Dragons Abreast Australia Coordinators

Albury-Wodonga Regatta.

2010-04-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Ballarat Intrepid Spirits went to Albury-Wodonga Ragatta.
They joined Bendigo to become Bendirats.
A fun weekend was had by all.
They thought "drowned rats" may have been a more suitable name, as it rained heavily and was cold but they enjoyed participating.

Going to Canada

2009-11-30T02:52:00.000-08:00

Ballarat have seven ladies going to Peterborough. They are working hard to raise funds by catering and having garage sales. They are also looking forward to renewing friendships and making new ones. If we didn't have Dragons Abreast we wouldn't have these opportunities.

They are also telling people who come to the garage sale what they are raising funds for, and by so doing telling them all about Dragons Abreast to raise our profile.

Springfest at Lake Wendouree

2009-11-01T04:05:00.000-08:00

Ballarat Dragons Abreast took part in Springfest around Lake Wendouree. We handed out leaflets and generally raised the profile of Dragons Abreast with Intrepid on show.

Intrepid Spirits

2009-10-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

Ballarat Dragons Abreast are happy to announce we now have a paddling name. It is 'Intrepid Spirits'.

Our lake is filling and we hope the Intrepid will be out there with us all enjoying paddling in our home town.

We enjoy the camaraderie of the other Groups who host us.

The Blessing of Intrepid at Ballarat

2009-03-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

On 22nd March, Ballarat Dragons Abreast had Intrepid, our Dragonboat blessed by Ani Tsering a Buddhist Nun. The ceremony was very moving, specially when the Angels Abreast families unveiled their plaques. They had been covered with sprays of flowers. We now know if we didn't before how special our organisation Dragons Abreast is, and we are not just paddlers.

We were joined by some 200 guests and family on this special day.

There were so many comments of the depth of feeling felt by them. We are happy Gabrielle Boermans was able to dot an eye for us as she had brought Dragons Abreast to Ballarat.

Bendigo and Ballarat Dragons Abreast.

2009-03-14T23:37:00.000-07:00

Ballarat Dragons Abreast enjoy paddling with Bendigo Dragons Abreast on their Lake Weeroona.

We thank Bendigo and Geelong members for their instruction and friendship. They make it possible for us to get practise.

Chinese New Year 2009

2009-02-06T12:06:00.000-08:00

Well here we are again, in Sydney for Chinese New Year! This is the 9th CNY in which Dragons Abreast has participated. In 2000 we had a single composite team made up of paddlers from around Australia, and in 2009 Darling Harbour is awash with pink ladies! Yesterday I saw whole teams from Hobart and Mackay, and few strays from the Sunshine Coast and ACT, all dressed in their bright pink shirts. Racing is going to be great tomorrow, despite the 44 degree heat!

ORD ADVENTURE PADDLE

2008-12-28T23:02:00.000-08:00

REACH TO RECOVERY

It is with great excitement that we announce that Dragons Abreast Australia is organising an Outback Adventure paddle down the Ord River in the Kimberley as an add on to the Reach to Recovery conference in Brisbane in May 09.

The paddle is normally held every second year but this event is being contracted especially for the Reach to Recovery conference delegates who are coming in from overseas and we are delighted that we are now able to extend this opportunity to members of Dragons Abreast from across Australia that may be interested.

Cost for this adventure is $2,250 per person ex Darwin - full details are here. The adventure has been designed to provide an experience of a life time and non paddlers will also be catered for.

Places are limited - if you are interested please contact us - office@dragonsabreast.com.au - to register.

A REAL EYE OPENER!!!!

2008-11-25T19:50:00.000-08:00

After having an awesome week of fun in Darwin I spent a few hours helping out at our "head office". For those who don't know "head office" is a converted garage in Steve & Michelle Hanton's backyard. No, there is no undercover security parking, nor is there a boardroom, storage area, male and female toilets, spring water fountain, lunch room or reception/waiting area.

