KEMPSEY MACLEAY DRAGON BOAT CLUB Inc.
KEMPSEY RIVER RATS
Experience the dynamic and fun filled sport of Dragon Boating on the magnificent Macleay River.
Home of the River Rats.
ABOUT: KEMPSEY RIVER RATS
The Kempsey Macleay Dragon Boat Club Inc. was formed in July 2008, the Club is open to men and women who wish to paddle in a dragon boat on the Macleay River, either socially or competitively in a very friendly environment.
Our Club members are proudly known as the River Rats. We have become ambassadors for this area competing successfully at Northern Regional Regattas, Australia wide and internationally. We have always been self-funded. Our members are long time valued business owners, public and private employees and retired residents with diverse backgrounds, aged from their 30’s through to 70’s. It has many hard working members and a strong committee to keep our club running smoothly. The committee meets regularly to discuss agenda items, strategies, improve outcomes, assess risks and plan to provide the best duty of care for the members.
Kempsey Macleay Dragon Boat Club is a current member of the peak state body of the Sport DBNSW. Dragon Boats NSW (DBNSW) is the governing body for dragon boating in New South Wales and a member of the Australian Dragon Boat Federation (AusDBF). There are currently over 3200 members residing in all corners of the state from Ballina in the north to Jindabyne down south. There are currently over sixty affiliated dragon boat clubs scattered around the waterways of New South Wales each sporting their own individual culture. These clubs are all members of DBNSW and therefore adhere to the sporting and ethical guidelines bound by their membership.
HISTORY OF DRAGON BOATING
Dragon Boat racing has a rich fabric of ancient ceremonial, ritualistic and religious traditions thus the modern competitive aspect is but one small part of the activity. The use of dragon boats for racing is believed to have originated in southern central China more than 2500 years ago, in Dongting Lake and along the banks of the Chang Jiang (now called the Yangtze).
The first dragon boat races were held to commemorate Qu Yuan, the great warrior poet, who committed suicide in the river Mi Lo as a protest against the political corruption of the day. Since that time over 2000 years ago, dragon boat racing has become a major part of Chinese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity.
Traditional dragon boat racing in China coincides with the 5th day of the 5th Chinese lunar month (varying from late May to June on the modern Gregorian Calendar). The Summer Solstice occurs around 21 June and is the reason why Chinese refer to their festival as "Duan Wu" or "Duen Ng".
The dragon itself holds a special place in Chinese culture, riding the clouds in the sky and commands the wind, mist and rain, with the head of an ox, a deer’s antlers, the mane of a horse and the body and scales of a snake.