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Tasmania - archives
Dragons Abreast Tas (Hobart) have been very active in 2008. Early in January, our second week back paddling after the Christmas break, saw us tackling the Huon River for the second year in a row. Last year we paddled from Huonville to Franklin. This year we started a little further south at Port Huon and paddled up to Huonville, stopping at Franklin for morning tea. We were blessed with ideal weather. A shared lunch at the end of the paddle saw us, as usual, with far too much to eat. We seem to over cater each time we have shared lunches.
The first Sunday in April we joined in the bicentenary celebrations for New Norfolk, a township in the Derwent Valley. We hired the pink BCNA bus (see photo) to travel to the boat launching spot then joined the flotilla of man powered vessels to paddle “bridge to bridge” – from the bridge at New Norfolk to Bridgewater bridge. We then paddled further on to our picnic spot, paddling a total of over 24 kms on the day. On both of these long paddles we had 2 boats – Boobialla and Dragon Fly. And once again, an over-catered shared lunch! Just as well we paddle these long distances with all the calories we consume!
We had a great time in Sydney in February, taking a full crew to Chinese New Year on Darling Harbour. We won our first heat and overall finished 9th. Our goal was to get into the second final (which we did) so that all the crew could participate in the “Flowers on the Water” celebration – a very moving experience for us all.
Sunday April 20 th saw the launch and blessing of our new boat, Weedy Sea Dragon, the third boat in our flotilla. Our other 2 boats, Boobialla and Dragon Fly, and our rescue ‘rubber ducky’, Chrissie Lou, were also blessed by the monks who conducted the ceremony. Boobialla, our first boat, will be offered to new DA clubs starting up in Tasmania or the existing clubs as they grow until they can afford another boat. Chris Van Beuren and Louise Woodruff, paddling angels, worked very hard in the early days to acquire Boobialla and we can’t bear to part with her. Our rescue boat, Chrissie Lou, is named after these 2 wonderful women.
We have now gone into winter training mode, training once during the week and on a Saturday morning. The midweek paddle is in the evening in the dark so we have lights on the both ends of the boat and many of us also wear head lights. We find the evenings are often very calm for paddling, although somewhat chilly!
We have had meetings with members of the other Tassie DA teams in Launceston and Devonport, including one that Michelle Hanton was able to attend.
The inaugural Dragon Boat regatta for Tasmania was held on Saturday May 17 th at Montrose Bay. Normally subject to winds, the Bay was calm, the sun shining and dragon boating the beneficiary of ideal conditions for the event. Organised by Linda Riedel from the Lindisfarne Dragon Boat Club who is ‘showcasing’ the sport in the state. Our thanks to Linda and her crews for the most successful first time dragon boat regatta.
If you are a breast cancer survivor and want to find out more about this most enjoyable sport, please contact our Hobart president, Rosemary Kerrison – pjkero@bigpond.net.au – for more information, or come along to the Lindisfarne Rowing Club on a Saturday morning at 9.15 and make yourself known to the girls. We welcome new survivor members.
Photos of our various activities are also on the site
newsletter December 2005
newsletter August 2005
newsletter April 2004
My First Nationals - Perth, April 2004
(Moira Cannell)
(click on image to enlarge)
My thoughts on the Perth Nationals as a first time paddler there were, primarily, that the cameraderie amongst the pink ladies, being made to feel so welcome and amongst friends. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and to be able to participate as a member of one of the teams was much more important than winning medals. The other two Tassies felt the same, and it has whetted my appetite to keep returning. I feel very privileged to be part of this group of women. Perth was a great learning curve, and with the adrenalin flowing, you are able to achieve so much more than you think you're capable of. Not only were the race days great, but the social activities following were just as enjoyable, allowing everyone to get to know each other, and meet up with friends from previous events.
Michelle amazes me each time I meet her, her dedication and the skills she brings to Dragons Abreast.
So as you see I am well and truly hooked and plan to keep paddling for as long as I can, and participate in as many future events as I can, so I'll look forward to seeing you all again soon, Moira.
newsletter December 2003
newsletter October 2003
newsletter June 2003
newsletter February 2003
DRAGONS ABREAST TASMANIA
Launch Sunday 5th October 2003
Report from Michelle Hanton's visit to Hobart. (see also media
report and photographs
)
I have just spent the most fabulous, emotional and amazing, weekend
with a group of truly remarkable women in Hobart.
I am thrilled to report that Boobialla
- the very first Tassie dragon boat - was launched, in great style,
with much pomp and pageantry at the Lindisfarne Rowing Club on Sunday
5th October 2003. The presence of 20 Jin-Gang-Dhyana
Buddhist monks to perform a traditional blessing, whilst the awakening
of the dragon and eye dotting was performed by Mrs. Jocelyn Cox,
wife of Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania. ABC and Southern Cross
Television captured the formalities in technicolour and featured
the event on the evening news. The Mercury ran a lovely colour photograph
and article in Monday's paper. I had the privilege of addressing
the guests and also reading out a message of congratulations sent
by Jon Taylor on behalf if AusDBF. Special guests included Will
Hodgman, Dept Leader of the Opposition, Cathy Davis, Mayor of Clarenece
and Alderman Doug Chipman as well as Andrew Lovibond, President
of Lindisfarne Rowing Club, which is home to DAT.
The energetic committee and members of DAT are to be saluted for
their wonderful achievement in bringing a dragon boat to Tasmania.
The arrival of Boobialla, has sparked much interest and indeed,
the committee are finding themselves much in demand and are being
swamped with invitations to appear at various open days! It is
hoped (indeed expected!) that within the next 12 months a further
dragon boat will arrive in Tasmania, so that local competitions
may begin, and perhaps 2010 may even see the National Titles in
Tasmania!
