Australian Capital Territory
PO Box 7191 Yarralumla ACT 2600
tel: 1300 889 566
ACTregion@dragonsabreast.com.au (Regional Representative)
or canberra@dragonsabreast.com.au
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Dragons Abreast Annual Regatta 22 October 2006 - Central Basin, Lake Burley Griffin - Testimonials
I would like to add the Museum's thanks to those who organised such a spectacular day. I found organising our team of 20 members challenging enough, but you organised some 34 teams with such apparent ease. There was such an abundance of good spirit!!
You women give so much to each other and to others, that if generosity of spirit counted towards a cure then we must be nearly there.
Events like this demonstrate just how many different ways (and fun ways) people can collectively engage in raising awareness about cancer and support the fight.
Everyone has been talking about the regatta all week at work, and images aplenty are being posted on doors, noticeboards and websites. It even cracked a mention in the Senior Managers meeting by our Director, Craddock Morton, who fully supports our participation and even comes to cheer us on.
We will be back to share in the celebration of life next year.
Congratulations and keep up the good work.
(The Dragon master of Dragon the Chain, Australian National Museum)
Paddling in paradise
by Truus Ford
Dragonboating is different in Eden… there are big sharp rocks that suddenly poke out of the water, and there are mussel farms to avoid.
But the swell of the sea was exciting, and the beauty of the pink/red/golden cliffs was breathtaking. The surrounding hills and bushland sounded with carillons of bellbirds, and the sea smelled of fish…..
Twelve Canberrans stayed in the cabins at Quarantine Bay, where Susie the huge friendly and noisy Alsatian welcomed us. Susie shares the running of the place with two other dogs (one of which hopped into a dragonboat hoping for a paddle) and the very hospitable Marge and Mike Snijder.
On the first afternoon we paddled a good few kilometres from Quarantine Bay to Snug Cove, where we admired the resurrected Ukrainian topsail schooner the 'Batkivschyna'. Local sweep Charles Helmore gave us an interesting commentary on Eden as we went.
Food?? … Christmas in July in Eden, at the Lamplighter restaurant … a mountain of roast meats and vegetables, followed by Christmas pudding.
Santa Claus appeared, to give us each a gift, and the one-man-and-a-bit rock band had us on our feet for hours.
On the second day we paddled on Top Lake at Merimbula. This time there were oyster farms to avoid, and a navigation channel to follow. The water was beautifully clear, the day glorious. A barbecue was organised on the shore while we paddled, and there was a coffee shop close by …. what more does a person need?
And for those of us who stayed a second night …... a quiet(?!) Sunday night at the pub bistro, with two tables of dragonboaters and another of water police plus a few other stragglers ended a happy weekend with friendly generous folk in a beautiful part of the country.
CANBERRA AND ILLAWARRA DRAGONS ABREAST TEAMS COME TO THE SOUTH-EAST
by Pat Helmore
There is a lot more to Dragon Boating than racing other teams along a carefully measured course for the honor and glory of winning, accompanied by the huge adrenalin rush that comes with competition.
It is also about team work, forming bonds with other paddlers, and forging friendships along the way. For those people who have survived breast cancer treatment, and for those who have watched loved ones undergo the varying medical indignities that cancer involves it is this side of the sport that is so important.
Thirteen members of Illawarra DA Club and sixteen members of ACT DA visited Eden-Merimbula last weekend for the sole purpose of strengthening the bonds of friendship that have been growing since the Sapphire Water Dragons and SWD Abreast teams began competing 18 months ago.
Arriving on Friday night and Saturday morning, the first activity was two paddling sessions on Twofold Bay, from Quarantine Bay to the wharf and return. For some of the Canberra ladies this was their experience of ocean swell and the challenges to both sweeping and paddling styles that this involves.
Mike and Marge Snijder coordinated afternoon tea on the beach following the voyages, and everybody had time for a brief "nana nap" before going out to dinner at Edens' Lamplighter Restaurant, where Chris and Deane Bibby and their staff had gone to a great deal of trouble to produce a "Christmas in July" theme for the evening.
There was a roaring log fire, Christmas lights, a tree, table trimmings, a three course traditional Christmas dinner, and entertainment by Cadillac Jack (Rod Bryer), accompanied by Chris, who had arrived from the USA that afternoon.
The Sapphire Water Dragons and Dragons Abreast members again showed once again that they really know how to party, and the restaurant was soon pulsating to the beat of "That Old Time Rock'n'Roll"
Luckily, the log fire had died down!
Santa made a brief appearance and distributed fun presents to all, regardless of whether they were with the Dragon party or not, and the bus took everybody back to their homes by 1a.m.
