On Sunday 16th November we celebrated the 10th birthday of Dragons Abreast Australia with cake and champers after paddling
Our Pan Pac paddlers
Sue accepts her trophy from Faye at Gold Coast Fun Day
Rainbow Dragons finish ahead in their heat at Grafton
On Anzac Day we had a special commemorative paddle and raised some Pink Pennies for Abreast in Australia by selling tea and anzac biscuits to our members.
Our new marquee We have recently been given a nice little marquee to keep us shaded when we attend regattas. We are very grateful to the kind ladies from Brunswick Valley Quota club who donated the money for this.
After days of rain the sun shone brightly on us as we gathered at Lake Ainsworth, Lennox Head, on Sunday Sept 17 th to bless and launch our new dragon boat. It was a day when Dragons and Lions came together to celebrate – our boat was bought for us by the Lions Northern NSW Community Trust.
Aunty Bertha welcomes us onto Bundjgalung land
Laura accepts the boat from Lions Trust president
The traditional Buddhist blessing was given by the Venerable Bodhicitta from Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery before the dragon’s third eye was opened by our founding president, Barb Pinter. The other eyes were then dotted by Ochre, long-term partner of Noni who was one of the club’s original members. Noni lost her battle to breast cancer last year.
Barb Pinter opens the third eye
Ochre dots the eyes
Boat is launched
The boat was then launched into the smooth dark waters of Lake Ainsworth and was paddled out by a team of twenty survivors for a Flowers on the Water ceremony while the crowd stood silently on shore. Supporters formed an archway of paddles to welcome them back.
Supporters form arch
As well as representatives from the Bundjgalung people and Lions Club officials, the large crowd included two MPs, several Shire Councillors and hoards of paparazzi getting in each other’s way. The media coverage was great – photos and articles in several newspapers and a spot on NBN news that night. What a memorable day!
After that it was time to celebrate with pink champagne and a delicious spread of food including two big celebration cakes.
And as if all that excitement wasn’t enough, the following weekend our team traveled north to Currumbin for the Gold Coast dragons regatta and had a wonderful time paddling on their beautiful river, even coming second in a couple of heats.
Currumbin regatta “We may not be the fastest but we’re having lots of fun”
Another busy month here in the Northern Rivers - First up was the visit by the Amazon Heart bikers who called in on their way from Sydney to Brisbane. We welcomed them with breakfast on the beach in Byron Bay.
Celebrating at Jacaranda Festival On October 28th we travelled down to Grafton to paddle in the Jacaranda Festival regatta. We had a wonderful time, staying overnight at the hotel on the river and paddled the next day in three heats. We didn’t win but we didn’t disgrace ourselves and had lots of fun.
Show us yer tatts! Some of our members are so pleased with our new logo that they have had it tattooed on various body parts. Ouch! Others are content to wear it on our new shirts.
Showing off our new shirts and hats
Wasn’t that a great weekend at Chinese New Year in Sydney! Our club formed a combined team with Gold Coast Dragons and after several weekends of practice we were thrilled to come in third in the DAA category. Now we have a trophy to share. (above) Rainbow Dragons and Gold Coast with trophy
Our small group of supporters formed part of the Breast Mates team who distinguished themselves by making it all the way to the B finals and ending up 12th out of 72 corporate teams many of whom were much younger and with more men as well. What stars! (above) Tired but triumphant Rainbow Dragons
Supporters getting in the pink
Brilliant Breastmates
In March, sixteen of our club members took part in the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life at the Bangalow Show Grounds. It was a great afternoon/evening for walking. What an inspiration it was to see so many survivors walking with their supporters!
The following day a group of Rainbow Dragons attended the “Brart Auction” in Lismore. This was an auction of specially decorated bras organized by the Alstonville/Wollongbar Quota Club to raise awareness of breast cancer. They are generously donating some of the proceeds to our club. The bras that were auctioned were really amazing! Veda (with bra on head),
12 June 2005 - Paddling on Lake Ainsworth
