Celebrating Paddling Volunteers: Laura Kleinrahm & Adam Hofmeyer

May 16th – 22nd is National Volunteer Week, and PaddleNSW is excited to celebrate a range of volunteers from across our paddling community. These are the people that go above and beyond, yet often behind the scenes, to ensure the smooth running of events, the beauty of our waterways and the continuity of our clubs. If there’s a volunteer you’d like to see featured, email admin@paddlensw.org.au.

Burley Griffin Canoe Club would like to recognise the efforts of the dynamic duo, Laura Kleinrahm and Adam Hofmeyer for the time they are giving to develop canoe polo locally and nationally.

Laura Kleinrahm

Woman in blue and yellow lifejacket with number three on it sitting in a canoe polo boat with legs over the side
Laura wears many hats and a big smile within Burley Griffin
Canoe Club. (Image: Carolyn J Cooper)

While Laura has been a member and convener of Canoe Polo at BGCC for several years, over the last 18 months she has transformed Canoe Polo in Canberra with her spicy banter and organisational skills. She has run a recruitment campaign and development program specifically for women, doubling the number of regular female participants, and followed through on these with regular B-grade training, rolling sessions, a social weekend away and more. This has resulted in an increase of up to 15 people regularly attending Canoe Polo. These new members have also attended events further afield, showing their dedication. Laura successfully applied for an ACT Government grant to support this new program with more equipment.

Both Laura and Adam continue to help rookie paddlers with equipment needs, including transportation of club boats to the pool and interstate competition, provision of their own equipment where there are Club shortages, and the coordination of personal equipment purchases to reduce transportation costs.

Laura organises regular local comps, she is active on the BGCC committee (not just regarding Canoe Polo), has advised the committee on club purchases – including 8 new bats. In addition, Laura contributes very actively as ACT rep on the Australian Canoe Polo committee, organising comps both in Canberra and beyond, including the inaugural Nambucca Heads comp where willing Canberraites travel to the warm from the depths of the Canberra winter.

In all of this she is ably assisted by Adam Hofmeyer.

Adam Hofmeyer

BGCC would also like to thank and recognise Adam for his coaching and officiating development. Adam coaches canoe polo multiple times a week from beginner, women, B-grade and open sessions and has encouraged a number of juniors to transition to A-grade by mentoring them in open division teams.

Group of men in blue t-shirts wearing gold medals
Adam far right as part of the ACT Canoe Polo Team which took out gold at the 2022 Australian National
Championships. (Image: Carolyn J Cooper)

Adam is generous with his time, patient and openly shares his expertise with everyone and can adapt his coaching to suit different skill levels. He is happy to transport equipment from the lake to the pool for rolling sessions and regularly volunteers at the club to sort and fix gear, as well as ordering new equipment to ensure all new members have gear that is safe and comfortable.

Adam has improved the standard of refereeing by sharing his knowledge and encouraging people to learn the rules and get accredited. He is always available to help competitions run smoothly, by setting up fields, fixing goals and even diving in to adjust lane ropes and weights.

One of Adam’s biggest achievements since joining BGCC was helping the ACT Team win the 2022 Australian National Championships in Adelaide – the first time ACT Men’s Team had ever won the nationals. Adam also attends BGCC committee meetings regularly, contributing to the club as a whole with a quiet measured attitude.

Both Laura and Adam live for Canoe Polo and their enthusiasm and professionalism is respected throughout the club especially within the canoe polo and also by the BGCC committee.

Learn more about Canoe Polo at Burley Griffin Canoe Club HERE

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