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John Butler of Sandstone Point came within a stroke of gold at the Australian Dragon Boat Championships at Lake Kawana last month, paddling with Queensland’s Senior C Division crew to a silver medal finish over 200 metres after three years with Dragon Boat Pumicestone.
The 72-year-old former infantryman and commando, who spent 47 years in military service before discovering dragon boating through a Meals on Wheels colleague, is now one of the sport’s most enthusiastic converts on the Pumicestone Passage. “To compete against the best in Australia is something dreams are made of,” he said.
The Queensland Senior C crew, racing in the over-60 division, were edged out by Brisbane River Dragons in a thrilling finish, with Rainbow Dragons from Ballina claiming bronze. It was the kind of margin that stings in the moment but deepens appreciation for what the season produced.
“State versus state, what an exciting opportunity and experience,” John said. “Our performance can only be attributed to six months training and team hunger.”
A club that punched above its weight at nationals
John’s silver was not the only medal Dragon Boat Pumicestone brought home from Lake Kawana. The club’s Senior C Mixed crew delivered what John described as a “fantastic” performance over 500 metres, taking bronze. The open crew added another silver over 200 metres. Across three days of competition against clubs from across Australia, Pumicestone more than held its own.
Dragon Boat Pumicestone’s purpose has always been to make the sport available to all members of the Pumicestone community, operating on the sheltered waters of the Pumicestone Passage with a philosophy built on fun, friendship and competitive pathways for those who want them. John embodies both ends of that equation. He came for connection and stayed for competition.
“Nationals were a culmination of very hard work over the race season and the medals were reward for effort,” he said. “However the camaraderie and mateship for me within our club is the driving factor that makes me strive to better myself.”
Forty-seven years of service, and then a dragon boat
John’s path to the starting line at Lake Kawana runs through some of Australia’s most challenging deployments. Across a 47-year career in the Australian Army, he served in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Timor, Bougainville and Papua New Guinea, rose to the rank of Warrant Officer 1, and served with both infantry units and Army Reserve battalions.
Returning to civilian life brought its own “challenges” for John, a word that carries massive weight coming from a veteran with four decades of active service under his belt. Finding the right sport in the years that followed was not straightforward. He needed something that could meet him where he was, not where he had been.
“I was looking for a sport that would allow me to challenge myself, but needed to be mindful of my age and injuries over my military and previous sporting activities,” he said.
The introduction came through an unlikely channel. A colleague John volunteers with at Meals on Wheels Bribie Island suggested he try a come-and-try session with Dragon Boat Pumicestone. He was not immediately convinced. “At first I was not sure I would be challenged by dragon boating,” he said. “But after attending a regatta I was sure this was the sport for me.”
Three years on, he is racing at national level and winning medals in the over-60 division. Some finds are worth holding onto.
Dragon Boat Pumicestone welcomes new members of all experience levels. For more information, visit the club’s page.
Published 8-May-2026
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