The festivities didn't end there, as the three clubs met again at 9a.m. Sunday morning at Merimbulas' Top Lake for another couple of paddling sessions, followed by a BBQ breakfast-come- lunch, and birthday celebrations for Tina Bingham.
The visitors to the area took the opportunity to explore the Boardwalk, Merimbula shops and some of the nearby National Parks before fronting up again for another dinner out at the Great Southern Inn in Eden, and by Monday afternoon they had all returned to their homes in the Illawarra and Canberra.
One of the aims of Dragons Abreast Australia is to demonstrate to newly diagnosed women and the general public that there is quality of life following breast cancer. This last weekend proves it!
The Sapphire Water Dragons would like to thank all those who helped to make the weekend a success, especially David from Goodalls Quality Meats in Merimbula who kindly donated the sausages for the Sunday BBQ, Mavis Wasley who donated the Teddy Bear for the raffle, Kevin Turnbull for sign writing "Sukha Yana" and Quarantine Bay Beach Cottages and the Helmore Family Trust for providing accommodation for all the visitors at "mates rates"
October 23 2005 - Dragons Abreast Challenge, Lake Burley Griffin
Quilt raffle - 2004
People Scape - Anna Wellings Booth
TWENTY TWO HEARTS BEATING AS ONE
I was extremely privileged and humbled to
be part of the Internationally Abreast team that competed in Toronto,
Canada at their Dragon Boat Festival in June. I had been invited by the
organisers to present the Field of Women at a Breast Cancer Conference
in conjunction with the Festival and it was extremely well received.
This was part of a Media workshop facilitated by Mary Mather
a producer from the Canadian Broadcasting Commission. The workshop was
presented on both days of the conference and interest in the FOW was extremely
high as it was in the calendar produced by members of Sistership in Calgary
(the other presenter).
There were 13 crews of breast cancer survivors - that is 13x22
women in each boat. We competed in the open division as well as the breast
cancer survivor races and won our Division admirably. There were five
Australians, Janelle Gamble from Queensland, Caroline Bommer from Sydney,
Margaret Wolf and myself from Canberra and our indomitable captain from
Darwin, Michelle Hanton. We were joined by women from London, Ontario,
Vancouver, Brandon and Toronto to make up the Internationally Abreast
crew and what amazing women they were. Michelle's captaincy was inspirational
and we were indeed 22 hearts beating as one as the call was made and the
starter's gun was sounded.
Due to the course not being wide enough to accommodate 13
boats our finals were split according to heat times - there were 7 crews
in our final and we won well. After each of the breast cancer finals there
was a moment's silence as we threw pink carnations into the water in memory
of those who had gone before us - in this we were joined by many spectators
on the banks. Emotions were high and the feeling of camaraderie and oneness
with women we had never met was something we shall never forget. There
were women in wheelchairs, women with metastatic disease, women from all
walks of life united in demonstrating that we can and will beat breast
cancer.
I quote from a letter received from the husband of one of
the conference organisers and the woman I paddled behind. Eleanor and
I had an arrangement. She and I had to pause for a few strokes along the
way but we never did it at the same time! Her husband Charles was amazing
- he organised and distributed lunches for approximately 400 women on
both days of the festival and this is what he wrote:
"This weekend has been a special kind of success, you have earned the right to wear your cancer experience as a special badge of honour. Your joie de vivre, excitement and caring for one another help to slay the dragons of fear and anger. The search for the elusive 'Grail' is not easy for anyone, but together you light the way. You are 'The Paddler' reflected in the Spirit Cup."
Dragon boating is not for everyone but if you are able give
it a go - to experience an international festival is something I wish
for you all. You don't have to paddle to be part of it; you don't have
to be super-fit (I am a prime example!). Supporters are of equal importance
and extremely welcome. We represent the Network wherever we go and the
pink silhouettes also enjoyed their Canadian experience.
Thanks to the enthusiasm, energy and vision of our National
Dragon's Abreast Co-ordinator, Michelle Hanton, there are now crews in
Canberra, Perth, Brisbane, Newcastle and, hopefully, Adelaide - with of
course Darwin being the pioneers. Michelle is currently in Philadelphia
at the World Dragon Boat Championships and is a wonderful example of living
life to the full following breast cancer.
If any of you are thinking you might like to try dragon boating
we'd love to see you. Until further notice we meet at the Southern Cross
Yacht Club at 9.30 on Saturdays (and generally follow with coffee and
scones at Yarralumla!) You can come and try without committing yourself.
