Dragons Abreast Australia

Keyrings of Hope

2008-07-14T14:12:00.001-07:00

You can order the Keyring of Hope via our website at http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/Admin/merchandiseKeyringHope.htm and also download a flyer to hang on your office noticeboard. These little items will make great stocking fillers at Christmas!

PINK & WHITE M&M's CAMPAIGN

2008-06-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

The Pink & White M&M's are going down a treat and there is still some stocks available. Each of these packs has been especially made for Dragons Abreast and not only do they help with our fundraising but equally importantly it is raising our profile in so many different areas and allowing those newly diagnosed to discover us. The amount of calls to the 1300 number is testament to this.

If you'd like to order some carry boxes please contact us on 1300 889 566 for more details - we'd love to hear from you!

The chocolates really do sell themselves!
Michelle

THANK YOU AUSTRALIA

2008-06-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

I am deeply honoured and quite stunned to have received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Queens Birthday Honours list. Actually gobsmacked is probably the better word. I also feel rather emotional about it all.

I am currently in Winnipeg – far from Australia and family – as this news has been announced. It is rather surreal actually. I knew it was about to happen as they contacted me just prior but never count your chickens is my motto!! Just didn’t seem possible that such an honour would be bestowed on me.

I have to tell you that I went on the website on Monday to check if it was actually real – and it was! I had no one to tell so I shared with my dear friend Eleanor Nielsen as I saw her as I walked into the room – I was busting to tell someone! Little did I know that she was going to be on the podium next (as she had not been up all week and was not named on the program but she was facilitating a discussion panel!) and lo and behold, she told everyone – so they all stood and clapped – all a bit embarrassing!

I have, in the last day, received an incredible amount of congratulatory emails from so many places – amazing who reads the papersJ. Some of your messages have reduced me to tears – the people who have bothered to write to me, to share their feeling of how they felt on hearing my news – it is truly an amazing feeling that is quite beyond words. I am truly blessed to know so many fantastic people.

I have this afternoon been faced the dilemma of how to acknowledge all this correspondence and what to say to the members of Dragons Abreast Australia and the wider community – what is the protocol with these kinds of things? I don’t know!

Dragons Abreast has always been different and so I decided that the best way to do this was to write this note to everyone and share this incredible time with you in some small way.

This honour is very humbling and I want to use this moment to acknowledge the special angels who are no longer with us, who have shared the dream and the vision, walking closely beside me as we have establishing Dragons Abreast over the last 10 years.

Most importantly I want to acknowledge publicly that none of this would be possible without the fantastic support that I receive from my family. My husband Steve, my daughter Sasha and my son Wayne, whose unwaivering support and love sustain me always.

I do not know who nominated me for this honour or who has been involved in some collusion!! And probably I never will - but thank you all so very much.

With deepest thanks to each of you that have supported me personally and Dragons Abreast Australia on this incredible journey - a journey that has not ended either - not till we have a cure for breast cancer!

Kindest regards
Michelle Hanton

THE END OF THE CONFERENCE

2008-06-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

The conference finished yesterday - at the closing we all lit a candle for those women who are NEWLY diagnosed - a woman is diagnosed every 3 minutes!! The candle was to represent a prayer for each of them, that they receive the courage and the strength for the journey they are embarking on.

I felt this was a very nice touch and highly appropriate end to the conference where the whole theme was about working together and not expanding our energies on reinveting the wheel.

The Ugandan speakers were extremely interesting - the team included a surgeon and a survivor - they explained how they were working to the best of their ability with the very limited resources they have available and also trying to overcome to social stigma associated with breast cancer. Dr Moses told us that the country has 50 million people and of that 50% are under 15 years old. The national health budget is $12 per person - so of course there is nothing for breast cancer treatments and awareness - so most present as a Stage 3 or 4 at diagnosis.

The President of Europa Donna was another speaker - she outlined the mission of the organisation and also spoke of the disparities in Europe in services and conditions.

My conclusion from this entire conference is that we are so lucky in Australia to have access to wondeful treatments and support services! Even those who live in remote areas are FAR better off than so many other parts of the world. Australia is indeed a lucky country and we are blessed to be living there.

