2025 DBV AGM & Board Update

Updated 4 December 2025 (blue text below)

To view the 2025 AGM Minutes - Click Here

Immediately following the AGM the Board held its first meeting to elect the Office Bearers for 2026. 

• Anne Somerville was elected as Chair and President.
  
  
• Rod Walter was elected as Vice President.
  
  
• Steve retained his position as Business Manager / Treasurer.

They join existing Director Tricia Lewis and Philippa McLean, who was elected unopposed during the AGM. Following the December 1 Board Meeting and receipt of EOI's to fill the casual vacancy positions on the Board, Mark Wheeldon and Nicole McClellan have been appointed and their term will conclude at the 2026 AGM. 

During the meeting the Board unfortunately received resignations from Jacqui Hillas and Caroline Mulcahy who served as Secretary and Vice President respectively. Since then both Jacqui and Caroline have formally tendered their resignation, which the Board accepted at a meeting earlier today. 

The Board would like to take this opportunity to thank both Jacqui and Caroline for their incredible service to the Board across a number of years. Their professionalism, dedication and commitment to good governance, member services, compliance and their progressive approach provided the Board with outstanding leadership. We wish them well in the future. 

It would also be remiss of the Board not to acknowledge the contribution of outgoing President Heather Watts. Heather has spent and continues to spend a considerable amount of her time trying to advance the sport. Heather has played a huge role in establishing DBV's newest Club - the Footscray Falcons, as well as securing access to Footscray Rowing Club which was used for a very successful Regatta over the weekend. The site also serves as DBV's 'office' and storage, a wonderful outcome after the organisation decided to vacate Sports House earlier this year. The Board looks forward to the ongoing growth of Dragon Boat membership in the North West of Melbourne and believe we're well on the way to creating a second metro Hub out of Footscray. 

The Board have commenced a process to increase the number of Directors and to appoint someone to the role of Secretary. The membership will be updated accordingly.