Where it all started - Deniliquin Boat Club opposite the Town Hall. After 80 years the club still has the original emblem from the 1940s.
When a small group of river enthusiasts gathered in May 1946 to form a new boating organisation for Deniliquin, they could hardly have imagined the legacy they were setting in motion.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Led by Tom Hetherington and Jim Tasker, who became the club’s first Commodore, the newly formed Deniliquin Boat Club began its life on a simple jetty at Aljoe’s Creek, opposite the Town Hall.
With funding from council and contributions of 100 quid from each founding member, the club quickly established itself as a home for anyone who loved the Edward River.
In its earliest years, the club welcomed every type of boater. The first regatta, held at Easter in 1947, featured a grand parade of rowing boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft and speedboats.
Activities centred around the Edward River Baths, where boat races were the main attraction.
As younger members began experimenting with water skiing and aquaplaning, these new sports were showcased between races, drawing curious crowds and hinting at the club’s future direction.
By the early 1950s, the club, now known as the Deniliquin Speed Boat Club, had outgrown its original base.
In 1953, council granted land at McLean’s Beach, and by 1956 a new clubhouse stood proudly on the riverbank.
Founding members such as Alan Bradshaw and brothers Norm and Ron Barnett were instrumental in the move, contributing countless hours of labour and fundraising through memberships and gymkhanas.
Boating remained central, but water skiing was rapidly gaining popularity. Members modified boats or built new ones to suit the sport, and the club’s identity began to shift.
Floods in 1955, 1956 and 1958 caused repeated damage, with the 1956 flood, one of the highest ever recorded—leaving a mark still remembered today.
The 1960s ushered in a golden era. In 1960, the “Marching Girls,” Heather Emanuel, Dawn McMillan and Fay Munnerley, performed choreographed routines on single skis, guided by whistle‑blowing observer Jan Renwick.
Their act soon evolved into daring pyramids, including a five person formation that was broadcast live by Channel 9 at the Melton Ski Carnival in 1962.
The club’s reputation grew as members entered tournaments across NSW and Victoria. In 1962, the first Western Riverina Water Ski Tournament was held at Paringa Caravan Park, becoming a major fixture on the Victorian Water Ski Association calendar.
The club also hosted state junior training schools from 1963 and the first National Junior Training School in 1964, later combining these with National Ski Championships from 1966 to 1992.
By 1967, tired of repeated flooding at McLean’s Beach, the club purchased land near Warbreccan from Tom Carroll.
A permanent slalom course and ski jump were installed, establishing the site as one of Australia’s premier training and tournament venues.
The 1970s continued the club’s momentum. Precision speedboat driving events and high‑level skiing displays became regular features.
In 1974, an iconic photograph captured brothers Barry, Neville and Brian Werner performing a barefoot skiing pyramid, one of only two groups in Australia capable of the feat at the time.
In 1976, the club relocated its clubhouse to its current home on Riverview Drive, a move that set the foundation for the next half‑century of growth.
From the 1980s on, a new clubhouse allowed the club to host major events, including Australian Tournament Championships and the Masters Waterski Championships, which featured the popular Aussie‑Kiwi Challenge.
In 2004, the club launched Water Woodstock, a vibrant event featuring wakeboarding demonstrations, wooden boat races, exhibitions, live music and competitions.
Commentated by club stalwart Lindsay Renwick, it ran successfully for two years and remains fondly remembered.
Today, the Deniliquin Boat Club remains a thriving community hub.
Weekly Ski School sessions run from November to April, complemented by Friday night dinners, community fundraisers, Wakeboard Victoria Championships and Victorian Barefoot Waterski Club clinics.
The club has recognised thirteen Life Members for outstanding service, honouring the people who have shaped its story.
Aljoe’s Creek de-snagged and 30 metre mooring jetty. Completed by August of 1946.
Carnival Day Deniliquin Boat Club post 1956 floods, you can see the recorded water mark on the upper viewing platform, circa 1960.