Many of the delegates I spoke with expressed a keen interest in coming to Australia the Reach for Recovery Conference which is being held in Brisbane next May - so it will be a chance to renew friendships. The photo is one of myself and some new survivor friends from the Bahamas.

All the dragon boaters that were in Caloundra and are here have told everyone what a wonderful time they had in Australia and what a fabulous event it was. Check the coordinators blog for more information on the dragon boater side of things!

It has been a wonderful time here, a great sharing experience and I have had the pleasure of meeting lots of some incredible people.

Michelle

FIELD OF WOMEN - WINNIPEG

2008-06-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

In 1998 I attended the very first Field of Women in Canberra - on that occassion I walked with my new friends Susan Tulley and Penny LaSette from NT Breast Cancer Voice in Darwin who have since gone on to become very special 'breast' friends of mine.

Winnipeg may be on the other side of the world to Canberra but there were so many similarities with that very first walk. I believe I was the only person there who would have been at both walks - and it seems incredible to think that I have been involved in breast cancer advocacy for the last 10 years - which I must say have gone in the blink of an eye!

It all began as I walked down to the main foyer of the conference centre and there below me was a sea of women - all donning white T-shirts - which we given, at no cost, to each of us and so were all the silhouettes. There was a table with permanent markers so we could each write a message on the silhouettes - but I don't think a lot of people knew this was what often happened - but they soon caught on!

The weather had been terrible all day, so it was decided not to go ahead with the planting on the lawns, but instead, we were all to walk to the Legislative Building and assemble on the grand staircase behind the speechmakers. Umbrellas were provided for all walkers and the roads were closed by the police making our walk easy and we also managed to avoid the worst of the rain puddles.

In Canberra 10 years earlier we had also walked in the rain, in silence, holding our pink silhouettes. We had assembled without the great technical fanfare that has accompanied more recent fields. Lyn Swinburne and Raelene Boyle spoke through a handheld megaphone at the first field and it was then that the BCNA was launched - after the consumer conference held in Canberra where I got the idea for Dragons Abreast.

It seemed like karama, that in this, the tenth year for Dragons Abreast, I should be here in Winnipeg, again following a conference, walking in the rain, again towards the parliament building, surrounded by amazing friends and survivors.I walked with some of my more recent friends, Eleanor Nielsen and Jacqui Kolber from Dragons Abreast Toronto and Cathy Prusak from Chemo Savvy. These are 3 women that I have also shared many special occasions with over the last 8 years and we have also bid farewell to many team mates that we all knew. It was a special time.

The walk was silent - and it reminded me very much of that very first one in Canberra. A difference between the walks was that we also scattered rose petals as we walked - beautiful hues of pinks and reds lined the street like a carpet.

Scotia Bank staff led the walk and as we approached the Legislature Building lined each side of the walk way. They stood in silent tribute to us as the gentle rain sprinkling down, as through the heavens were also silently weeping, pink silhouttes held proudly as we filed past.

Once inside the building the official speeches were made, Lexie Warren who is the Community Liaison for Dragons Abreast Australia and also involved with BCNA spoke and then Cathy Prusak followed up with the mammogram song which, originated here in Winnipeg. Jeff Dunn, Barb Schumley & Lexie Warren at the Field of Women

At the end of the cermonies no one was quite sure of what to do with their silhouttes but a bunch of us planted ours out in the flower beds. A vivid splash of colour in the grey day.

Todays newspaper carries a photograph but it is disappointing that there is no story linked to the photograph which explains what the Field of Women represents or its origins in Australia.
Michelle

MORE FROM WINNIPEG

2008-06-07T15:30:00.000-07:00

The conference continues to be amazing and inspirational. Meeting lots of new people from all kinds of places! Pictured here are Julie (formerly of SA Dragons Abreast), Anita from Coffs Harbour and Pansie from Toronto)

There is lots of connection with Australia here. The morning started off with Jeff Dunn, CEO of the Cancer council Qld as the keynote speaker. Jeff went down very well - introduced as Mr Sunshine - and what could be more apt given his wonderful smile and the fact he comes from the Sunshine State (mine you it does rain everytime I go there!)

