Blessing of Intrepid

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!

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!!!

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

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!