MEET THE Coaches
HARATA (HARMONY) WILSON
Harata wholeheartedly dedicates herself to the club, embodying a remarkable commitment to its success. Her approach to duties is characterised by gentle consideration, providing tactful suggestions for technique improvement. Her presence is consistently felt at training sessions, where she actively engages in sweeping, coaching, and occasionally paddling.
Beyond her coaching expertise, Harata has become synonymous with the club’s spirited identity, thanks to her fabulous and rousing club chant. This chant, enthusiastically echoed by all members at each regatta, adds a unique and energizing element to our collective team spirit, reflecting Harata’s positive influence on the club’s culture.
Click here to see Harata’s Chant:
Harata’s coaching technique has been instrumental in the blossoming success of our regattas. Her dedicated guidance has not only elevated our performance but has also fostered a stronger sense of camaraderie within the club. Under her leadership, we have not only achieved notable success in competitions but have also forged lasting bonds among our members, creating a vibrant and supportive community that continues to thrive.
MICHELLE DAVIS
Michelle embarked on her dragon boat journey in late 2009, driven by a belief in making exercise an enjoyable endeavor. This philosophy extends to her role within the club, where she imparts a sense of fun and camaraderie. Since joining HRD, Michelle has actively taken part in numerous regattas, showcasing her dedication to the sport. Beyond paddling, she has assumed the role of an assistant coach, finding joy in witnessing the growth of new paddlers as they develop both skills and a passion for dragon boating.
In her professional life, Michelle brings a wealth of knowledge as a full-time Accredited Exercise Physiologist, boasting over 22 years of experience as a personal trainer. Her expertise and commitment contribute not only to her success on the water but also to the overall well-being and fitness of those around her. Michelle’s multifaceted contributions make her an invaluable asset to the club, blending a passion for dragon boating with a wealth of experience in the realm of exercise and fitness.
SUE GRAHAM
Sue has been paddling since 2019 and stepped into a coaching role in December 2024, bringing with her a genuine passion for dragon boating and a deep commitment to helping others discover the joy of the sport. Like anyone who has caught the paddling bug, Sue’s enthusiasm is contagious, inspiring those around her to get involved, grow in confidence and push their limits.
Drawing on her background as a classroom teacher, Sue creates dynamic and inclusive training opportunities that support paddlers at every stage of their journey — from first-time participants to seasoned competitors. Her encouraging and positive approach fosters a love of learning, teamwork and personal achievement, making a lasting impact on both individuals and the club community.
TRISH PALMER
Trish’s journey in dragon boating began with the inception of the club in 2011. As a dedicated enthusiast, she embraced the sport from its early days, contributing her passion and commitment. Over the years, Trish’s proficiency and dedication caught the attention of the dragon boat community, leading her to be appointed as the Assistant Coach in January 2023. This new role reflects not only her personal growth within the sport but also her desire to share her expertise and inspire others in the exhilarating world of dragon boating.
Trish’s role as a leader in supervising, has provided her with a valuable set of skills for understanding and leading our crews on the water.
JESSE DIAMOY
Jesse has been part of Hunter River Dragon since the club’s very beginning in 2011 and is one of its inaugural members. He has proudly represented the club at Regional, State and National levels, demonstrating both skill and dedication to the sport.
Driven by a deep passion for dragon boating and a genuine desire to help others reach their full potential, Jesse stepped into a coaching role in 2014. He has a natural ability to bring out the best in people, motivating paddlers with encouragement, positivity and a belief that everyone can go further than they think.
Jesse is committed to supporting paddlers at every stage of their journey. He inspires them to stretch a little further, dig a little deeper and continually strive for improvement. Each training session reflects his energy and purpose, with thoughtful plans to refine technique, build endurance and strengthen teamwork. Seeing paddlers succeed is what fuels him, and he is always ready with constructive feedback, encouragement and a genuine sense of pride in their achievements.
KAREN MONTGOMERY
Karen began her dragon boating journey in 2017 and quickly distinguished herself through exceptional technique, determination and a relentless drive to improve. Her commitment and talent saw her represent the club at regional and state levels, as well as on the national stage. In 2025, Karen achieved a significant milestone when she was selected to represent Australia overseas as a member of the Auroras — a testament to her skill, discipline and passion for the sport.
Motivated by a strong desire to give back to the club, Karen stepped into a coaching role in 2025. She brings her high-level experience and deep understanding of the sport to every session, with a strong focus on refining technique, building fitness and empowering paddlers to reach their potential. Karen’s leadership, drive and enthusiasm inspire others to push their limits and strive for excellence, both individually and as a team.
COACHES FEEDBACK FROM HRD ANNUAL MEMBERS SURVEY
Harata (Harmony) is a fantastic coach. She leads with such passion and dedication to the sport and HRD. She is very careful in her approach to team selection and delicately balances the needs of individual and the club. She is incredibly inspiring and a major asset to the club.
Michelle is an outstanding coach with an eye for detail. Her no nonsense approach is balanced with her obvious love of the sport and HRD. We are very fortunate to have her as a coach.
We are just getting to know Trish as a coach and I have no doubt that she will be supported as she moves through the training program.
Really happy with all coaches. Motivating and encouraging.
MEET THE SWEEPS
TIM WILLIAMS – REGIONAL SWEEP CO-ORDINATOR
Tim stands as a valued member of our club, having been an integral part of HRD since its inception in 2011. Serving as our Head Sweep, he not only navigates and tows the boats with unwavering dedication every weekend but also serves as a repository of valuable information and experience. Tim’s commitment to excellence extends beyond our local waters; he has ventured internationally to explore and adopt different sweeping styles from prominent clubs.
His extensive knowledge and skills make Tim an invaluable asset to our community. When it comes to assessing the safety of paddling conditions, we instinctively turn to the question, “What would Tim do?” Such is the high regard in which we hold him, acknowledging his pivotal role in ensuring the well-being and success of our dragon boat endeavors.
In 2025, Tim gained Level 4 sweep accreditation and a position as a Regional Sweep Co-ordinator.
ADDITIONAL SWEEPS
Harata Wilson Level 3 sweep accreditation.
Gavin Grant Level 2 sweep accreditation.
Lisa Brown Level 2 sweep accreditation.
Di Robertson Level 2 sweep accreditation.
SWEEPS FEEDBACK FROM HRD ANNUAL MEMBERS SURVEY
Everyone has a respectful communication style on the boat which is good because a sweep can make a difference to the feel of training once you are paddling. Having consistent messaging from sweeps is important.
Tim in particular can read a river and never gets fazed.
Another shout out to Harmony who takes on dual roles and to Tim who has recently put us through our paces as stand in coach while also sweeping.
It is clear the sweeps are a team and all have the same high level of professionalism.