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’re FAM.

And that’s how we show up.

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

our
coaches

CO-Head Coach

Jason
A.K.A. Indy

Started Paddling

2011

Dragon Boating Achievements

  • 2014 Australian Team – Asian Championships, Macau
  • 2015 Australian Team – World Championships, Canada
  • 2014–16 NSW Premier State Team
  • 2016–21 ACCA Assistant Coach
  • 2023–25 NSW 24U State Team Divisional Coach
  • 2022–25 Australian Team 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 – World Championships, Canada
  • 2014, 15, 18, 22 & 23 NSW State Team
  • 2022 ACCA Male Paddler of the Year
  • 2011–22 Best Hair After a Race

fun facts

  • 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

WOMEN'S COACH

JASMINE A.K.A. JAZZ

Started Paddling

2020

DRAGON BOATING ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2023 Australian Team – World Championships, Thailand
  • 2025 Australian Team – World Championships, Germany
  • 2023, 25 and 26? NSW State Team
  • 2022/23 ACCA Most Improved Female Paddle of the year
  • 2023/24 ACCA Female Paddler of the year

FUN FACTS

  • Physical 100 fan
  • Has a diabetic diet
  • Loves a good melancholy playlist

MEN'S COACH

STEVEN A.K.A. DBSTEVE

Started Paddling

2008

DRAGON BOATING ACHIEVEMENTS

  • 2022–25 Australian Team
  • 2022–23 VIC State Premier and Opens Captain
  • 2023 MVP with former club 
  • 2023-24 Premier Coach with former club
  • 2025 NSW State Team
  • 2026 NSW State Team Assistant Premier Coach

FUN FACTS

  • Mildly lactose intolerant, but still eats dairy

Master's 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
  • 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!
 

FOUNDATION Coach

NATALIE
A.K.A. MARK'S DAUGHTER

Started Paddling

2007

Dragon Boating Achievements

  • 2019 Junior Auroras
  • 2019 & 2022 Junior State 
  • 2024–25 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

FOUNDATION COACH

SKYN

Started Paddling

2012

DRAGON BOATING ACHIEVEMENTS

  • NSW State Team Representative
  • 2016 CCWC Paddler
  • 2024 Paddler
  • 2022 ACCA Assistant Coach

FUN FACTS

  • Coming soon!

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. AVS

Started Paddling

2023

FUN FACTS

  • Walked by the Lunar New Year races one day and is now too deep in the dragon boat cult to escape
  • Has been chasing her first pull-up for a year, while it’s been running away…
  • 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