2026 Gippsland Grammar Sale Head Rowing Regatta Promotional Event

National or natural?
The Gippsland Grammar Sale Head Race (rowing regatta) was held at the Port of Sale on Saturday 17 October.
Gippsland Water Dragons provided a static display of dragon boating and a racing demonstration in front of a crowd of around 150. The static display included the GWDs 10s boat, and a range of local, national and international racing shirts, medals and trophies collected by GWD members over the past few years.
In a coup for GWD, Darren Chester, Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia and Member of Parliament for the Victorian Division of Gippsland joined the crew for the 45-minute session racing demonstration. He was sitting in the ‘Golden Seat’ in front of coach Mick Curran who provided one on one tuition, although at one stage he held on to the back of Darren’s vest to make sure he was bending forward enough. To his credit Darren didn’t look out of place for a ‘newbie’ and demonstrated both good timing and power. He said he was just copying Amanda (Moo) who was in front of him.
Sweep Neville Clow had plenty of work to do in maneuvering the full 20s boat around the narrow Port area while waiting for rowing to finish and
clear the canal. Lu Corwall, on drum, set a great tempo when the boat was up to speed.
Kimmy, Lu’s wife, gave the spiel for our part of the program, providing some interesting facts about Dragon Boat Racing, the race sequence that was used and how anyone interested in trying out dragon boating could do so.
All in all, it was a successful day. We had an opportunity to spend some time at the rowing facilities on the other side of the river, (marked as GWD’s future home in the Wellington Shire’s master plan for consolidating paddling and rowing in Sale), to strengthen our relationship with the other clubs and to sow seeds of interest for future paddlers.
It was Darren Chester’s first time in a Dragon Boat, and his presence was also an opportunity to give the club more visibility and connection as GWD seeks to find a permanent home. Is he a National or natural? The answer is both.