About the Waterdragons
A very special message
A message from Club President Marilyn to new paddlers and anyone out there wondering if they should give dragon boating a go.
Our origins
A group of enthusiastic, fearless members launched a dragon boat, in late 2005, on Shoalhaven River in Nowra, setting in motion our evolution from tiny club to regional dragon boating powerhouse with an impressive trophy room.
Our locations
We have regional (Nowra) and metropolitan (Sydney) training hubs, with experienced coaches and sweeps based at both. Our clubhouse is adjacent to Shoalhaven River in Nowra. Our metro crew trains on Rozelle Bay (due to Bank St re-development).
Our focus
We are a competitive club with crews training to race dragon boats in regattas across NSW as well as nationally and internationally. Our elite paddlers regularly represent NSW and Australia (Auroras) with great success.
Our name
Waterdragons are subaquatic lizards native to eastern Australia. Perfectly adapted to their environment, they’re often found swimming in coastal waterways or basking on the banks of rivers and creeks.
Our logo
In 2025, we rebranded, putting an eastern waterdragon at the centre of our club’s logo and identity. Colourful, vibrant and native to Australia’s south-east coast, it’s a perfect fit with our club.
Our board
President
Marilyn Prothero
Vice-president
Robert Smith
Treasurer
Deb Kunz
Board member
Fiona Ellicott
Board member
Tracy Hillman
Board member
Leanne Janos
Board member
Carey-Ann Jackson
Thinking of becoming a club member?
All the information you need – fees, training times, what we provide, and more – is available in our easy-to-read trifold brochure (which you can download here). Or if you’re thinking of trying dragon boating, visit our Getting Started page.
Our coaching team
Peter Robinson: Head coach
Rosie o’ Donnell: Sydney coach
Christine Mitchell: Nowra coach
Carol Fentoullis: Sydney coach
Peter Phillips: Nowra coach
Congratulations to our two newest Life Members
Congratulations to Peter “Robbo” Robinson and Wendy Westaway who were recognised, at our August 2025 AGM, for their significant contributions to our club, and each appointed as Life Members. Watch this space for our forthcoming section dedicated to all five of our club’s Life Members.
Our history
| Our beginnings The club was established in 2005, in Nowra, by a group of enthusiastic paddlers of various ages, backgrounds and fitness levels. The club was incorporated in 2006. | The early years Regular training sessions on Shoalhaven River, regular social events, and a shared love for all things dragon boating. |
| Masterful stuff Masters and Grand Masters crews add win after win at State and National competitions in which they compete. | Hong Kong, 2012 36 Waterdragons medal in 8 events at the IDBF 8th Club Crew World Championships, including securing a Grand Master Women’s gold. |
| Ravenna, 2014 Grand Masters Mixed crew took on the best international clubs at the IDBF 9th Club Crew World Championships, earning bronze. | Adelaide, 2016 At AusChamps 2016, the Grand Masters crew wins bronze in the 2km event. |
| Albury-Woodonga, 2017 3 golds at AusChamps in the 2km by our crews in the Senior B Mixed, Women’s and Open’s categories. Gold for the open and silver for the Mixed crews in the 500m events. | NSW State Champions, 2018 Senior B crew are NSW State Champions, and we again qualify for the IDBF Club Crew World Championship in Szeged, Hungary. |
| France interrupted, 2020 Senior C crew qualifies for the IDBF Club Crew World Championships in France but the COVID-19 pandemic upends the event. Tres désolé. | Club expands, 2020 Our club welcomes Sydney-based paddlers as we establish our metro branch. |
| X-Border Challenge, 2021 Our crew (55+ age category) wins the Southern Cross Trophy in Cross Border Challenge in Albury. | Adelaide, 2022 Gold in the 2km and a bunch of bronzes for our Senior B Mixed and Senior C Women’s crews. |
| Albury, 2023 2 golds and 2 silvers at AusChamps and a qualification for the IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Italy. | Perth and Ravenna, 2024 Senior B Mixed crew wins 2 golds and a silver in Western Australia. Our crews excel in Ravenna, Italy. |
| Sydney, 2025 Gold, silver and bronze medals for our crews at AusChamps, with our Senior B Mixed and Women plus Senior C Open crews producing thrilling results. | The season ahead As qualifiers for the 2026 IDBF Club Crew World Championships in Taipei, and with a crop of promising younger paddlers, our 2025-26 season offers great promise. |
Media matters
Browse our Media webpage for articles, interviews and stories about our club, our amazing paddlers and our extraordinary successes in state, national and international competition.
The Waterdragons in the Community
We are a community-minded club on and off the water. We connect and collaborate with organisations and programs working to deliver positive health, social and educational outcomes for communities throughout the Shoalhaven-Illawarra and Sydney regions.
Kids
We hosted a “Pirate Treasure Hunt” for at-risk kids attending a week-long camp organised by Southern Cross Kids Camp.
Corporates
We train corporate crews participating in the annual Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Regatta at Darling Harbour in Sydney.
Communities
We participate in local multi-sport fun-days that encourage young and old to get outdoors, make new friends, and have fun while getting fit.
Guest Speaking
Coach Christine Mitchell is a popular guest speaker invited by business, professional and community organisations, like Rotary Berry.
Schools
We contribute our boats and coaching skills to Dragon Boating in Schools programs offering dragon boating within schools’ sporting curricula.
Paradragons
Coaches Rosie O’Donnell and Carol Fentoullis are at the forefront of expanding paradragon participation in competitive dragon boat racing.
Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waterways on which we live, thrive and paddle. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea, culture and community, and we pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging.
We support these sporting organisations and initiatives
Nowra Waterdragons Dragon Boat Club 