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The Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre fell into a hush of anticipation as Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley opened the envelope, ” and the winner of the Sports Person of the Year is……..Kristin Chick.” Yep, you heard it, our incredible coach was on her way to the stage at the Australia Day Awards.
“Chicki’s Australia Day award is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the Shoalhaven community, her inspirational leadership, and her outstanding achievements in dragon boating. Chicki’s impact extends into the community beyond the realm of just sport and has created an enduring legacy in the hearts of those she has coached and the community she has enriched,” said her excited and very snappily dressed husband, Bear.
Early Beginnings
While the Australia Day award recognised achievements across 2023 (and there were many), the Mako story and the club it has become started in a Shoalhaven on fire and about to be hit with a global pandemic. At a time when the community was closing down, Mako was quietly building itself up and becoming a lighthouse for a community desperately in need of a sport that would bring together people from all walks of life and age.
“I cannot see any world where a group of people like the Mako members would gather in one place but introduce a dragon boat and the infectious enthusiasm of Chicki, and we have become one. We call it MakoMojo, and our members are its spirit.” Mako President Simon Katz enthused.
Club Jervis Bay the Key to Mako Growth
Speaking after the ceremony with the Shoalhaven Citizen of the Year, Triple U FM’s Chance Hanlon, Chicki reflected, “Mako has experienced incredible growth in a short period of time, and that would not have been possible without the support of Club Jervis Bay. Having started the club with twenty-year-old derelict boats, the support of Club Jervis Bay helped us upgrade our boats and take the next step in the development. We count ourselves blessed to stand alongside Shoalhaven OzTag, Wobbegongs Winter Swimming Club and the Club Jervis Bay Fishos as recipients of support from Club Jervis Bay.”
New Zealand Bound
Mako Paddle Club will pack its bags for its first foray into international competition at the New Zealand National Dragon Boat Titles to be held on Kale Karipiro in April. Mako Captain Andrew Glasson echoed the club’s building excitement, ‘Yup.’
A clearly chattier other Captain, Ang Jenkins, expanded on Glasson’s strong opening gambit, “It’s an incredible opportunity for so many of our paddlers to fly the Mako and Club Jervis Bay flag in New Zealand. Many of our paddlers joined to become a part of a new community, have found far more and are now building the memories of a lifetime.”
Word Andrew, Word.