Attended a couple of wonderful workshops around the topic of Kids Can Cope and another about an amazing resource kit for adolescents - a program that is delivered in schools to create awareness. Lots of potential for something along these lines in Australia.

Dragon boat component was also yesterday - read more about that on the coordinators blog a little later.

I will also write up about the Field of Women too - but for now I must dash as it is party night and I am already late!

Michelle

DAY 2 - WORLD CONFERENCE

2008-06-06T15:01:00.000-07:00

Another busy day. Jeff Dunn gave a great speech which stressed how important peer support was and what a valuable contribute it makes even though it is hard to pin down exactly what it is that makes the peer support work.

The talk on male breast cancer incidences and survival was also really fascinating - although this is the same disease men diagnosed do not seem to receive the same support as women and in fact the male survivor present told us that it is other guys who have a hard time understanding and accepting that males do get breast cancer.

The second session I attended was all about a program for children whose parents have cancer - very, very good and some great illustrations of things from the childs viewpoint.

The afternoon was the dragon boat session - which has to change to Plan B due to the inclement weather - I will be writing in detail on the coordinators blog about this bit.

Michelle

WORLD CONFERENCE ON BREAST CANCER

2008-06-05T20:16:00.000-07:00

The program is diverse and jam packed. There are 550 delgates from 32 countries represented - which is a fabulous mix.

Today was the first full day - and being here has brought back to me what a great movement the breast cancer survivor groups are. We have collectively managed to make so many contacts globally - and certainly Dragons Abreast has been a wonderful vehicle for this within Australia.

I would like to urge all of you who are interested in the bigger picture - beyond the paddling - to consider attending conferences. The next international one - Reach for Recovery - is being held in Australia - in Brisbane next May. There is a link on our home page http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/ - so go visit and think about registering!

Another aspect of conferences is the fun of meeting up with some of the old faces - and the women that I have been priveledged to share a dragon boat with over the years. Many of us wear many hats - and have our beginning and roots as breast cancer advocates.

My presentation was today and the attendees were diverse - some who were paddlers and many who were not. There were people there from Kenya and First Nation (Canadians) who wanted to learn more about the model, about how we, as Dragons Abreast in Australia, have achieved what we have over the last 10 years. Not because they want to paddle in dragon boats but because our model has worked. Dragons Abreast Australia members can all be mightily proud of themselves - as it has been a collective effort.

I had good discussions with a surgeon from Uganda as well as a doctor from Cuba and listened to a wonderful speaker - Annie Sasco from France who discussed her goals for establishing Centres for Environmental Onclogy - fascinating stuff and so interesting to learn more of what is happening in the world.

It was a real priviledge to be able to meet and share with all these wonderful people.

The common thread throughout this is the fact that it is indeed a small world, and we are all united in the fight against breast cancer. The epidemic is global and the solutions must be worked on globally.

It's also very exhausting (but exhilerating!) having the brain switched on all day long :)
Michelle

WORLD CONFERENCE ON BREAST CANCER

2008-05-31T15:21:00.000-07:00

I am currently on my way to attend the World Conference on Breast Cancer in Winnipeg and presenting a workshop titled "A Journey with the Dragon Spirit - so much to share" - I will be using the model of Dragons Abreast Australia in the presentation.

My airfares have been most generously provided by QANTAS and GOWAY TRAVEL as far as Los Angeles - thanks guys!

The NT Government - thanks to a grant from our Chief Minister Paul Henderson for me to attend - covers the cost of travel from Los Angeles to Wiinipeg and most of my accommodation cost.

I feel very lucky to be able to represent Dragons Abreast in this way and am most grateful for the financial support received to attend the event - as there is no way we could afford it otherwise!
Michelle Hanton
National Coordinator

ITALIAN VISIT

2008-05-31T15:11:00.000-07:00

I had a very successful visit and fact finding trip to Italy and returned on 26th May. The Italians were very hospitable and keen to learn more about the wider picture of dragon boating for breast cancer survivors.

