History

Dragon Boating WA Inc. (DBWA) History

The History of Chinese Dragon Boat Racing dates back to the 4th Century BC. It all began in the Chinese Kingdom of Chu, where there lived a poet/statesman named Qu Yuan (pronounced “Chu Yuan”). He was an honest man who was dearly loved by the people. The Government there, however, was a corrupt one, and many of the courtiers resented Qu Yuan’s talent. It is quite a story, but in the end, Qu Yuan threw himself into the Mi Lo River, where he perished. Local fishermen who witnessed this desperate act dashed to their boats and attempted to rescue him. They were unsuccessful, but in an attempt to prevent the hungry fish from eating the poet’s body, they beat the water furiously with their paddles. As a sacrifice to his spirit, they then threw rice dumplings wrapped in silk into the river. His tragic death is commemorated each year on the fifth day of the fifth moon when fishermen’s frantic attempt to save the poet is re-enacted in the form of dragon boat races.

Modern dragon boat racing on an International Scale began in 1976, when the then Hong Kong Tourist Association staged the First International Festival. Their lead was quickly taken up by Penang, Singapore, Macau, Taipei and Bangkok. Now, more than 90 countries worldwide enjoy the sport.

Western Australia

In June 1981, a team of Western Australian surf lifesavers known as “The Wombats” competed in the Singapore and Penang Dragon Boat Festivals, being the first dragon boat team to be formed in Australia. They did not form a Club.

Fremantle Swan Dragon Boat Club had the honour of being the first team from Australia to visit Hong Kong (1982 Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival) and Macau.

The Fremantle Dragon Boat Club had over seventy (70) members and was officially incorporated on the 20^th of February 1984.

The Western Australian Dragon Boat Racing Association was formed on the 28^th of November 1989, consisting of

• Chai Wan Fishermen’s Sports and Recreation Club (H.K.)
• Stanley Fishermen’s Sports and Recreation Club (H.K.)
•  Lamma Island Fishermen’s Sports and Recreation Club (Inc.)
• Cheung Chau Island Life Saving Association (H.K.)
• Chung Sing Life Saving Club (H.K.)
• Golden River Life Saving Club (H.K.)
• Aberdeen United Fishermen’s Dragon Boat Association.
• All Seasons Diving and Swimming Association Taipei.

In 1985, there was a greater interest in dragon boat racing throughout Australia. An Australian Championship was held in Melbourne (Moomba Festival) and was won by a crew from Sydney. Sydney Harbour saw Australia’s first International Dragon Boat Race Championship.

In WA, a new club was formed in Rockingham, and they held their own dragon boat race on the Rockingham Foreshore. This event was attended by the Rockham, Fremantle, Wombats and the Chung Wah Dragon Boat Club. 

The Western Australian Dragon Boat Association was formed on July 27, 1985. Inaugural member clubs were Fremantle, Wombats, Rockingham, and the Chung Wah Association. The new organisation was formed to coordinate and further dragon boat racing in Western Australia.

In April of 1987, a small dragon boat race was arranged by Perth International on the Canning River.

Dragon Boat Racing was beginning to gain strength by 1988. To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Chung Wah Dragon Boat Club held an International Dragon Boat Race Championship on the Swan River near Burswood Casino in February 1988. Invitations were extended and accepted by teams from Hong Kong (Shaukiewan) Lai, Taipei, and Mississippi U.S.A.

In April 1988, Kevin Jaques and Glenn Scherell visited Sydney to attend the Dragon Boats Australasia Annual General Meeting as representatives of the Western Australian Dragon Boat Association. It was agreed at that meeting that, due to distance, etc. Western Australia continues to maintain the status quo by organising all local dragon boat racing and championships, and accepting Overseas Invitations for racing.

On 1 May 1988, a small programme of dragon boat racing at Woodman’s Point was conducted by the Cockburn DBC, named the Catalpa Cup.

A new course, opposite the Sandringham Hotel, Rivervale, on October 9, 1988, was organised by Perth International DBC. This course had little interference from passing watercraft, therefore was ideal and resulted in some keen racing.

The 1989/90 Inaugural State Championships were organised and run by the Chung Wah Dragon Boat Club as a highlight of their Chinese New Year Celebrations. The venue, on the banks of the Swan River near the Burswood Casino.

The fourth regatta of the season was held in Bunbury and organised by the South West Chung Wah Association. It was well organised and an estimated 6,000 spectators watched the thrilling racing. Instead of the usual team classifications, there was only one and that was called a “special mix”. Each team had to comprise at least 6 women paddlers.

The 1991 State Championships were held on a new course adjacent to McCallum Park, South Perth. The course was over 500 metres paddling East to West.

The inaugural Augusta Regatta 21-22 March 1992 was the State's first dragon boat marathon with an 8.5-kilometre course. Eight crews lined up for the start down the Blackwood River, including the Bunbury Rowing Club, Fremantle Swan and Spirit of Bunbury.

In early 1989, several member clubs split from the WA Dragon Boat Association (WADBA) (Incorporated 28/11/1989) as a result of governance and constitutional issues and formed the Dragon Boat Federation of WA (now DBWA, incorporated 09/07/1999).

David Blackley was responsible for organising the first AusChamps in Perth in 1996 at Rous Head Harbour - Fremantle, WA.

David was also responsible for patching up the relationship between DBWA and WADBA, which enabled DBWA to move forward as the sole representative body for dragon boating in WA. He was President of DBWA from 1999 to 2004. 

Dragon Boating WA Inc. became a member of AusDBF in April 2002.

David Taylor Blackley (07/08/1933 - 27/06/2025).

Past Presidents

1999 - 2004  David Blackley

2004 - 2010  Vic Fazakerley

2010 – 2016  Kristin Priest

2016 – 2022  Barbara Clarkson

AusChamps

1996 (1st) AusChamps - Rous Head Harbour - Fremantle, WA

2004 (9th) AusChamps - Canning Bridge Rowing Course, Mount Pleasant, Perth, WA

2008 (13th) AusChamps - Champion Lakes, Armadale, WA

2015 (20th) AusChamps - Champion Lakes, Armadale, WA

2024 (27th) AusChamps - Champion Lakes, Armadale, WA

State Associations

WA Dragon Boat Clubs

Non-Registered Clubs

Wombats Dragon Boat Club (1980 – 198? )

Chung Wah Association (198? – 19??)

Please advise admin@dbwa.net.au of any errors or omissions.