Steve Haintz - Yarrawonga

What is The Dragon Spirit? Go to any DB Regatta, no matter how big or small, and, without fail, witness amazing sportsmanship, clubs helping out other clubs (competitors) with crew where needed, friendliness and encouragement bouncing between all attendees. Competition, but overwhelmingly so much co-operation. That is the Dragon Spirit. We, the Yarrawonga Yacht Club Dragon Boat Paddlers, would like to nominate Steve Haintz for the “Dragon Spirit Award” as he embodies all these qualities.

A brief history: Steve, an avid sailor and member of the Yarrawonga Yacht Club, while holidaying in northern N.S.W visited a yacht club which had Dragon boating within the club. He observed the sport, liked what he saw, and set out to convince a reluctant committee, (although Club suffering severe loss of members) to include Dragon Boating in Yarrawonga. This is when his exceptional persistence/resilience really had to kick in.

After getting that initial O.K, he then had to travel to Albury/Wodonga (a 112km round trip) three times a week to become a proficient paddler, then qualify as a Sweep, under the tutelage of the Warriors DB club. Our club was born on 23 September 2017! A boat load of mixed age, complete beginners, were encouraged by Steve from that first day. His enthusiasm and dedication to the sport is contagious, his total, never wavering cheerfulness, patience and encouragement has touched all 41 members of our Club. His mantra is “there is a place in the Dragon Boat for all shapes, sizes and abilities”. And he means it! Then there was Covid - Cease Dragon boating. Oh dear! It dawned on us all as a group, that there are worse things in life than a national shortage of toilet paper. As the lockdowns dragged on, Steve was determined not to let the group scatter, so he organised gatherings, outdoors, for us to meet weekly for a walk and exercise, and most importantly to stay in touch.

Some of our members struggled more than others during those seemingly endless times, and our resident “care bear” Steve, had the knack of making contact where and when it was most needed. Helping anyone at a low point, of course, can never have a value put on it. Our next major challenge was when the Water Authorities made the decision to drain Lake Mulwala for maintenance, leaving us without water for four months.

Steve determined not to have us left high and dry, managed to negotiate the use of a private water ski park, and Dragon Boating was back in business. Now we are back to good times, and Steve is still there front and centre, urging, encouraging and paddling away. He has successfully trained five Sweeps (four qualified, one awaiting official accreditation), additionally encouraging other roles like Coaching, for the continuation of the club. He is always at the forefront of promoting the club and the activity through his assistance and commitment to events like Corporate challenges and promotion to schools for participation. His personal dedication sees him travel 270kms per week in Summer, to make sure we can enjoy this wonderful sport.

Steve Haintz is the epitome of the Dragon Spirit