McClellan Achievement Award

The McClellan Achievement Award honours the exceptional accomplishments of junior paddlers who have earned selection as Auroras. In 2025, this award was presented to four remarkable athletes who, despite their relatively short time in the sport, have already achieved its highest distinctions.

Supported by the family of the late Kevin McClellan, the award commemorates his enduring legacy within the dragon boat community. Kevin was a passionate advocate for junior development, and his commitment lives on through his grandchildren, Olivia and Jaxson, both Aurora representatives. The first trophy was awarded in 2023, with presentations planned for the next three Aurora campaigns to recognise juniors who reach Aurora status.

The 2025 presentation took place at last Sunday’s state training camp at Docklands, attended by family, friends, supporters, and the entire Victorian state team. Presentations were made by Olivia on behalf of the family, and Philippa McLean shared a insight into Kevin and what the sport of dragon boat meant to him.

Dragon Boat Victoria extends its congratulations to Ethan, Aaron, Dorian, and Jaxson on their outstanding achievements to date, and wishes them—and the entire Aurora team—every success in the upcoming campaign.

Vic25 Training Camp

Docklands was a sea of Victorian blue on Sunday with all the crews participating in the Vic25 campaign in attendance at the state training camp. Uniforms were handed out, team photos were taken and racing between crews was hotly contested on a rather warm Melbourne day.

Well done to all the crews for coming together for a busy day. A huge thank you to Serge and his Flames counterparts who put a course together for the day. A big thank you to those members who assisted on the day, in particular to Christine Gabriel who had the unenviable task of noting which teams came first, second, third across the line - not easy task when all the crews are dressed in blue!

Dragon Boat Victoria is excited to announce an internal recruitment opportunity for the role of Administrative Assistant, equivalent to two days per week, to provide vital support to our Operations Manager.

This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the DBV community to get involved behind the scenes and contribute to the smooth running of our organisation. The administrative assistant will play a key role in supporting day-to-day operations, assisting with administrative tasks, and helping ensure our activities run efficiently.

We are advertising this position internally first to give our community the chance to apply before we open it up more broadly. If you are organised, proactive, and keen to support the growth of dragon boating in Victoria, we encourage you to apply.

For more details about the role, please email administration@dragonboatvictoria.com.au and we will forward you a copy of the job description and details on how to apply.

Building on the successful relationship DBV started with Multiplex in 2024, we are pleased to share that another event is scheduled to happen at Docklands on Sunday 4th May 2025. Multiplex personnel are training hard and really looking forward to racing against each other on the day. 

This event is just one example of how DBV works with corporates, schools and community groups to show the wider community how fun the sport of dragon boat racing can be. More details about these type of events can be found on the DBV website.

Upcoming public holidays and Auschamps 

Dragon Boat Victoria would like to inform the community that the DBV office will be closed over the upcoming Easter break and the Anzac Day long weekend. Additionally, during the 2025 AusChamps event from April 26 to May 1, we will be monitoring emails intermittently. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to reach out early if you require any assistance.

Dragon Boat Victoria wishes all teams heading to the 2025 AusChamps at the Sydney International Regatta Centre the very best for a successful and rewarding campaign. We are proud of your dedication and teamwork, and we look forward to seeing your hard work on display as you represent our community on the national stage. Paddle strong and enjoy every moment—good luck to everyone competing!