“Forza” is an Italian word meaning “force, strength & power”
Forza Dragon Boat Club Inc. (originally Forza Italia Dragon Boat Club) has been an important part of the Bunbury dragon boat scene since the club was formed in 1991.
Forza was originally, primarily comprised of family and friends of the Italian community in Bunbury, Forza is now a diversely multicultural team with paddlers from 15 years to 70 years. We have members from a diverse range of employment and educational backgrounds who make a substantial contribution to the Club.
The Club has performed with distinction at local, national and international levels, taking out the coveted Western Australian Grand Prix Trophy in both the 1996/97 and the 1998/99 seasons. Forza has also secured six wins the Forza 1000 Metre Challenge Trophy Race (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2008), and the Augusta Marathon (8.5km) in 1993. Our women’s crew were WA State Champions in 1994, and our men’s crew were winners at the International Dragon Boat Festival of Bunbury in 1995 and 1996.
Forza won the Australian Masters (35 and over) Women’s Title in Bunbury in 1993 (combined with the Bunbury Rowing Club), the WA State Masters Mixed Title in 1995, 1996 and 2005, the Australian Masters Mixed Title in Fremantle in 1996, the WA State Junior Title in 1997, and the WA State Mixed Title in 1997, 1999 and 2001.
Forza club members have also competed at National and International events with both Forza, Western Australian (WASPS) and City of Bunbury International Dragon Boat Crews – Penang (1991, 1992, 1995, 2008), Sabah (1992), Hong Kong (1993), Macau (1993), Singapore (1996), Hawaii (2000), Sydney (1992, 1993, 1999), and Canberra (1994) and the Australian National Titles in Perth WA in 1994 (National Mixed Masters Champions), 2004 and 2008. At the National Titles in Perth WA in April 2004, and based upon results in finals, conducted over 250 metres and 500 metres, Forza were the best performed Western Australian Mixed team at the titles.
After winning the men’s division of the International Dragon Boat Festival of Bunbury in 1996, Forza were the only Australian team invited to compete at the Sixth Singapore World Invitational Dragon Boat Regatta in 1996. The Forza men’s club crew paddled with distinction, gaining a sixth place in the Men’s division against National teams from around the world.
In 2002 Forza took up the challenge to run the City of Bunbury Waterfront Spectacular Dragon Boat Regatta (renamed the Three Waters Festival in 2003) in conjunction with the Bunbury Rowing Club, with the desire to encourage more crews to take participate and to showcase dragon boating to the people of Bunbury. This association continues today with the Forza Dragon Boat “Paddling Under the Stars” Festival.
Forza is proud to be associated with Crewsaders Dragons Abreast Bunbury, inaugurated in April 2005, and part of an international and Australia wide organisation for survivors of breast cancer.
More recently Forza has competed at the National Championships in Perth 2004 and 2008, Melbourne in 2012 performing very well in the Mixed Premier division. Forza paddlers have competed at every National Championship since 2007.