In May 1970, a group of people who had been skiing at Lake Burrumbeet decided to hold a meeting of interested persons at the Anglers Hall, in Wendouree Parade, Ballarat. The Burrumbeet Ski and Boat Club was officially formed at this meeting. The Club quickly flourished gaining many new members. Some of the original personalities were Wally Attwood, Tommy Gill, Jack Crameri, Bill Blanchfield, to name just a few. Jack Crameri became the first Commodore (President). A local dentist, Jack had a whole tribe of children, and was a major instigator of getting the Club off the ground, or on the water.

Through negotiations with the Ripon Shire, the newly formed club planned a Clubhouse, and to raise the funds needed Debentures were issued. Each debenture had a face value of $200, was for a period of 5 years, and these were taken up by Club members and local residents. The boat ramp was built first through working bees. Andy and Phil Duggan, and Ian Quick featured in a photo in the Ballarat Courier, in 1971, pouring the concrete. The boat ramp opened up the lake to more waterskiing enthusiasts, and boosted the membership. When enough debentures were taken up, materials were purchased and the original Clubhouse was built, which was approximately half its present size. Bruce Trevena, a Ballarat Plumber, and Bill Blanchfield co-ordinated the building project, with the Clubhouse being completed with mostly volunteer labour.

Membership grew rapidly with the new facilities; toilets, showers and kitchen. A “Light Up” party was held to celebrate the connection of power. The Club held several progressive dinners and lamington drives to raise funds and to pay back the debentures, although these were usually very successful social nights as well. Although the debentures were considered loans to the Club, many declined the offer of their money back. The first Supper Dance was held at the Mount Clear Hall in 1972, and these nights became an annual event, based on many different themes.

Graeme Ferguson had become a mover and shaker in the Club, and was tireless in his work for the Club. Club competitions soon began and slalom courses were put in the lake. However the buoys were often used by local fisherman to tie their boats too, and needed replacing frequently. The Club Championship was a hotly contested event over a range of age groups and divisions, and three events – Slalom, Tricks, and Barefoot Wake Slalom. Other events held by the Club were boat launching competitions, children’s events, car trials etc. One very popular activity organized by the Club was the Annual Easter trip to Boort. Many members made the trip and enjoyed the skiing and company of other Club members.

The late 70’s saw many members become involved in lane races, and ski racing. There was a strong rivalry with the Learmonth Ski and Power Boat Club, and every year a competition day between the two clubs was held. Events for both ladies, men, and juniors consisting of Le Mans, Lane Races and Marathon competitions. The Le Mans race consisted of a relay of three skiers with each competitor having to ski on a disc, double finless skis, or a single finless ski. The marathon event consisted of each skier having to ski on all 6 pieces of equipment – Double skis, Single, Double finless, Single finless, a freeboard (ski without bindings), and a fence paling.
The Club became an inaugural member of the Western Victorian Water Ski Region, and soon a major competitor in all its events. Some of the other Clubs were from Warracknabeal, Boort, Donald, Hamilton, and Learmonth. We were well organized, with Graeme Ferguson having all events, skiers and boats on his whiteboard. However, unfortunately the Region folded in the early 80’s, mainly due to the difficulty of getting insurance to cover the events. These had been great days for all involved, and although the rivalry was fierce, it was good natured, and many firm friendships were formed across the Western Victorian area.
In 1982, the Club hosted the Australian Water Ski Racing Championships with hundreds of skiers and a large number of boats. Members worked hard all week with catering, manning crash boats, selling admission to spectators, selling raffle tickets etc. This was a considerable fund raiser for the Club, so much so that enough funds were raised to double the size of the Clubhouse, as it is today. Again it was Club members who worked voluntarily on the rebuilding project.

The Club has had many local, State and National Champions through a range of water skiing divisions. One member even won a world championship in 1999. For a small regional Club, we are and should be very proud of our skiers achievements.
The Club has always been run very well with a strong Committee, and at times a Social Committee, a Fundraising Committee and even a Ladies Committee. By the late 80’s the Club membership boasted over 100 family memberships, with many water skiing and social events.

In 1996, long term stalwarts of the Club, Bill and Wilma Jenkins, became the Club’s first Life Members. Bill has been Commodore several times, and has served on the Committee almost from the beginning. Wilma has been the President of the Ladies Committee, and both her and Bill have always been front and centre whenever there were jobs to be done.
Other Life Members include Val and Allan Duggan, Daryl and Judy Wilson, and our newest Life Members Herb and Marion Waldron were presented with their Life Membership, in August this year. All these have given exceptional service to the Club over an incredible time span.

1997 saw the water levels in the Lake drop, and the lake was closed to skiing, this devastated our Club and our membership dropped to the point where there were only 7 financial members, and our Life Members, constituting the Club. For 13 years a loyal and hardworking group kept the Club going, holding regular meetings and maintaining the Club as good as they could, despite several vandalisations and thefts.

In the last part of 2009, we decided to hold a 40 th birthday celebration of the Club despite the lack of water, and preparations were made, invitations were sent, and memorabilia gathered. A great night was held in March 2010, with many past members travelling from far and wide to join in the celebrations.

Then in September 2010 torrential downpours caused flooding to many parts of the State, but for us, water returned to the Club virtually overnight, and after 13 years of drought, the lake filled to overflowing. The Club held its first Christmas party last December for many years, and the Clubhouse, facilities, and grounds are in great condition. Our own Dad’s Army, consisting of Daryl Wilson, Herbie Waldron and Allan Duggan are responsible for returning the Clubhouse to its former pristine condition, and our foreshore to green lawns. In the past 12 months the Club membership has grown to 90 family memberships, the Committee is strong and progressive. With the enthusiasm of members the Club will continue to grow and prosper.