World Champion Takes the Oars: An exciting time for Pembroke Rowing

Mrs Martin is a World Champion, voted Australian Rower of the Year (2002), an extraordinary athlete, and a trusted teacher. She brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Pembroke School Rowing programme, which is enjoying success and accolades including a recent listing in The Advertiser’s ‘Top 25 students making waves in rowing’ (9 April).

Mr Mark Staker, Principal, said: “Mrs Martin has been a teacher at Pembroke since 2009 and her knowledge of the School and respect for the Pembroke community has been evidenced throughout her tenure. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter in the proud history of the Pembroke Rowing Programme, which dates back to the founding of rowing at King’s College in 1959.”

“We are confident that Sally will work closely with our rowers, coaches, and the wider community to ensure effective communication and to drive operational and strategic renewal of the programme. We have high hopes for the future of Pembroke Rowing, and having a Head of Rowing of the highest calibre will support not only the School’s continued success in rowing, but also will help to shape a respectful and inclusive culture that is supportive of all rowers and abilities.”

Sally Martin (nee Causby) made her first Australian senior representative appearance at the 2000 World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland. She then won a silver medal as part of the lightweight quad scull crew at the 2000 World Rowing Championships in Zagreb, Croatia and the following year won the gold medal and the lightweight quad scull world championship title in Lucerne, Switzerland. The crew, which also included Pembroke Old Scholar and Olympian, Amber Halliday OLY, set two world records in the process.

Sally partnered with Amber Halliday OLY again for her second world championship title in the double scull at the 2002 World Rowing Championships in Seville, Spain. The pair also won a silver medal in the double scull in Milan, Italy in 2003. Amber Halliday OLY said: “Sally's calm, encouraging, playful and insightful ways got the best out of me as a rower, and as a person. I'm sure all young Pembroke rowers will have the same experience.”

Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Martin said: “I am honoured and thrilled to be leading the Pembroke Rowing community into the future. I look forward to working closely with the program's excellent coaching staff and supportive parent group to deliver a fun and engaging program that develops our current and future rowers. I hope to draw on my personal experience in the sport to achieve on-water success for those athletes seeking to pursue a high-performance pathway at Pembroke School and beyond.”