Despite swells, seasickness and blistered hands, eight South Coast women – including three from Kiama Surf Club – have rowed across Bass Strait in a surf boat to set an epic all-time record.

Their efforts are being celebrated at an event in Berry to contribute to the reason they did it – to raise funds for Red Nose Australia (an organisation which funds research into and offers support to people affected by the death of a baby or child through miscarriage or SIDS).

After meeting up with each other nine months ago on Zoom to plan their strategy for undertaking the trip, over seven days the women rowed a gruelling 320km across Bass Strait, from Port Welshpool in Victoria to Little Musselroe Bay in north-east Tasmania.

Half suffered sea sickness, but continued to row like champions. Over the week they slept on the sands at a couple of islands in the Strait.

In making their crossing, the women set a world record for the longest one day surfboat row – 89km in 12 hours.

“All the girls are surf life saver rowers,” says Elle Pannowitz, who at 50, was the oldest of the MusselRowers crew. She lives in Berry, but is a member of the Kiama SLSC, along with Katherine McKeever and Anna McGlynn.

“It takes a certain mindset to be able to finish that crossing. But we were determined girls, wanting to make a difference and doing it for a good cause. I had such a ball.”

Anna says she felt great after the row, “apart from blistered hands and an infected toe. It was such an amazing trip in terms of the sights, rowing, and lovely people to share the experience with.

“Red Nose/SIDS is such a great cause it made the trip even more special.”

Elle is a nurse and midwife who now trains doctors in robotic surgery.

“As a midwife, I remember looking after the mum of twins and at three months they lost one of their children. It was so devastating. I couldn’t see any better cause than raising money for this kind of support and research,” she says.

“The common denominator was Rob Pollock [OAM, Eurobodalla Councillor] from Moruya who I had raced against and trained with 20 years ago, and Beck Hamilton [Women’s Surf Rowers most decorated and longest-running female sweep] from Kiama Surf Lifesaving, who I also raced against and rowed with about 20 years ago.

“Rob said he was looking for some ‘tough old birds’ to do the crossing. And I thought, I fit that description! He already had five girls [Taryn Carver, Ashley Bujeya, Topaz Eaton, Michelle Cottington and Shannon Small] from his area who he knew were capable.”

She credits Beck Hamilton with the resurgence of boat rowing at Kiama, “She grew up in Jamberoo local and is now back at Kiama Surf Club, building the boating fraternity back up from scratch, making it a force to be reckoned with.”

Anna McGlynn and Elle Pannowitz from KSLSC

The Berry Red Nose fundraiser (details below) is being held to celebrate this amazing feat of ‘girlpower for a good cause’.

“Elle is a stalwart of Berry,” says Kate Dezarnaulds, WorkLife Founder and President of the Berry Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

“She’s always happy to help people having a tough time. She is an incredible role model and one of the most courageous and modest women I know. I am petrified of the open sea - to think that they spent 7 days out there in a surf boat blows my mind.”

Donations can still be made at: https://fundraising.rednose.org.au/musselrowers

Thursday 2 March, SocialLife, Albert St, Berry, 6-7.30pm. $50 covers a (mock or) cocktail and platters ($40 goes to SIDS). Dress in red.