Who
is ACCA

About
Us

We’ve been called one of Australia’s Top Dragon Boat teams, a bunch of misfits, and a gang of bloody larrikins.

Truth is, we’re a bit of each.

Exploding from the moist and girthy loins of the Australian dragon boating community in 1984 as part of the Australian Chinese Community Association, we hail from all different backgrounds, fitness levels and locations. Fortunately for the club, members continued to show up despite being told that they were the victim of an April Fools’ joke. Most were acquired through illegal immigration, traded with Bitcoin, or Canadian paddlers with VISA issues so they could be easily bribed to paddle.

We’re a bunch of competitive dragon boaters who have a whole lot of fun — on and off the water. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we mean business when we compete. Our motto is Fitter. Stronger. Together. And that’s the best part of it – we’re not just a team, we FAM.

And that’s how we show up.

Join us for a paddle, a laugh, and gain 76 Insta friends immediately.

key
achievements

2024-25

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Premier Women 500m
Senior A Women 10s 500m
Premier Women 200m
Senior A Women 10s 200m

Premier Mixed 2000m
Premier Women 2000m
Senior A Mixed 2000m
Senior A Women 2000m

Senior A Mixed 10s 500m
Premier Open 500m
Senior A Mixed 10s 200m

NSW State Championships

Senior A Mixed 2000m
Premier Women 500m
Senior A Mixed 500m

24U Mixed 2000m
Premier Mixed 2000m
Premier Mixed 500m

Premier Women 2000m
24U Mixed 500m
Premier Open 500m

2023-24

Oceania Dragon Boat Championships

Senior A Mixed 10s 500m

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Premier Mixed 10s 200m
Senior A Mixed 10s 500m

Senior A Mixed 10s 200m
Senior A Mixed 10s 2000m

2022-23

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Premier Open 500m

Premier Women 200m
Premier Open 200m
Premier Mixed 500m

NSW State Championships

Premier Mixed 500m

Premier Women 500m

Premier Open 500m

2021-22

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Premier Women 500m
Premier Mixed 500m
Premier Women 200m
Premier Mixed 2000m
Premier Women 2000m

Premier Open 500m
Premier Open 2000m

2020-21

NSW State Championships

Premier Women 500m

Premier Open 500m

2018-19

Brad Hughes

Finalist, Community Coach of the Year – NSW Sport Community Sports Award 2019

Australian Dragon Boat Championships

Premier Mixed 500m
Premier Open 500m

Premier Women 500m Premier Women 200m Premier Open 200m Premier Open 2000m

Premier Mixed 20s 200m Premier Women 2000m

our
coaches

CO-Head Coach

Jason
A.K.A Indy

Started Paddling

2011

Dragon Boating Achievements

  • 2015 Australian Team (Auroras) representative World Championships, Canada
  • 2014 Australian Team (Auroras) representative – Asian Championships, Macau
  • 2014–2016 Represented NSW Premier State Team
  • 2016–2021 ACCA Assistant Coach
  • 2023–2025 NSW 24U State Team Divisional Coach
  • 2022–2025 Australian Team (Auroras) – Junior Division Coach

FUN FACTS

  • His love of paddling and coaching is equal only to his love of undersized bucket hats
  • Runs his own paddle company, Canoe Connection
  • Coached by a 2012 Olympian
 

CO-HEAD Coach

JORDaN
A.K.A SONNY BILL

Started Paddling

2011

Dragon Boating Achievements

  • 2015 Australian Team (Auroras) representative – World Championships, Canada
  • 2014, 15, 18, 22 & 23 NSW State Team representative
  • 2022 ACCA Male Paddler of the Year
  • 2011–22 Best Hair After a Race

fun facts

  • 2011–22 Best Hair After a Race
  • Once scared his mum and she rode her bike off a cliff in New Zealand (not his intention). Thankfully the only thing that was injured was her pride!
  • His car contains more hair and body products than Priceline
 

FOUNDATION Coach

NATALIE
A.K.A MARK'S DAUGHTER

Started Paddling

2007

Dragon Boating Achievements

  • 2019 Junior Auroras
  • 2019 & 2022 Junior State 
  • 2024–2025 U24 State
  • 2024–25 U24 Captain
  • 2025 Level 1 Coach
  • 2024 ACCA mascot holder (biggest achievement!)

fun facts

  • During the year 6 Ballarat trip, was the only one to not get gold when panning 🙁
  • Did bronze to gold Duke of Ed (dropped out of gold after the hike, was the only part she actually wanted to do)
  • Can still do a (pretty good) cartwheel after leaving gymnastics and dance at 12

Masters Coach

Mark
A.K.A Snowy

Started Paddling

1999

Dragon Boating Achievements

  •  2021-current, Level 1 Coach
  • Over 20 years experience in Dragon Boats
  • 5-time NSW State Team representative
  • Competed in CCWC 5 times: 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 & 2024

FUN FACTS

  • Is also an accredited coach in Outrigger Canoe and Stand Up Paddle
  • “Accidentally” paddled to a nudist beach. Twice!
 

our
board & team managerS

PRESIDENT

MELINDA
A.K.A Mel

Started Paddling

2022

FUN FACTS

  • Guerilla gardens her neighbourhood to create food forests
  • Has more than 100 cases of wine in her spare room

VICE PRESIDENT

CLAIRE
A.K.A CLAIREBEAR

Started Paddling

2021

FUN FACTS

  • Has drummed on a dragon boat and acoustic drums
  • Ran the first Sydney Major Marathon and met the legendary Kipchoge in real life
  • Her Chinese name is Poem

TREASURER

Kelly
A.K.A Kel

Started Paddling

2022

FUN FACTS

  • She can juggle, and not just a busy schedule
  • Was once a keen saxophonist
  • Has a twin brother (but are they identical?)

SECRETARY

marC
a.k.a M3

Started Paddling

2024

FUN FACTS

  • Proud Manchester United Season Ticket holder since 1996
  • Is a Padi Advanced Open Water scuba diver
  • Once ran a marathon in 2012. Still mentally recovering from it.

Director

mark
a.k.a nat's dad

Started Paddling

2017

FUN FACTS

  • Loves rock climbing, single craft paddling, and all things outdoors
  • Might not be ACCA’s best paddler, but is her dad!

Director

SHANE
a.k.a SHANEO

Started Paddling

2020

FUN FACTS

  • Has performed with the Wiggles with Sydney Youth Orchestra
  • Is an avid scuba diver
  • Is easily confused with cake recipes

Director

AVIA
A.K.A LEWIS

Started Paddling

2023

FUN FACTS

  • Has been chasing her first pull-up for a year
  • Walked by the Lunar New Year races one day and is now too deep in the dragon boat cult to escape
  • Has never and will never watch a shark movie

Team Manager

Amy
A.K.A AO

Started Paddling

2021

FUN FACTS

  • Doesn’t drink coffee
  • Once fell out of a bus, please don’t ask about it…
  • (Ask her about it)
 

MASTERS Team ManageR

CAROLYNE
A.K.A STACEY

Started Paddling

2019

FUN FACTS

  • Is the only British person who doesn’t drink tea
  • Once studied ballet
  • Tried to learn to play the violin, but her mum burnt it

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Fitter. Stronger. Together.

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1 Bank St, Pyrmont, NSW 2009
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