Despite being the oldest member of the Australian team at the world cup in Poznan, Poland, the Huon 29-year-old is making her senior debut in the freshly-classified Olympic boat class women’s four.

Along with Olympians Lucy Stephan and Molly Goodman and under-23 women’s pair bronze medallist Katrina Werry, they became one of eight Australian crews to reach A-finals.

Hawe and Goodman doubled up by winning the women’s pair repechage to progress to the A-final.

“The only other international experience of racing that I have had is back in 2005 at the juniors and the senior world cups are of course a big step up in competition,” Hawe said.  

“The professionalism of the athletes around the boat park, the racing, it’s a great experience. It’s exciting to have performed well here, with the women’s four being our priority boat.”

Hawe admitted that the event was about developing as a crew, adding: “We want to build from each of our rows and learn from the process rather than focus on the results. It’s obviously great doing well and making the A-finals, but it’s about bettering ourselves as we go along, race by race.”

Hawe’s Huon clubmate Georgia Nesbitt, 25, teamed up with Amy James in the lightweight double scull and finished third. Needing a top-four finish in the repechage, they came fifth and then second in the B-final.