Club History

Mannering Park is an isolated peninsula at the southern end of beautiful Lake Macquarie. Early residents were engaged in fishing and dairy farming. The building of the power station at Vales Point and the opening of mines to supply coal brought an influx of people who used the lake for recreation, fishing, water skiing and sailing.

The first regatta at Mannering Park was held on 14th March 1969 and in May 1969 the members of Mannering Park Amateur Sailing club held their first meeting. Fifteen people attended. It was decided to sponsor Sabots, VJs and a third, open class of boats. General sailing was conducted from September 1969 to April 1970. The boats met at the Point where the ladies’ auxiliary operated a kiosk. The money raised by the kiosk and from a 200 Club, purchased a rescue boat for $913 in 1970.

The search for a permanent Clubhouse started in 1970. Presentation nights were held at the Mannering Park Progress Hall with trophies donated by local business people. The Club continued to grow. The list of people involved indicates that most of the members of the Club were residents of Mannering Park. Even today several generations of families living in the town have been involved with the Sailing Club at some time.

In 1979 it was agreed to purchase a caravan to be used as a kiosk and sailing clinics were started for children. The block of land at the end of Grace Street was used for conducting the races. The absence of toilet facilities was raised with Council who decided that the Club had to wait until the sewer was connected. In 1985 sailing was organised from the Point. By this time the Club had grown, with 25 people attending the AGM in 1985. The boats had also grown in size with mostly trailer sailers and small fixed keel yachts and a couple of dinghies. After the sewer was completed the Club was granted permission to build a rescue boat shed with toilet facilities on the land at the end of Grace Street.

The current Clubhouse was built with the skill and labour of members and the block is maintained by members. It has a wide view of the lake and the race course.

The Club races on Saturdays and has introduced a successful twilight race on Wednesday evenings that makes a very welcome form of relaxation for members during the week. Many residents gather on the lake edge to watch the boats sail past. It is a weekly event that helps identify Mannering Park with sailing. Several excellent sailors have represented the Club in regattas in Australia and overseas winning State and National titles. This is a great achievement for a small community.

The Club became incorporated in 1997 and the name “Mannering Park Yacht Club Inc.” was adopted to reflect the change in the type of boats that now sail with the Club. In the 2002 – 2003 Season Catamarans were introduced as part of the fleet racing on Saturdays.

Club House Phone Number: 02 4359 3518

General Committee

2022 – 2023 General Committee

CommodoreJohn Skewes0402 961 019
Vice Commodore YachtsMichael Pilgrim0418 434 732
Vice Commodore CatsEmily Henderson0466 123 406
Vice Commodore DinghiesJim LeLaen0429 204 415
TreasurerCon Tzaidas0400 595 374
Assistant TreasurerBrenton Curran
SecretaryBruce McWhirter0417 441 252
Ordinary MemberJim McCulloch
Ordinary MemberKen Dalton
Ordinary MemberMichael Forbes
Ordinary MemberJim Lonsdale
Ordinary MemberTim Peters
Training Co-ordinatorAndy Whitbourne0419 291 544
WebmasterBruce McWhirter0417 441 252
Canteen ManagerJanet Carr
Club CaptainVacant
Club LicenseeJohn Skewes
Grant CoordinatorNikki Parker
Partners/Sponsors CoordinKen Dalton
Volunteers CoordinatorJim LeLaen
Youth Committee CoordinatLucy LeLaen

Protest Committee

2022 – 2023 Protest Committee

Michael Forbes0421 331 059
Jim McCulloch0410 606 979
Darcy Wilson

Regatta Committee

2022 – 2023 Regatta Committee

Andy Whitbourne
Michael Forbes0421 331 059
Jim LeLaen0429 204 415
Emily Henderson0448 096 119
Mick Pilgrim0418 434 732
Sheree Dalton
Danielle Barnes

Equipment Auditors

2022 – 2023 Equipment Auditors

Michael Forbes0421 331 059
Kevin Cook0402 424 198
Andy Whitbourne0419 291 544
Michael Pilgrim0418 434 732
Rob Blanch

