Structure & History

Outrigger Canoe racing in Australia is structured under the following organisations:-

AOCRA

The primary governing body of the sport in Australia, responsible for the administration of the sport on a national level. It oversees such issues as rules, regulations, legalities (including insurance and duty of care) and liasing with similar sporting organisations and government bodies. AOCRA's aim is to instigate and foster the growth of the sport both at junior and senior levels.

AOCRA Zones

Established as a result of the rapid growth of the sport, as it spread from Queensland into other states. Within each state, a zone committee acts on behalf of the Zone to administer and run the sport within that state. These committees play the part of handling the day to day running of the sport, by adhering to the guidelines and rules set by AOCRA. They oversee regattas, registration and weighing of canoes, and making decisions on behalf of the zone to ensure it's growth and continued success. Zones currently exist in New South Wales, Victoria (encompassing South Australia and Tasmania), South Queensland, North Queensland (encompassing the Northern Territory) and Western Australia.

AOCRA Affiliated Clubs

Within each state, clubs are established by groups of individuals in specific locations wishing to particpate and foster the growth of the sport within their immediate neighbourhood. These clubs affiliate with the governing body AOCRA, and then proceed to maintain a working relationswhip with their Zone Management Committee. The clubs, once established, have the opportunity to plan and run their own regattas (adhering to the rules and regulations set down by AOCRA).

Registered AOCRA Paddlers

Each paddler has the responsibility of paying club membership fees (set by their club) and AOCRA Insurance fees (set by AOCRA) to the club they choose to join. Paddlers, once insured, may either paddle socially as a means of keeping fit and meeting new people, or compete at the various regattas around Australia. Whichever path they choose, paddlers should uphold and respect club protocols and rules, ensuring good sportsmanship is maintained, and work together to ensure the future of their club.

History of Outrigger Canoeing in Australia

Outrigger canoe paddling has its origins in the development and spread of the coastal culture of the Pacific rim region abut 30,000 years ago, with canoes playing an integral role in the survival and transmigration of ancient cultures.

It was many thousands of years before outrigger canoe racing became a competitive sport and maritime advancement saw the canoe evolve to the sleek racing boats of today. The first canoe race, initially for men, was in the Hawaiian Islands in Waikiki in 1917.

Outrigger canoe racing is a relatively young sport in Australia. Seventy years after Hawaii's first Outrigger Canoe Club was formed, the first club in Australia was formed in 1978 on the Gold Coast while the first club in Sydney was formed in 1989, the year the first Australian Championships were held.

The first regatta in Australia was held in 1981 and the national body, Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association (AOCRA), was formed in 1988.

The sport has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years with the development of clubs in other states of Australia, expanding the sport's power base and spiritual home from northern Queensland and the Whitsunday region to make it a more "national" sport.

In 1990 there were 11 clubs in Australia, mainly in the Whitsunday area. This doubled to 23 in1991, 37 in 1994, 45 in 1995, and 50 in 1997. In 1995, in Sydney alone, the number of clubs jumped from 2 to 10. There are now well over 60 clubs Australia wide.

AOCRA overseas and organises racing throughout Australia, with rules based on those created by the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. AOCRA also nurtures respect for the heritage and cultures from which these craft originate.

Racing takes on two forms, marathons and sprints, both in six person canoes (OC6) and solo and two man canoes (OC1/OC2).

Sprint races are held over 500 - 3000 metres, whilst marathon races vary in distance between 5 and 30 kilometres. For races over 30 kms, the six person teams are allowed to have 9 crew with any 3 alternating by way of changeovers. This is where paddlers fall out of the canoe and are replaced by waiting paddlers in the water who grab the side of the canoe and pull themselves into the craft to commence paddling.

Age divisions include junior divisions from 10 to 19 years old, Open Men and Women to Golden Master Men and Women over 55.

Because of the vast size of the country there are various racing Zones conducting their own competitions within Australia. Each zone conducts approximately 6 Grand Prix regattas over a six month period with the AOCRA Australian Championships being held during these Zone seasons.

In the so called "off season", the "Wai Puhi" racing series is held in each Zone, whereby OC1 and OC2 paddlers compete in open ocean long course marathons.

Additional to this, various other major events are held annually, including the prestigious and challenging 42km Hamilton Cup held in the beautiful Whitsundays, and the 48km Gold Coast Cup between Coolangatta and Southport. Other fun / competition regattas or events are actively promoted by AOCRA.

The future potential of the sport in this country is endless because of the climate and coastal environments that provide us with all manner of ocean conditions in which to play, practice and ultimately excel in outrigger canoe racing. The sport has come of age in Australia.

Friendships, health, fitness, an affinity with an aquatics environment and a cultural education will be fostered, along with a deeper sense of self obtained by meeting the very special demands that outrigger canoe racing and paddling makes on the paddler, providing the fuel for your long term involvement with the sport.

(Extracts above taken from Ka'nu Culture by Steve West, Batani Books)

AOCRA LIFE MEMBERS

Vale Ramona Milligan

Vale Keith Williams

Max Christmas