Meet the ‘motley crew’ who come from all walks of life to lend an oar

When Ivy Yu first stumbled across dragon boating in Australia, she was impressed by the “scale” of the sport and the diversity amongst the participants.

“You see different age groups, different genders. Once they’re on the boat, they are the same, they are part of the team,” she said.

Originally from China, the 28-year-old forestry worker travels 40 minutes from her home in Launceston, in northern Tasmania, every week to train with the Deloraine Flames on the Meander River.

“You feel like you’re contributing to how fast the boat is moving,” she said.

“That’s a sense of achievement.”

‘Everybody puts the paddle in at the same time’

Established in 2013, the Deloraine Flames Dragon Boat Club has transformed into a highly inclusive sporting institution.

As one of seven active clubs in the state, it has attracted members from all different backgrounds and ages.

In recent years, the team’s numbers have hovered around 20 paddlers — enough for competition days where 10 paddlers are required plus a sweep who steers the team and a drummer who sets the pace.

The relatively low fitness hurdle that aspiring paddlers must clear attracts an eclectic mix of people to the sport, something the club’s founder Peter Ashton appreciates.

“I don’t think you could really say any one type of person fits in better or worse than others,” he said.

“The big thing in dragon boating is that everybody puts the paddle in at the same time … so long as you can do that, we’re more than happy to give anybody a go.”

The 75-year-old former tour operator is most proud of hosting last year’s inaugural Deloraine Dragon Boat Regatta where uncapped paddlers form teams to take to the water.

“We had the local chemist, one of the pubs, the SES … they race for the team boat challenge plaque,” he said.

“They all go together, and it works. I’m driven by that.”

‘We’re just a really mixed bunch’

After arriving in Deloraine from Queensland a little over one year ago, Sharyn Wagner has enjoyed being a part of what she describes as a “motley crew”.

“We’re just a really mixed bunch. We’ve got Tassie farmers, through to a software engineer and lawyers — just a real mix of people.”

With team members spanning from their 30s to their 70s, the 53-year-old has found dragon boating to be a “great way to meet people” and see the occasional platypus on the water.

“Nobody cares what anybody else does or how old you are,” Ms Wagner said.

“We’re all here for the same thing and just want to have some fun.”

‘Break the tension between us’

Chris Allen’s dragon boat journey is shaped by family ties and nostalgia.

Mr Allen has been a loyal Deloraine Flames member for the past three years, after returning to Tasmania from Canada to support his elderly father and founding club member Neil.

“I had to come back to care for him and so rather than just sit on the bank, I decided to jump in the boat and get some exercise as well,” he said.

“It was something that was able to break the tension between us a bit.”

Despite never having been a big fan of team sports, the 40-year-old geologist, who enjoys going on solo overnight hikes, has grown fond of being outdoors with a supportive team of paddlers.

“One thing about everyone else in the boat is that they do like being outside as well, so that’s one thing that we really do share,” Mr Allen said.

“You’re not exactly going to get in the boat and go paddling up and down a river unless you like being outside.”