Melbourne Argonauts Rowing Club

Melbourne Argonauts Rowing Club The Melbourne Argonauts is Australia’s first LGBTIQ+ rowing club and one of only a handful of independent LGBTIQ+ rowing clubs in the world.

The Melbourne Argonauts Q***r Rowing Club was formed in 2001 and held our first Annual General Meeting on a train from Melbourne to Geelong. During that train journey the club name was suggested by club founder Meredith (Maxi) Williams and selected from a list of names which included "The Glub Glub Club", "The St Kilda Rowing Club" and the "Melbourne Blades". The name was voted on by a process of

elimination and the "Melbourne Argonauts" was the last name standing. At the time there was some question as to the validity of the vote as some of the passengers on the train were not at all connected with the club and may have swayed the vote away from some other less likely starters
Our Mission

Our mission is to be a rowing club in the q***r community and a q***r club in the rowing community. We aim to provide an alternative and healthy environment where we can access the sport of rowing, to promote awareness of the q***r community in mainstream sport and to have some fun along the way! From a small group of strangers on a train the club is now an established participant in the rowing community with our own annual regatta, regular participation at local regattas, annual participation in the Head of the Yarra and representation on various governing boards and activities. We participate in the gay and le***an community as regular attendees at the Melbourne Pride March and by holding an annual Trivia Night. The Argonauts competed at the Montreal and Copenhagen Outgames and at the Chicago Gay Games. Being inspired by the heroes of ancient Greek mythology it seems almost logical that we named our first boat The Argo. Since then we have acquired a boat fleet with names variously inspired by our participation at our first Outgames (Montreal), figures of Greek mythology (Medea), literary figures and their writings (Katherine Mansfield: Truth and Risk), club personalities (Anastasia Beaverhausen) and founders (Sandy Mitchell).

Another year, another OutGames 💜Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing som...
26/08/2026

Another year, another OutGames 💜

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

Were you there when the Argos attended the Antwerp OutGames? After successes in Montreal and Copenhagen, there was no hesitation in finding members to represent Australia in Antwerp with a fabulous contingent reaching Belgium in August 2013

Of course, medals and competitions were won during the games but the highlight was a post regatta row fit for a queen – right through the canals of the medieval city Ghent 👑

This included rowing through a castle in the centre of town with our expert coxswain, Ian Symmons, navigating the crew through darkness before light appeared and the boat arrived inside the castle keep 🏰

And the closing party? You bet we were there, with members dressing for the occasion as our very own Argos boy band (complete with custom Argos leggings by Rufskin!)

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at in Antwerp? Send us a message with your story – we’d love to hear from you!

Argos conquer Copenhagen 🇩🇰 Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of...
23/08/2026

Argos conquer Copenhagen 🇩🇰

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

Were you there when the Argos attended the Copenhagen OutGames?

Following success at the inaugural Montreal OutGames three years earlier, a large contingent of members journeyed to Copenhagen in 2009, proudly donning the Argos zootie for Australia

Success came early, with the Argos winning a medal on day one of racing despite some confusion at the finish line (a premature call of “easy oar” meant giving up the silver medal for bronze!). Consolation came in the form of a social row through the Copenhagen canals – a stunning way to end the regatta!

The main racing was at Lake Bagsvaerd and was made possible by the national Danish rowing team who lent their sheds and rowers for the event. Crews sometimes included rowers from around the world, lending itself to a very unique challenge: deciding what language to call commands in on the way to the start line!

The regatta also brought together Argos alumni living in London who came over and rowed to more bronze medal winning glory. Once an Argo always an Argo!

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at in Copenhagen? Send us a message with your story – we’d love to hear from you 💜

On this day, 25 years ago 💜 Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of...
18/08/2026

On this day, 25 years ago 💜

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

In 2001, we purchased and launched our very first boat, which we aptly named The Argo! A wooden racing four purchased from Corio Bay, it was previously named ‘Splatt’ but christened The Argo on 19 August 2001 (that’s exactly 25 years ago today!)

The launch was attended by Rachael Kinnimonth, who’d competed at the Sydney Olympics the year before. A fabulous supporter of the club in its early days, she had the honour of smashing a bottle of champagne over The Argo for good luck and safe voyages

Whilst the boat had a racing profile, and was raced in regattas for many years, it was stable enough for novice and Learn-To-Row crews to use with many a new Argo finding their sea legs in it.

And why wood in an age of carbon fibre? Well wooden boats were much less maintenance at the time - all in all, a perfect first purchase for a young club such as ours!

Where is the The Argo now, you ask? We could never part with such a fine and treasured boat, but given it’s age and condition it has traded its days on the lake for a comfortable and dry home in regional Victoria

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at the christening? Send us a message with your story - we’d love to hear from you 💜

Memories from Montreal 🇨🇦Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of ou...
14/08/2026

Memories from Montreal 🇨🇦

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

Were you there when we won gold at the very first Outgames in 2006?

Hosted at the Olympic Rowing Basin on Île Notre-Dame, the Argos took on crews from around the world on the historic 1,000 metre course to claim the gold medal for Australia 🥇

Of course, there’s only one way to celebrate a win in rowing .. throwing then coach, Sandy Mitchell, into the water!

