Julia Veness-Collins
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Julia Veness-Collins
Julia Veness-Collins (also known as Julia Story; born 14 April 1985) is an Australian former representative rower who competed internationally for Australia in rowing for athletes with intellectual impairment. During her career, she has won multiple medals at the Virtus Global Games, represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships, and at Australian National Rowing Championships. She retired from competitive rowing in 2024.
Early life and education
Julia Veness-Collins was born on 14 April 1985 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Julia is diagnosed with Intellectual disability and Autism. She attended Arranoubai School and Presbyterian Ladies College in Sydney, where she developed an interest in sport from an early age; where she became involved in organised sport and later pursued rowing at a competitive level at state and national representative rowing programs.
Rowing career
Veness-Collins has represented Australia in women's rowing over a career spanning more than two decades. She was a member of Drummoyne Rowing Club and competed at state, national and international levels.
Throughout her career, she was coached by Chad King, Roxanne Vines, Simon, Nick Garrett and Kathleen Hextell, each contributing to different stages of her development as an athlete. During her rowing career, she represented New South Wales in state competition and achieved numerous podium finishes at national regattas.
At the Australian National Rowing Championships, Veness-Collins won multiple national championship titles over a nine-year period over 2004 to 2013. In 2004, Veness-Collins competed in Adaptive Women's Single and Double Scull, she came first in Sliding seat Catgeory 2B..[1]
In 2005, she came first in Single, Double and Four.[2]
In 2006, 2007 and 2009, Veness-Collins came first in Women's Adaptive Scull (Sliding seat category 2A).[3]
In 2008 and 2009, Veness-Collins competed in Women's Adaptive Single and Double Scull. She came 1st in Single and 2nd in Double.[4]
In 2011, she came 1st in National Double Scull[5]
In 2013, Veness-Collins came 2nd National in Para-rowing LTA Mixed Coxed Four[6] and 1st in State Single Scull.
In 2014, Veness-Collins came 2nd in Nationals LTA Mixed Double Scull.[7]
In 2015, Veness-Collins placed 3rd in Nationals in Para-rowing LTA Mixed Cox Four[8] and 3rd in LTA Mixed Double Scull.[8]
International Rowing Career
Julia represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships in 2003 and 2006. In 2003, Veness-Collins competed in PR3 Adaptive Mixed Coxed Four (formerly known as Adaptive Mixed Coxed Four) where they won Gold.[9] In 2006, Veness-Collins competed in LTAMX4+ and placed fourth.[10]
In 2019 and 2022, Veness-Collins competed at the INAS Virtus Global Games, International competition for elite athletes with Intellectual impairment. In 2019, Veness-Collins won Gold in Women's Double Scull 1000m, Mixed Four (Coxed), Women's Single Scull, and won silver in Women's Double scull 500m[11]. Additionally, she had broken the Indoor rowing World Records in 2km and 500m that year.
In 2023, Veness-Collins won gold in Women's 1000m and bronze in Women's Double 500m. She also set a new world record in the Women's 500m (PR3 II).
She retired from competitive rowing in 2024 after more than twenty years of competition.
Life after rowing
Following her retirement from competition, Veness-Collins has remained actively involved in rowing through coaching and volunteer work.
She volunteers at rowing regattas and assists in developing future para-rowers at Drummoyne Rowing Club alongside coach Kathleen Hextell. She continues to advocate for inclusive participation in rowing and supports opportunities for athletes with disability.
Outside rowing, Veness-Collins works as a swimming instructor, teaching young children water safety and swimming skills.
Awards and Achievements
In 2003, Julia Veness-Collins was named NSW Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and in 2017, she received the Rowing NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.
References
- ↑ "Womens adaptive scull summary". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "Womens adaptive scull summary". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "Womens adaptive scull summary". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "Womens adaptive double scull summary". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-21.
- ↑ "2011 National Championships, Australian Rowing History". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "2013 National Championships, Australian Rowing History". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "2014 National Championships, Australian Rowing History". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "2015 National Championships, Australian Rowing History". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ "Australia's World Championship Medallists - Australian Rowing History". www.rowinghistory-aus.info. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "Rowing World Championships 2006 - Paralympics". paralympichistory.org.au. Retrieved 2026-08-20.
- ↑ "2019 INAS Global Games Regatta". Rowing Queensland. Access 22 August 2026. Retrieved 22 August 2026. Check date values in:
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