Our "head office" is crude to say the least. There are 2 desks, with very little clear horizontal space, surrounded by merchandise, photocopier, stationery, filing cabinets, notice boards, etc. One of the desks has hardly enough room to house a volunteer. There is a small box air conditioner and 1 fan to cool the volunteers in the tropical NT heat. You would have trouble swinging a kitten around "head office".

I had heard a little of the state of head office but nothing prepared me for what I saw and worked amongst.

Everyone needs to know that Dragons Abreast Australia needs help and our member groups must be made aware of where their calls are made to and from, where events such as Caloundra and the DA Corporate and Community Regatta are organised, where their merchandise is dispensed from, where all the administration is done and why Dragons Abreast Australia needs everyone's help.

Dragons Abreast Australia is run by volunteers (apart from Kathy James who is our only paid employee on the basis of 12 paid hours although she spends approximately another 20 hours per week volunteering at "head office").

When you think of a charity please always remember "Dragons Abreast Australia" is OUR charity.
Angie Walter
Regional Representative - NSW North Coast

MORE GREAT PHOTOS

2008-11-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

The photos from the 10th Anniversary and Delia Lawrie's Pink Party have just been loaded to our Picasa Album.

Lauren Vallance - our Regional Rep for Victoria made sure she maximized the opportunity to have her photo taken with the handsome hunks from the NT Fire Department as they collected donations in pink buckets for Dragons Abreast. They were cute! and Cynthia Schultz from Port Lincoln obviously thought so too!

Celebrating 10 years of Dragons Abreast

2008-11-15T23:53:00.000-08:00

Last night we celebrated our 10 years in fine style with a dinner held at Parliament House, Darwin. We were thrilled to see so many of our interstate members make the trip to Darwin. The atmosphere was electric as old and new dragons came together in the Top End to reflect and enjoy the memories of the past decade.
Senator Trish Crossin, one of the guest speakers agreed to join Madeleine Luck-Grillon as an Ambassador for DAA. Senator Crossin addressed the Senate on 10 November outlining the achievements of Dragons Abreast Australia. A copy of that speech will be posted on the website shortly.
Presentations were made to men and women who have been committed to the organisation for many years. As we enter the second decade we celebrate the tremedous growth of DAA and move forward with great confidence in the future.

WEEKEND IN PORT LINCOLN

2008-11-01T00:09:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying a weekend in Port Lincoln - Michelle Hanton, Jo and Jenny Petterson and all the local members had a great night yesterday evening at the Port Lincoln Hotel where they were the guest speakers along with the local breast care nurse Helen Hookings. The breast care nurse is a new position here and is sure to be a wonderful addition to the local support services.

Blessing of Intrepid

2008-10-28T04:34:00.000-07:00

Ballarat Dragons Abreast are happy to invite you to the 'Blessing of Intrepid', and the 'Dotting of the Dragons eye'.
It will be held at View Point on Lake Wendouree Ballarat at 2pm on the 22nd March 2009.
There will be eats and drinks and lots of enjoyment for all.

OUR INAUGURAL REGATTA IS ALMOST HERE!

2008-10-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Dragon HQ is abuzz with activity as we work to complete all the last moment preparations for the Regatta on Sunday. We are absolutely thrilled with the response from members travelling distances to help us make the day a success and very indebted to Cynthia Kuiper for her wonderful efforts in keeping the Sydney end ticking over along with MASSES of help from Dragons Abreast Sydney who have rallied to the call.

To those who are coming to Sydney - look forward to seeing you all there - I'll be at the information booth in Palm Grove for the bulk of the time, and the lovely Jo Parry, Adrianna Murray & Kathy James will also be there 'wo'manning the booths with assistance from several others as their races times permit.
Michelle

BENDIGO HAS WATER IN THE LAKE!!!