The name Boobialla, is actually the name of a plant found in Tassie,
but it also has very obvious connotations! The Weedy Seadragon has
also been adopted as the symbol of DAT.
My Tassie adventure began on Thursday when I was met at the airport
by Peter & Moira Cannell, who hold the positions of Treasurer
and Vice President. They drove me to their beautiful home, situated
right on the waterfront - I did not realise this was the Derwent
River as it is so large and I was convinced it was the sea, until
I was put straight by the locals!
Thursday evening was a committee meeting, my opportunity to meet
those tireless workers, and once again catch up with the remarkable
Louise Woodruff and her sister Angie, who I had first met in Adelaide
in April. The committee had some absolutely fabulous large photographs
presented to them by the wonderful Andrew Lovibond - and Andrew
has promised to email them so we can have them on the Tassie web
page.
Friday saw me meeting with the BCNA Tasmania girls, including Joan
Williams and a group of other women who had travelled from Devonport
& Launceston, to help Karen Forster with the Field Women stuff!
We enjoyed a very sociable lunch together in the fabulous settings
of the Botanical Gardens - which was magnificently ablaze with stunning
tulips in flower! Coming from Darwin, this was indeed a wondrous
sight for me to behold & brought back memories of the last time
I had been in such great setting - Floriade in Canberra when I was
there for the First National Breast Cancer Conference!
Saturday dawned a glorious sunny day! I was mightily glad to see
the sun shining brightly as I had to take off my long pants and
jump into the boat for a training session. 19 eager paddlers appeared
and after some introductions and warm ups we were off and away!
Our session lasted over 2 hours and the team responded beautifully!
The session was great fun and include the practice of the DAT song
as well as the Dragons Abreast salute. After several practices we
managed to get some semblance of order! Needless to say, we carried
it off to perfection the next day, with no one any the wiser that
the whole thing was put together in just a day - goes to show how
wonderfully skilled all the Pink Ladies (& gentleman) are!
Saturday afternoon saw me wandering through the famous Salamanca
Markets accompanied by Louise, Peter & Moira. We sat at an outdoor
(yes, outdoor!!!) café and enjoyed lunch before taking a drive round
to landmarks of Hobart and the surrounds. What a beautiful city
and so full of history!
On Saturday night the committee of DAT treated me to dinner at
a local restaurant, where I had the opportunity to meet partners
of the paddlers & got to have more of a social chat instead
of yelling out for everyone to keep in time!
Sunday's launch day dawned, not quite as bright as Saturday, but
the rain kept away! We made our way down to the Club where Sue Houghton
was directing the kitchen traffic as she organised the afternoon
tea arrangements - and what a delicious spread it was! I think Dragons
Abreast Australia will have to look at doing a cookbook - we have
some great cooks amongst our members!
The arrival of the monks - a total of 20 - caused great excitement,
as did the appearance of the TV crews! As one of the paddlers was
heard to say "tummy's in and boobs out"! The monks made a presentation
of a beautiful bouquet of flowers to Moira Cannell & Louise
Woodruff. Fay, one the lovely paddlers who last name escapes me
at the moment presented each committee member with a most beautiful
orchid corsage made from flowers she had grown herself.
The afternoon went off splendidly & the paddlers looked very
professional as we took off from the shore after the official blessing
was over. Following the clean up, we all had a quick drink together
before dashing back home to catch the evening news!
My visit to Tasmania was complete as I was seen off at the airport
on Monday morning by Moira, Peter, Sue, Angela, Sally & Louise.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to be part of this very special
part of both DAA and DAT history!
Michelle Hanton
National Coordinator
Dragons Abreast Australia
Previous news
"Tassie Girls get it off for their Dragon Boat"
On Saturday 15 March 2003 Dragons Abreast Tasmania Inc held their
first major fundraiser, a Quiz Challenge, Silent Auction and half
time entertainment.
Over 130 friends and supporters gathered to test the Quiz Mistress,but
more fun was afoot. Chris Van Buuren and Louise Woodruff got their
hair off for to raise additional funds for their boats. Dragon Tattoo
applied. "Thumbs-Up", as pictured, by some of the steering
committee would indicate that they made some serious money to top
up their recently awarded grant.
My personal favourite memory from the evening was during Rnd9 activity,when
tables were scounging items from the handbags and pockets...The
QM called for a bra to get bonus points Rosemary Kerrison (DATinc)
Committee member sent her full body suit with prothesis to the scorers.
Approximately $3000 function with great follow-up opportunitunities,
and Lindisfarne Rowing Club made very good $$$ on their bar.
Newsletter February 2003
Dragons Abreast Tasmania &
Lindisfarne Rowing Club Dragons Abreast first official function
Sunday 17th November at Lindisfarne Bay on the beautiful Derwent
River .
A great day was had by all who
attended, weather warm, water calm. Lindisfarne Rowing Club never
looked so good decorated in "Pink".
The recently formed steering committee
was heartened by the turn-out of potential paddlers, support crew
and friends. Tassie now has a core paddlin' team now all we need
is the .%$#.
We don't have a boat on the water
yet but we made do using a rather unique boat known as the octa-eight.
All of our potential paddlers got their feet and butts wet in kayaks
or the rowing shell.
Another of these water activity
days is planned for the end of January until then our team will
have to walk and exercise together, party together over the festive
season, but we are very positive of having a boat in the water early
months of '03.
Louise Woodruff
This page last updated
January 21, 2010
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