Italy is a beautiful place and the food is wonderful!

I know many members are keen to hear the outcomes of this trip as far as whether the next international participatory festival (like Vancouver and Caloundra) as the rumour mill is apparently running hot!

The answer to the burning question is that there are absolutely no decisions made as yet on where the next international participatory festival will be held. This is a bid process and the final outcomes will not be known until September 08.

Michelle Hanton

WELCOME BRIBIE ISLAND AND CAMDEN HAVEN

2008-05-31T15:06:00.001-07:00

We are thrilled that Bribie Island, Qld and Camden Haven, NSW are joining the Dragons Abreast Australia family. Both groups have been allocated mentors and are currently in the set up process. This takes our numbers to 37 member groups. We also have further group applications in the pipeline - which is really exciting!

Webpages for both groups will be added to our site by mid June.
Welcome Aboard!!

Connecting Up 2008 (conference, Brisbane 19-20 May)

2008-05-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

The CU8 conference, organised by Community Information Strategies Australia (CISA) and supported by the Commonwealth Dept Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Queensland Government was held over two very full days, plus the conference dinner where the Community ICT awards were presented for online innovative ideas benefitting the non-profit community sector.

Wow! Are there some great projects out there! And so many people who care about the future of communities and have the knowhow and determination to improve lives using online tools.

Web 2.0 (the 'Social Web') has endless possibilities for non-profit and charity organisations, and online fundraising is only the beginning. I learned about twittering, blogging, tagging, wikis, widgets, avatars, and millennials (those who've only ever known the digital age); and came away exhausted, ready for three days in a rainforest without a single man-made object in sight!

Richard Neville, whom many of us remember as a revolutionary from the 60s and 70s, gave a wonderful presentation on the past, present and future, which is all really the same thing!

Karma Currency is something you will hear a lot about in the near future - Ashley Rosshandler, the driving force behind the idea, won an award for his foundation, which is Australia's first online charity gift voucher system. The idea is that instead of giving gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Mothers Day or anniversaries, you give a charity gift voucher, and the recipient can then choose her own cause from the many on offer on the site. Everyday Hero, another online fundraising organisation, says you can raise $100,000 online in 30 days! Possibilities for Dragons Abreast, which I will investigate.

There were so many interesting workshops to attend that I wish I could have gone to them all: Bridging the Digital Divide (not just about the lack of broadband in regional Australia, but also about seniors, the disabled and others who are being left behind in this digital revolution), award winning project Wangka Maya, a grassroots organisation which aims to preserve Aboriginal languages, approaching the challenge by using their true resources - the speakers of the languages - and not the usual approach, which is via anthropologists, linguists and academics; the Young People Connected project, which gives young, mainly homeless, people mobile phones to keep them connected with services and with each other. And so many more!

The not-for-profit sector generates 5% of Australia's GDP, so we are a force to be reckoned with, but need to work collaboratively to achieve our aims. "Aggregate" are they say, which is why 35 DAA groups across Australia as one related organisation is worth more than 35 individual groups all struggling towards the same goal : bringing the magic of dragonboating to breast cancer survivors, and raising awareness of breast cancer in the community in general.

If you are interested in the content and outcomes of the conference, go to http://www.connectingup.org/ - full report later! I have to go to my real work now (is that my real work, or is it just what helps me pay for my paddling gear???)

Jan

TASSIE MEETING

2008-04-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

We had a great meeting in Campbell Town, Tasmania last Sunday - all our member groups were able to get together and learn more about Dragons Abreast. It was great to see so many attendees.

Lauren Vallance from Victoria was also able to join us - which was great!

Thanks to Peter and Moira from Hobart for being our taxi and accommodation! The trip up to Mount Wellington was great and there was even snow on the top! It was cold for this little tropical flower!
Michelle

Media tarts again!

2008-03-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

The Dragons Abreast ACT team will feature in the ABC tv program "The Insiders" on Sunday 6th April at 9.00 am, so make your cup of tea and settle down to watch! Please keep us informed of other media opportunities so we can let all our members know.

