St George Motor Boat Club - a boating power-house

by Bob Wonders on 3 May 2007 There’d be few people, very few indeed, with an interest in power boating that have not visited or passed by the famous St.George Motor Boat Club on the shores of Kogarah Bay, in Sydney’s south. Bob Wonders takes a close up look at a power boating powerhouse.

Situated in Wellington Street, Sans Souci, on St.Kilda Point, the superb clubhouse boasts outstanding facilities for its more than 8500 members.

Its restaurants, cafes and bars have been well patronised by all and sundry.

Nevertheless, it’s in the promotion of power boat competition that St.George stands unchallenged as a leader in the sport.

To begin the St.George story, one must travel back more than 85-years, May 28, 1920, to be precise, to a meeting of like-minded individuals at the Prince of Wales Hotel, in nearby Sandringham.

These pioneers established the organisation that would become the club as we know it today and only two months after the inaugural meeting staged the first regatta on the Sans Souci course.

In November of that year, the land at St.Kilda Point was secured and the following February the club was officially registered.

The pioneers obviously had no intention of letting the proverbial grass grow beneath their feet; only two months later, on April 24, 1921 the first club house was opened.

It was a far cry from the palatial premises today’s members enjoy, but it served the purpose and was the foundation stone upon which the great club was built.

In 1929, acting on the best advice available, the club executive had the original company wound up and formed the basic non-proprietary company that still exists today.

From this point forward, the St.George Motor Boat Club prospered and went from strength to strength.

An extensive building program was undertaken, resulting in additions and extensions opened 1955, further additions and the marina opened in 1962 and even more expansion finished and opened in April, 1970.

The existing club house was eventually completed and modified to its present high standard in 1999.

On March 29, 2003, the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir, A.C., was on hand to officially open the all-new floating marina in from of the club house and last year, in October, Sir James Hardy, O.B.E. did the honours and opened the final modifications and extensions.

Did I say final?

The way St.George operates don’t be surprised if even further extensions are planned.

When one looks at the service given to the club by many of its directors, one mist assume it’s a pretty good club to belong to.

At least five of the current board can each attest to unbroken membership over more than 40-years!

One of those is current Commodore Ron Stanton, as recognisable around the club as the rocky outcrop on St.Kilda Point!

Ron is a member of the board comprising boat building legend Cec Quilkey (President), Col Sundstrom (Vice-president) and directors Dennis Sellers, Eric Martin, Leo Costa, John Anderson, Charlie Hill and David Blyth.

The directors nominate for election every year.

Labelling the club as 'a power boating powerhouse' is right on the mark.

Among its members are Ken Warby, holder of the world water speed record, together with a score of national champions, including Bobby Halliday, Con Cunningham, Sam Brown (six times a Commodore of the club), David Toyer, Henry Treloar and Craig Bailey, one of the best power boat pilots I’ve encountered.

'In fact, on last count I think we can number six Australian champions on our books,' Ron Stanton said.

'Not a real bad line up at all.'

Other well-known members include Peter Hunt (Hunts Marine), a long time supporter and sponsor of the club, Mercury Marine executive Ken Evans and prominent marine dealer Andrew Short.

Other keen supporters include Moby Marine Services, Quadram Air Conditioning, Esp Cleaners, Fehon Promotions, Paddy’s Hire and Littlewood’s Accountancy.

On the competitive side, the club stages seven club event every year, highlighted by

two ‘Speedboat Spectaculars’, one of which, held in July, is the famous Champion of Champions event.

The season lasts virtually all year round.

Ran Stanton said the board and the club were particularly proud of the new floating marina.

It boasts 130 berths for boats ranging from 8.0 to 18.0-metres and not surprisingly there’s a lengthy waiting list for a berth.

Every berth has power and water and each boat owner has key access to the marina arms.

The club also maintains casual berths for visiting vessels and these have proven extremely popular.

It also owns some swing moorings and here too is a waiting list.

Diesel and petrol fuel is available and there’s even a fish cleaning station for the club’s angling fraternity.

There are many clubs within the club, catering to a wide range of interests, including fishing, game fishing, bowls, cruising and golf clubs.

'We don’t overlook anyone if we can help it,' Ron Stanton joked.

It could equally be claimed that St.George Motor Boat Club does not overlook power boating in all its forms; in fact, all who have ever enjoyed a blast on the waters of NSW probably owe the club a debt of gratitude.

A powerhouse of power boating?

Absolutely, no doubt about it.