KUCHING – Following a two-year hiatus due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Swinburne Dragon Boat Club (SDBC) made a comeback with its first-ever SDBC Open Day held at Kuching Waterfront on Malaysia Day, 16 September 2022.
The Open Day had twofold objectives: to welcome back existing club members for another semester of enjoyable rowing and other activities as well as to expose new members and the wider Swinburne Sarawak student body to the sport of dragon boat.
The event was SDBC’s largest one to date, with over 60 participants from within the Swinburne Sarawak student body.
Swinburne Sarawak students enjoying rowing at SDBC Open Day 2022. (Photo: Nethanel Ng)
SDBC was honoured to have received strong support from its collaborative partner, Kuching Dragon Boat Club (KDB), through their lending of three dragon boats as well as dispatching 30 veteran rowers to help the Open Day participants experience their first ever dragon boat row.
Apart from thanking KDB for their continuous support, SDBC also expressed its heartfelt gratitude to John’s Pie for sponsoring refreshments for the Open Day and Swinburne Sarawak student Nethanel Ng for assisting as the event’s photographer.
A certificate of appreciation is presented to SDBC’s collaborative partner, KDB, represented by KDB secretary Leslie Liew (centre). (Photo: Nethanel Ng)
Earlier in July this year, four students from SDBC, namely Amanda Wong, Adrian Wong, Cedric Chiam and Britnie Liaw, tagged along with KDB to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah to participate in several categories of the 7th Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) International Dragon Boat Race.
Competing with about 140 teams of swift rowers at the event, the students from SDBC and their team managed to clinch third place, earning themselves a spot on the podium for the Hua Zong President Trophy.
SDBC looks forward to further collaborations with KDB which will benefit the club’s students with more opportunities.
(Clockwise from bottom left) Amanda Wong, Cedric Chiam, Adrian Wong and Britnie Liaw.
Students who are interested in joining SDBC can email dragonboat.club@students.swinburne.edu.my or visit the club’s Instagram page (@swinburnedragonboatclub) for more information. Swinburne staff members who would like to support the club can also contact the club’s advisor, James ChunHan Loi, for more details.
At Swinburne Sarawak, there is a wide range of clubs and societies for students to take part in, relating to academic, recreation and sports. These clubs and societies are a part of the dynamic student experience at the university.