However, when the season commences you will need to become a member and
commit yourself to training 2-3 mornings a week. Ask one of your committee
members, Jan Skorich or Marion Leiba, for more information on what it's
like. I know they will encourage you to just come and try!
 |
Anna Wellings Booth
ACT BCNA representative
|
When we had to scrape ice from the boat and our fingers
froze to our paddles we realised that 7.00am weekday starts were too early,
so during the winter months, from June until September, we paddled only
at 9.30 am on Saturdays. We began to sympathise with the Canadian paddlers,
who break through the ice on the water to go paddling!
In September we commenced paddling at least three times
a week - Tuesdays at 7.00 am, Wednesday evenings at 5.45 pm and Saturdays
at 9.30 am. We also have the possibility to paddle with the Griffins on
Mondays and Fridays at 5.45pm. New paddlers are always welcome, so if
you would like to join us, or know someone who does, please give June
a call on 6251 5574.
Ten of our members will be travelling to Newcastle in mid-October
for the Masters Games. We have entered 7 races in one day, so we expect
to be tired but happy at the end of the day. Watch this page for more
news.
We managed to have the best vantage point for the rehearsals
of the dawn opening ceremony for the National Museum, and none of us would
have missed it for the world. Thanks to the efforts of June and Anna,
amongst others, we have been lucky enough to obtain sponsorship for 20
magnificent paddles and a new sweep oar. A special thank you to Joe Murray
from Aventis Pharma.
Our new paddles arrived just in time for the Multicultural
Festival in early March, and, together with women from Newcastle, Sydney,
Armidale and Wollongong, we paddled several fast and furious races, enjoying
ourselves immensely. Our sweep, Elsbeth, and our drummer, Marion, wore
pink feather boas flying back in the breeze. We truly were the most dazzling
team of the day. Anna had a significant, what she calls "Getting of Wisdom" birthday, so we had an excuse for a feast, complete with a wonderful cake
made by June, resplendent with pink jelly baby 'paddlers' and beautifully
shaped paddle-pop-stick 'oars'. The new sweep oar arrived several days
later, so we are now totally independent, and glide effortlessly through
the morning mist. Several of us travelled to Penrith on April 7 for the
Chinese Regatta at the Olympic Rowing Course.
June and Margaret came back from Darwin jangling with medals
and ecstatic about the team's performance in the National Championships.
They received gold medals for the Masters' Race (over 45s), a silver for
the race against the NSW and NT Dragons Abreast teams, and a bronze in
the women's titles. The Northern Territory government also presented them
with a medal for competing. There was some talk about crocodiles, which
we understand kept them paddling fast!
They came back with rhythmic paddling verses along the lines
of:
We're Pink Ladies through and through
We're an awesome dragonboat crew
With dashing style and flashing smile
We pound the water mile on mile!
To which we have added:-
Amazons two by two,
We're an oarsome dragon boat crew,
We're not here to sink or swim,
Out of our way, we're here to win!
We are women dressed in pink
We are here to make you think
Mammogram once a year
As routine as your Pap smear.
Boas flying, beat the drum
Winter's morning, fingers numb
Canberra women side by side
We'll take you along for the ride.
June and Margaret, Robina, Ann
Penny, Vicki, Robyn, Mary Ann,
Bridge to bridge and around the isle
Paddling through with a smile.
Maggie, Elspeth, Lenys and Anna,
Marion, Nadine, Kay, Jan, Sandra
Paddling in the morning mist
Shore to bridge and around the twist!
Anna has departed for Canada, and Margaret
will be joining her soon to compete in dragon boat races in Toronto. Good
luck to both of them!
Our special thanks to all those family members who help
out with organising events, transportation, etc., and put up with the
early morning starts! Please join us at the lake and have a go!
Wednesday 16 October, 2002
Cyndi Kaplan-Freiman, speaker and author of "There Is More To Life
Than My Right Breast", will be speaking at a "Women With Ambition" Breakfast Function on Wednesday 16th October at the Southern Cross Yacht
Club, Yarralumla, from 7:15 am - 8:30 am.
At the breakfast Cyndi will talk about her latest book 'There is more
to Life than my Right Breast', a personal guide to breast cancer, which
is based both on her own experience and interviews with other breast cancer
survivors. Cyndi's mission is to raise the awareness of breast cancer
and to help women through their journey by learning from the stories of
others.
Cyndi is vibrant, energetic and motivated, a living example of what she
teaches. She will enrich, inspire and motivate everyone who hears her
message.
By coincidence our training venue is Lake Burley Griffin, right outside
the Yacht Club, where we will be proving that "There is more to life
than my Right (or Left) Breast"! Marion will put up our display board
and attend the breakfast, pointing out to people that the feisty females
in the dragonboat are a living example that life can be enriched after
a diagnosis of breast cancer.
This page last updated:
April 5, 2009
