KEMPSEY DRAGON BOAT CLUB
About Kempsey River Rats
Founded in July 2008, the Kempsey Macleay Dragon Boat Club Inc. invites men and women of all ages to experience the thrill of dragon boating on the beautiful Macleay River.
We’re proudly known as the River Rats, and we represent our region with pride - competing successfully at Northern Regional Regattas, across Australia, and even internationally. Our Club is entirely self-funded, driven by a passionate group of members including local business owners, professionals, and retirees aged from their 30s to 70s.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated committee works hard to keep the Club running smoothly. They meet regularly to plan events, manage risks, and ensure the wellbeing of all members.
We are proud members of Dragon Boats NSW (DBNSW), the governing body for dragon boating in New South Wales and part of the Australian Dragon Boat Federation (AusDBF). DBNSW supports over 3,200 members and more than 60 affiliated clubs across the state - from Ballina to Jindabyne - each with its own unique culture and commitment to the sport.
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.