne’s unique contribution to DA members has been exceptional.  In her role as DA coach and sweep she has effectively encouraged a group of women with diverse needs, backgrounds, health status, physical capacities and constraints to persevere with dragon boating, developing their physical strength, technique and morale.  Her coaching is well planned and creatively delivered, maintaining interest and discipline whilst celebrating the fun and adventure of the sport.

Some of Robyne’s significant achievements in meeting these criteria have been:

• Coaching the survivor team that competed at the International DA Regatta at Caloundra in 2007.
• Coaching and sweeping for the Titans grand masters team to compete in Penang in 2008
• Coaching and sweeping for corporate teams in the Canberra Day and DA regattas
• Provides opportunities for participants to express their skills at all levels of performance

Robyne has truly demonstrated this capacity in her work with DA.  Each week she is required to work with a range of paddlers who paddle for many reasons.  She encourages unfit and sometimes unwell beginners to overcome their fears and just come out on the boat and give it a try, through to pushing stronger and more experienced paddlers to improve their skills through practice and feedback.