HAPPY EASTER

2008-03-22T03:19:00.000-07:00

It's pretty hot and sticky here in the tropical north - Darwin - and still quite a bit of rain but I had the pleasure of sharing the morning yesterday with some of our Dragons Abreast volunteers at East Point to share a brunchfest! The girls sure know how to cook!

We enjoyed a lazy morning, socially chatting - which is something I don't get to do often enough these days as the demands of the this role are ever increasing. We have 12 potential new member groups waiting to join up. Isn't that amazing!

This morning I was at Parap Markets at our regular Dragons Abreast market stall - this is a great way to connect with people, and a fairly newly diagnosed lady called past. She was anxious to know whether she could come paddling as she's only recently finished her treatment but desperately needed to connect with other survivors.

I get so much pleasure talking to the new ladies - as this is exactly what we are about - that beacon of HOPE! I remember well when I was first diagnosed and being so desperate to meet others who had travelled the same journey and survived.

There are always lots of tourists at Parap Markets and it is amazing how many know of their local Dragons Abreast group - the banner is always much admired (Geelong you are stars!!! - see photo) and today another lady stopped to tell me she was from Caloundra and what a magnificent event it had been - could not speak highly enough of the street parade (well done Pink Pete!). It really is a small world as last week we had Stuart from Merimbula stop by too. We've been running the stall there for over a year now - and have a permanent spot - we sell merchandise, raffle tickets and most important of all have information pamphlets on not just Dragons Abreast but also the NT Breast Cancer Voice, the walking group and the My Journey cards. The stall runs on a rotating roster of dedicated volunteers - so if you are in Darwin, don't forget to call past!

Easter is a time of renewal and remembrance. I personally think it is also a great time to give thanks for this wonderful second chance we have had at life post breast cancer diagnosis. I am truly grateful for all the wonderful opportunities that have opened up. But I never loose sight of what we are there for - to raise awareness and promote education about this insideous disease so that a cure may be found (sooner rather than later!).

I would also like to give thanks to all the wonderful people who have so generously supported Dragons Abreast in so many different ways - it has made it possible to reach out across Australia. It really does make an enormous difference - just like I said at the beginning of this post - that new lady today went off feeling a lot better having had the chance to learn that we are there for her.

We really are keeping the spirit alive and helping women actually LIVING with breast cancer.

May God Bless all of you this Easter.
Michelle

WEEKEND OF 8th MARCH

2008-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Our weekend for the General Meeting at EcoPoint Myall Shores Resort is shaping up to be a great one. I've been working closly with their Conference Organiser - and the service has been fantastic. It is quite incredible to think that they are in the midst of a nationl park and yet the facilities are first class - my kind of place! I like the fact that I don't have to cart all the technology with me - they can supply it all!

The fact there is a dragon boat on site now makes it even more attractive to all Dragons Abreast members and we are looking forward to a few sessions on the water to work off the good food that is produced by the chef!

Michelle

THANKS ECOPOINT MYALL SHORES RESORT

2008-02-27T03:24:00.000-08:00

We were thrilled that Katrina from EcoPoint was able to pop down to Darling Harbour and give us a hand. The stall wa VERY busy and we were delighted to have an extra pair of hands.

Maureen from Nelson Bay was also a wondeful mine of information and the girls from Central Coast also enjoyed catching up with Deb Hoitink on Saturday - sadly the camera was playing up so we do not have a photo of the delightful Deb.

The green wrist bands provided by EcoPoint Myall Shores Resort were a big hit with all the kids that passed our stand and parents were eager to read and learn from those whp have been to this gorgeous spot of what an ideal place it is for a family holiday.

Dragons Abreast members are looking forward to our general meeting there on 8th March and this time we will get a photo of the lovely Deb!
Michelle

PHOTOS FROM CNY

2008-02-26T23:37:00.000-08:00

There has been some fantastic feedback from Chinese New Year and photo's are starting to arrive. Check them out on the web at http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/ - but here's a little preview of one of our composite teams - called DA RATATOUILLE and they are aptly posing beside the RAT in the Year of the Rat.

