Australia:History
From CanoePolo.org
There is some history in Australia:Summary of Canoe Polo that should be brought into here
In the late 70's (77-78), Ian Butler, President of the Wynnum District Canoe Club at that time, drove development in that area. Several test/mock up comps was held in slalom boats with tennis Balls on the end of the boats and also had players in canadians. Eventually they got hold of a jelly bean bat mould.
Competitions was held in QLd against the Indooroopilly club, and also the QLD Cruisers, Pine Rivers and the Logan Clubs as well as the Bundeberg and Townsville Canoe clubs. Help from the Jindalee property developers at West lakes in QLD provided prizes etc.
The inaugural Polo Champs was held in Cairns in 1980 as a part of Aust Slalom & WW championships which were on Barron Gorge that year. NSW, QLD and Vic had a team there in Juniors (not sure on Open and Womens teams). Participants includes Steve Jenkins (and others).
QLD was held in Baggara in QLD.
OZ champs was held in Grafton NSW in 81 as part of the Slalom champs.
Championship was also held in Sydney in August 83 or 84
in the 90's, Steve Jenkins helped start polo up in Darwin and worked with the guys from katherine NT to get a comp running in the NT.
Ross Cook of Rosco Canoes very involved in the early days as well as Ian Butler, Darren and Bill Solomon of Wynnum club, and some people from the townsville region.
