About Us

Dragon Boats Australia (DBA) is an organisation for the purpose of fostering and developing dragon boating as a sport in and throughout Australia.

This page contains information on the Dragon Boats Australia board members, as well as the history of the organisation.

DBA Board Members

The Board of DBA is comprised of 7 members of other dragon boat clubs throughout Australia.

To contact a board member directly, click on their name.

History of Dragon Boating and the DBA

Dragon boat with people
Members of Australian Defence Force Academy and Carlos Ung

The origins of dragon boating extend back to over 2000 years ago in China.

Qu Yuan, a poet and a patriot, protesting against corrupt government officials, drowned himself in the Mi-lo River. In China, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month dragon boat festival events are held in honour of Qu Yuan. This custom has been adopted by the western world.

In the 1970s, dragon boating was introduced to the western world. Dragon boat clubs were formed in London, Philadelphia and Sydney. The Hong Kong Tourist Association (now the Hong Kong Tourism Board) was behind the initial development of clubs in London and Philadelphia.

The Australian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South Wales were instrumental in the development of the sport in Australia. The chairman of the ACCC, Mr Arthur Lok Chang helped organise the first races at Lady Macquarie’s Chair, Sydney Harbour in 1976. He was a driving force in the sport until about 1984. In 1984, dragon boat races were shifted to Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Eventually, Dragon Boats Australasia (DBA) was formed. With the development of dragon boat clubs in the Sydney region, Dragon Boats Australasia set up Dragon Boats New South Wales (DBNSW).

Australia-New Zealand Challenge Cup
The perpetual trophy of the Australia – China Challenge Dragon Boats Race

In the early 1990s, DBA set up the Australia-New Zealand Challenge Cup. This event has been held four times since then. The last Australia-New Zealand Challenge Cup was held at the International Regatta Course in Penrith, Sydney in 2001.

In 1999, DBA Ltd was instrumental in setting up the Australia-China Challenge Cup. This event has been held on four occasions; twice in China and twice — 2000 and 2001 — in Sydney. If you are interested in more information on the Australia-China Challenge Cup, go to the link on the website.

In 1995, DBA Ltd entered an Australian dragon boat team in the first World Dragon Boat Championships held at Yueyang, Hunan Province, China. DBA Ltd entered another team at the second World Championships in Hong Kong in 1997. The Australian team came third in the Open 500 metre Grand Final.

After two years as a steering committee, Australia, under the umbrella of Dragon Boats Australasia, was accepted as an extraordinary member at the inaugural Congress of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). Australia also represented New Zealand at the Congress.

ADFA dragon boats being unloaded
Academy officer cadets unloading the two new Champion boats

In 1995, New Zealand became a member of the IDBF in its own right. With New Zealand becoming an IDBF member, DBA changed its name to Dragon Boats Australia Ltd and registered with the Australian Securities Commission (now Australian Securities and Investment Commission).

In late 1998, an attempt was made to remove DBA Ltd as a member of the IDBF. At the 1999 IDBF Congress in Nottingham, DBA was expelled from IDBF.

Senior executive members of IDBF allegedly breached the IDBF statutes to expel DBA Ltd. Dragon Boats Australasia/Dragon Boats Australia, from the time of its admission to IDBF and to its expulsion in 1999, had always maintained its financial status and adhered to IDBF rules.

At the 1999 IDBF Congress in Nottingham, the Congress allowed non-financial members to decide the future of DBA Ltd’s IDBF membership. DBA Ltd, a financial IDBF member, was denied legal representation and denied a democratic right to attend the Congress, which meant it could not put forward a case.

ADFA dragon boat
Carlos Ung with a new Champion boat

In 2000, DBA Ltd deregistered from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and registered with the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection (DOCEP—Association Registration) as an incorporated body in the Western Australia.

In 2003, DBA encouraged Ocky Oars of Bundaberg, Queensland to produce a wooden dragon boat paddle, which was eventually approved by the IDBF, and the organisation was issued with License No 3071 (ISRP).

In May 2004, DBA launched its Paddle Assistance Program and became the Australian agent for the IDBF approved composite dragon boat paddle, Trivium Model S-12, License No 3051. Through the sales of paddles and other dragon boating equipment, DBA contributes 10% of sales back into dragon boating.

DBA is exploring other options so Australia dragon boat clubs can purchase sporting equipment at a price cheaper than at normal commercial retail/wholesale outlets.