2008-10-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

Just received the wonderful news from Bendigo that Judy Chapman has finished her chemo and is starting to feel better, and says "so am back in the wonderful loop of dragon boat paddling" and Judy tells us that they have recommenced training as their Lake is finally full of water!

Dragons Abreast Bendigo have also organised an official PO Box in accordance with the national recommendations.

Well done ladies and nice to hear you're feeling better Judy :)

HOW DRAGONS ABREAST BEGAN

2008-10-04T07:13:00.000-07:00

As we are surrounded by all the pink hype that surrounds October and breast cancer awareness, it is amazing to think that 10 years ago there was no dragon boat paddling for breast cancer in Australia. Today we have 43 groups around the country and it all began here in Darwin.

This photo is the first every group of paddlers. We used the name NT Breast Cancer Voice - in those fledgling days in Darwin each of us was keen to promote breast cancer awareness and the advocacy movement was in its infancy.

The dragon boat was something that we saw as FUN and more appealing to women than the hard slog that is advocacy work.

We've come a long way in 10 years! It is also very gratifying that most of the original members are still in contact with each other and many of us still very active advocates (as well as dragon boat paddlers!)

We celebrated the 10th birthday of NT Breast Cancer Voice on the 29th August - and on the 15th November we'll celebrate the 10th Birthday of breast cancer survivors paddling in a dragon boat - today we are known as Dragons Abreast across the country - but we are still very much in the same position as 10 years ago with no regular income stream. I am proud to say that we have managed to somehow stay afloat on the sniff of an oily rag - and that is thanks to lots of indviduals collectively working together.

Thank you to all our members and valuable supporters!

WELCOME NEW GROUPS!

2008-09-23T03:07:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to learn that we have received membership applications from CAIRNS, MT WARNING and ORANGE.

As each of these areas moves through the application process you will soon hear more about each of them.

Welcome Aboard and we all look forward to working with you to full member status.
Kind regards
Michelle

'Gecko' Launch

2008-09-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dragons Abreast ACT have a new 10 seater boat, Gecko, a baby sister to their full sized pink boat GoAnna.

On 10 September from 10.30-11.30 am Dragons Abreast ACT will be launching Gecko at Lotus Bay. This boat was purchased with a grant from ACT Sport and Recreation and fundraising. The boat will receive a traditional Buddhist blessing and be launched by Kel Watt, President of AusDBF, before meeting GoAnna for a race with ACT Brumbies and Canberra Raiders players paddling with DA Pink Ladies and the media. Morning tea and a barbecue will be provided. Team members welcome.

DA ACT at the Emily Exhibition

2008-09-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

Dragons Abreast ACT was privileged on Sunday 7 September to view "Utopia: The genius of Emily Kame Kngwarreye" at the National Museum of Australia with Curator Margo Neale (a member of our team) giving us an insiders view of the exhibition and the massive logistics involved in getting these magnificent works to Japan, where 'Emily' is bigger than Andy Warhol!

Around 30 team members attended, with a special guest from DA Albury, Thelma Wright, who was in Canberra to complete the AusDBF officials course.

Margo is pictured with what she calls 'the boobs work', depicting body painting on breasts. Don't miss the exhibition, which is on until 12 October - http://www.nma.gov.au/

LATEST NEWS

2008-08-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Lots of AGM's happening around the country and we welcome aboard the newest coordinators who we are sure will do splendid jobs!

Regional Reps Angie Walter and Cynthia Kuiper, both in NSW have been busy visiting and making contact with their groups.

KEYRING OF HOPE FUNDS TO DATE

2008-08-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

The Keyring of Hope has raised a total of $5020.66 for Dragons Abreast Australia nationally. This figure does not reflect the money that each of our members groups made from the sales – so if we factor those into the equation the figure is much higher.

We are just skimming the surface with the sales of the Keyring and our biggest worry is that groups will miss the October opportunities – if you do not order now there will not be enough stock to go around! So if you want to maximise the opportunity please consider placing a pre-order now by contacting us 1300 889 566.

