ARGONAUT; sailors of the ship “Argo”, who sailed in quest of the golden fleece. Those original sailors certainly had a great and worthy goal in mind. Such an idea; such a story, may seem out of place in the modern world. However, its association with us, the members of the Melbourne Argonauts Queer Rowing Club, serves as a powerful link to our own on-water activities. Those original Argonauts had their own goal to work towards, so how does it link to us?

We Argonauts are a diverse group. Formed in 2000, we comprise over 100 members bent and straight, ranging in age from 18 to well past that! All of us believe in the benefits of taking part in a thrilling sport that requires some discipline, a belief in our fellow rowers and ourselves and a willingness to give it a go.

Whether you have excelled in sport or felt inhibited the Argonauts provides a safe and supportive environment for new rowers to gain skills and confidence in the sport while nurturing all levels. It starts from our “Learn To Row” program, and continues by working towards either competitive rowing, or simply rowing for fun and fitness. Along the way, lots of joy and friendship accompany the training, those early starts and the sense of accomplishment we all feel for what we achieve. We gather at our sheds at Albert Park Lake, encouraging each other, sharing our success and keeping our boats ready for our next effort with the oar.

Through our rowing we demonstrate to society the rich contribution made by the GLBT community in sport. We promote awareness of our community, helping to deal with homophobia and ensuring we occupy our rightful place within sport. For us, this goal is as worthy as the goals of the original Argonauts.