The Manning River Dragon Boat Club have been successful in securing a $5558.43 grant under the NSW Local Sport Grant Program for their upcoming Community Challenge 2024, Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson announced today.
Mrs Thompson was excited to visit the Dragon Boat Club in Taree to deliver the news in person to the club members.
“The Manning River Dragons Community Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together and experience the excitement of dragon boat racing,” said Mrs Thompson.
“The Manning River Dragon Boat Club is the only club in the Northern Region that hold Community Challenge races at their annual regatta. It’s great to see this inclusive sport has participation from our community growing every year.”
Highlighting the significance of the grant, Manning River Dragon Boat Club Grants Officer, Sandie Kyle said that safety, welfare and comfort of their community members participating at their regatta is important.
“We welcome this funding to purchase a large marquee for sheltering participants from the heat or inclement weather in between races, Hi Vis vests for the safety of all paddlers and new mats to launch our boats safely preventing costly repairs.
“Our past event in 2023 demonstrated how the community races fostered inclusion and social interaction which overall resulted in positive impacts within the community.
“This event benefits both the individual and the club through continued levels of engagement from participants by further participating in our Learn 2 Paddle program to be held a few weeks after the community event,” said Sandie.
The Manning River Dragon Boat Club’s annual regatta is held on the 10th & 11th August 2024 on the Manning River, near Endeavour Place Reserve. For more information or to participate in the Community Challenge please contact Wendy Orman: manningriverdbc@gmail.com