WE GOT THE BOAT WET!! - WAGGA WAGGA

2008-07-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

Photographic proof that we finally got the boat wet.

22 of our paddlers from Wagga drove to Temora on Saturday 26th July, & paddled with members of Temora Breast Cancer Support Group. It was a great day, and the very friendly Temora group provided a fantastic morning tea & lunch.

Our coach Lynelle was joined by Sweeps Lee Mavanna from CDBA & Pete Boreham from Sale in Victoria, and the three of them made a great team ensuring everyone had a good time while staying safe.

And now we've been told that we can use our local lake too. Woo hoo!

Cheers,

Lee Massey

KEYRINGS OF HOPE

2008-07-31T02:32:00.000-07:00

These keyrings are going like hotcakes and we still are not into traditional pink products months of mid Sept and October.

If you would like a new and innovative way to raise some much needed funds for your local group and for Dragons Abreast nationally then the Keyrings of Hope are the perfect thing!

They are very cute and sell themselves as they are new on the market and very useful too!

If you want to sell these at a loal fundraiser please get your orders in early as we are experiencing a high demand and we'd hate anyone to miss out!

For more details please contact merchandise@dragonsabreast.com.au for wholesale orders of 10 keyrings at a time or call us on 1300 889 566

You might also like to approach your local hairdresser, chemists, beauty salon etc etc to sell these on your behalf!

Your Regional Reps at work

2008-07-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Wow -I've finally got this happening - thanks Jan for your patience! What a wonderful gathering - it was great that so many were able to get to Bendigo for the recent DAA General meeting. Your Regional Reps at work - from 8.30am to about 5.30 pm on Saturday - on a glorious winter's day after a frosty start, with sun streaming through the windows. Luckily Angie & I did the Wildflower Walk when we arrived on Friday!
Thanks to DA Bendigo for the extra folding beds and mattresses, as by Sat evening we had stretched the Otis Foundation rooms to the max, so 4 of us followed Judy Milner home to our comfy billets after dinner at the pub. A quick Sunday morning tour of Judy's beautiful garden (now I know why Judy is the volunteer gardener at Otis) while gulping coffee to keep warm, before we set off into town to greet more locals and some new arrivals from Ballarat. By all accounts the Vic team reps thought the meeting was most worthwhile - "finally felt that member groups had a part of the process and that there was a more accessible way ofbeing 'heard'." "The meeting seemed to go well and it was a good opportunity to get to know more about the operational aspect of DAA.""All the Pen. Dragonflys enjoyed themselves & got a lot out of the meeting.""...a most informative and enjoyable weekend. The session has certainly given me a greater understanding of the huge amount of work and dedication you all put in to keeping DA 'afloat"."
Paddles up! VictoriaPru

GREAT NEW TEAM

2008-07-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

The meeting in Bendigo was a wonderful opportunity for Victorian members to meet much of the Dragons Abreast team that operates around the country to make everything happen for members.

Trish Greenfield - Regional Rep Manager did an excellent job of chairing her first such meeting and it was wonderful to have both the previous Victorian Representative Pru Menzies and the new representative Lauren Vallance present. Lauren was responsible for the yummy catering!!

Angie Walter, the NSW North Coast Representative and Carole Douglas, North Queensland Representative both enjoyed meeting fellow reps. Cynthia Kuiper, our NSW representative gave an excellent presentation on why members need to support the national body. Pat Hancock from the Policy Committee shed light on the policy making and Moira Cannell from Tasmania lent her expertise too - it was a fantastic combination of talent.

Kathy James (our new Office Admin Manager) also made her debut and explained the ID system as Jan Skorich, our wonderful web mistress flashed up live views of the website and explained all our whizz bang technology!

We were all very thrilled to experience the hospitality of the Otis Foundation - what an amazing place! Thank you Otis!
Michelle