MPASC Honour Board

DateMember NamePosition
1969 – 1974Ron DuriePresident
1974 – 1975Jim WalkerPresident
1975 – 1976John CarrollPresident
1976 – 1980Ron DuriePresident
1980 – 1984Dennis DeanPresident
1984 – 1986John LeafPresident
1986 – 1988Alf BlightPresident
1988 – 1989Ivan ArconCommodore
1989 – 1990Peter WoodwardCommodore
1990 – 1997Roy FredericksCommodore
1997 – 2001Patrick MacGregorCommodore
2001 – 2003Shaun LewickiCommodore
2003 – 2007Michael LewickiCommodore
2007 – 2010Andrew WhitbourneCommodore
2010 – 2010Bret HordCommodore
2010 – PresentJohn SkewesCommodore
1969 – 1970Jim BeddowVice President
1970 – 1971Owen SmithVice President
1971 – 1973John CarrollVice President
1973 – 1974David SimsVice President
1974 – 1975Ron DurieVice President
1975 – 1976David SimmsVice President
1976 – 1978Jim WalkerVice President
1978 – 1984John CarrollVice President
1984 – 1986Steve CoyteVice President
1986 – 1988John LeafVice President
1988 – 1989Peter WoodwardVice Commodore
1989 – 1990Roy FredericksVice Commodore
1991 – 1993Bob CarpenterVice Commodore
1993 – 1994John MurrayVice Commodore
1994 – 1997Bill LunnVice Commodore
1997 – 2001Shaun LewickiVice Commodore
1997 – 2001Shaun LewickiVice Commodore
2001 – 2003John SkewesVice Commodore
2001 – 2003John SkewesVice Commodore
2003 – 2004Bill LunnVice Commodore
2003 – 2004Bill LunnVice Commodore
2004 – 2006Bill KingVice Commodore
2004 – 2006Bill KingVice Commodore
2006 – 2007Brett HordVice Commodore
2006 – 2007Brett HordVice Commodore
2007 – 2008John SkewesVice Commodore Yachts
2007 – 2008John SkewesVice Commodore Yachts
2007 – 2009Brenton CurranVice Commodore Cats
2007 – 2009Brenton CurranVice Commodore Cats
2008 – 2010Robert BlanchVice Commodore Yachts
2008 – 2010Robert BlanchVice Commodore Yachts
2009 – 2010Michael ForbesVice Commodore Cats
2009 – 2010Michael ForbesVice Commodore Cats
2010 – PresentRod RussellVice Commodore Yachts
2010 – PresentRod RussellVice Commodore Yachts
2010 – 2013Robin BeamsterVice Commodore Cats
2013 – 2014Ryan DudmanVice Commodore Cats
2014 – PresentDave MicallefVice Commodore Cats
2014 – PresentJim McCullochVice Commodore Yachts
1969 – 1970Les PageSecretary
1970 – 1972Frank KearinsSecretary
1972 – 1974Alan BrownSecretary
1974 – 1975John CarrollSecretary
1975 – 1978Alex RobertsonSecretary
1978 – 1980Esther DeanSecretary
1980 – 1983Steve CoyteSecretary
1983 – 1987Hellen HordSecretary
1987 – 1989Rod WiseSecretary
1989 – 1990Matthew JenningsSecretary
1990 – 1991Ross ClerySecretary
1991 – 1997John LeafSecretary
1997 – 1998Nerida BilbySecretary
1998 – 1999Paul DickensonSecretary
1999 – 2002Tont TrummSecretary
2002 – 2007John SkewesSecretary
2007 – 2008Bruce McWhirterSecretary
2008 – 2010John SkewesSecretary
2010 – 2013Kate BeamsterSecretary
2013 – PresentBruce McWhirterSecretary
1969 – 1970Cass SandercockTreasurer
1970 – 1972Margaret WalkerTreasurer
1972 – 1980Val CarrollTreasurer
1980 – 1981Tony NichollsTreasurer
1981 – 1990Esther DeanTreasurer
1990 – 1996Rod WiseTreasurer
1996 – 2003Michael LewickiTreasurer
2003 – 2007Ann LewickiTreasurer
2007 – 2010Jenny LambTreasurer
2010 – 2013Keith WhiteTreasurer
2013 – 2014Rob BlanchTreasurer
2014 – PresentJenny LambTreasurer
1974 – 1974Ron DurieLife Member
1980 – 1980Val CarrollLike Member
1988 – 1988Roy FredericksLife Member
1999 – 1999Bill LunnLife Member
2010 – 2010Patrick MacgregorLife Member
2012 – 2012John SkewesLife Member
2014 – 2014Andrew WhitbourneLife Member
2016 – 2016Anne LewickiLife Member
2016 – 2016Jenny LambLife Member
2018 – 2018Brenton CurranLife Member