The Blessing of Intrepid at Ballarat

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.

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

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

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!!!!

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

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

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.