To mark the success of the Outgames crew, we named our next eight after the city of Montreal and whilst the boat was recently damaged by bad weather, it’s legacy lives on with many of our Learn to Row participants taking their first strokes in it - love live Monty!

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at in Montreal? Send us a message with your story – we’d love to hear from you!

Argos go West 💜 Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favouri...
12/08/2026

Argos go West 💜

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala, we’re working through our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

This time we’re taking you back to 2004 when we raced at the Hamilton regatta in south-west Victoria!

We love a regional regatta and this one was no different – smiles all round with both male and female coxed four crews hitting the water (check out our fabulous purple oars!)

Great to see some post-race care with a massage table set up in the Argos tent.. anyone else thinking we should bring this back for the next regatta?

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at the regatta? Send us a message with your story – we’d love to hear from you!

Celebrating 25 years of the Argos 💜 Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala in October, we’re opening up our archives and s...
07/08/2026

Celebrating 25 years of the Argos 💜

Ahead of our Silver Anniversary Gala in October, we’re opening up our archives and sharing some of our favourite moments from the past 25 years

We love these pics from the APSM regatta in 2002 - check out our brand new zooties which were received to many “ooohs”, “ahhhhs” and “Luv-Yer-Zootie” from other clubs

We had 17 members race, with the Female Masters Coxed Four crew debuting our newest acquisition.. a boat aptly named The Argo coxed by Sandy and rowed by Annie, Maxi, Lizzie and Megan

We also entered the Male Novice Master Scull, Female Open Pair, Female Beginners Coxed Four, Male Master Coxed Four (two boats even!), a Female Eight composite with the Y Rowing Club and Female Beginner Scull races

Did we win, you ask? Well, quoting the Argos Newsletter from the time “Well, if you’re new to rowing, there are only two possible places a crew can come. You can win. And if you don’t win, you lose. In these terms, I would have to say that we lost”

Were you an Argo at the time or were you there at the regatta? Send us a message with your story – we’d love to hear from you!

💜💜💜

Show your support for the Melbourne Argonauts! For 25 years our club has become well known as a positive force for incl...
03/08/2026

Show your support for the Melbourne Argonauts!

For 25 years our club has become well known as a positive force for inclusion and its contributions towards making rowing a positive, safe and fun environment for everyone

Sponsorship of our Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner directly benefits our members by making ticket prices more accessible and every dollar received contributes towards our fundraising target of $25,000

Allying your organisation with our club is a visible sign of support to employees, clients and stakeholders that q***r representation and diversity in sport and community matter to you

Help us to continue our programs and club in achieving its mission to be a safe and inclusive space for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community

Reach out today for copy of our sponsorship proposal!

Category is: Q***r Forever 💜Our Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner theme, Q***r Forever, sets the scene for a fabulous eveni...
02/08/2026

Category is: Q***r Forever 💜

Our Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner theme, Q***r Forever, sets the scene for a fabulous evening honouring over two decades of being a loud and proud rowing club and a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community to participate in sport

Your q***rness is the dresscode - Q***r Forever is a night all about you!

Our Club Patron, Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, and Member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor MP, Club founders, life members, and other special guests will be there to celebrate the outstanding legacy of the club

📆 31 October 2026
📍 Lakeside Pavilion, Albert Park
🍽️ Three-course dinner and drinks package

Tickets are available now via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/melbourne-argonauts-silver-anniversary-gala

Get your tickets now 💜

Category is.. Q***r Forever: From Q***r to Eternity! Our Silver Anniversary gala theme, Q***r Forever, sets the scene fo...
02/08/2026

Category is.. Q***r Forever: From Q***r to Eternity!

Our Silver Anniversary gala theme, Q***r Forever, sets the scene for a fabulous evening honouring over two decades of being a loud and proud rowing club and a safe space for LGTBQIA+ community to participate in sport

Join our Club Patron, Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, and Member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor MP, club founders, life members, and other special guests for an event 25 years in the making

Your q***rness is the dresscode - Q***r Forever is a night all about you!

📆 31 October 2026
📍 Lakeside Pavilion, Albert Park
🍽️ Three-course dinner and drinks package

Tickets are available now via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/melbourne-argonauts-silver-anniversary-gala - get your tickets now!

See you there 💜

A celebration 25 years in the making!To mark 25 fabulous years, the Melbourne Argonauts Q***r Rowing Club is hosting the...
31/07/2026

A celebration 25 years in the making!

To mark 25 fabulous years, the Melbourne Argonauts Q***r Rowing Club is hosting the our q***rest event yet – the Silver Anniversary Gala Dinner!

Our Club Patron, Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, and Member for Albert Park, Nina Taylor MP, will be joining the celebrations and are our guest speakers for the event

Club founders, life members, and other special guests have also confirmed their attendance and will be helping us celebrate the outstanding legacy of the club.

📆 31 October 2026
📍 Lakeside Pavilion, Albert Park
🍽️ Three-course dinner and drinks package

The gala theme, Q***r Forever: From Q***r to Eternity, sets the scene for a night of fabulousness where our q***rness is the star!

Tickets are available now via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/melbourne-argonauts-silver-anniversary-gala - get your tickets now!

There are plenty more announcements to come, watch this space for updates!

See you there 💜💜💜

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34 Lakeside Drive
Albert Park, VIC
3206

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