Thanks Dragons Abreast Sydney for a fantastic time from all of us at Dragons Abreast.

Michelle

UPDATE FROM SYDNEY WEEKEND

2008-02-24T23:44:00.000-08:00

Wow - we have been very busy around the nation. Chinese New Year Celebrations held in Sydney were a fantastic success - the dinner was wonderful and the weather just perfect. 18 Dragons Abreast survivors teams took to the water on Sunday and were joined by our two teams of supporters who paddled in the Social Category - a great time was had by all. The day was also tinged by sadness as we received the news of the passing of the Founder of our group in Devonport. This made our Flowers on the Water Ceremony even more poignant that usual as we remembered our 6 members who have graduated to the Angels Abreast team this year alone.

The Hospital Challenge was another outstanding success with some very close and fiercely competitive racing! We were thrilled to see so many wonderful medical professionals join us for this special race. It is always a delight to have their presence and that of Professor John Boyages in the commentary box.

Our Regional meetings held pre and post the paddling in Sydney were very well attended and each of our member groups who attended were delighted to take home the Pink M&M fundraiser details! Anyone keen to help us fundraiser by selling specially branded Pink & White M&M's should contact us contact@dragonsabreast.com.au for details.
Michelle

LOVELY PHOTOS TO SHARE

2008-02-05T01:36:00.000-08:00

Delighted to be able to share a photograph of our hostess for the fundraising evening held at Waragil Studios at Blackheath in NSW www.waragilstudios.com.au

Jan is pictured with David, a friend, as they got ready to welcome the crowd for the evening who turned out in force to help support Dragons Abreast.

Check out the website link above and you will see how amazingly talented Jan and John are! Jan is also a Dragons Abreast member and a sweep - no end to this woman's talents! We really do have some incredible members that make up Dragons Abreast Australia - showing the diversity of women that breast cancer affects but also displaying that wonderful cameraderie that is being part of a national organisation such as Dragons Abreast.

I'm looking forward to catching up with Jan and lots of other wonderful members in Sydney in a couple of weeks!
Michelle

A FABULOUS SURPRIZE!

2008-02-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

Just received news tonight that the fundraiser held by Jan and John Caldwell last weekend at their art gallery raised over $5000 for Dragons Abreast Australia.

Apparently great fun was had by all including the members of Pendragons Abreast and special visitor Leigh - Jan's sister - who flew down from Brisbane to support the event.

Thank you so much Jan and John - such a wonderful effort - we really appreciate all your hard work to help ensure the national coffers continue to fill.

Dragons Abreast Sydney are also doing a magnificent job organising for the Chinese New Year weekend in Darling Harbour. The raffle prizes are sensational - and anyone wanting more details should check out the link http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/National/raffle_2008.htm - Michelle

OUR WEBSITE - LOOKING SWISH!

2008-01-13T01:32:00.000-08:00

Our clever webmaster - Jan in ACT - has been a busy dragon! Busy making lots of changes and I do so love the way the photo's are rolling through the site - each image that flashes up is a wonderful memory of times shares with fellow members of Dragons Abreast.

Gosh, have we amassed a heap of photo's over the years!!! Such precious memories.
Michelle

CHINESE NEW YEAR & BALI IN MY SIGHTS!

2008-01-10T22:03:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about the raffle that Dragons Abreast Sydney has organised! Garuda has been so generous to us with the fantastic first prize and I've just been cruising the images on our website of the Ritz Carlton in Bali and it looks sensational - wonder if I can afford to stay there if I don't win the trip? :)

Chinese New Year is always a great time for us at Dragons Abreast - this year is no different - and with 18 boat loads of members convering on Sydney - it promises to be an action packed weekend.
Michelle

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2008-01-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all!

2008 is shaping up to be a great year - kicking off with the Chinese New Year Festival - Year of the Rat.

Dragons Abreast Australia will have 18 boat loads of survivors at Darling Harbour for the dragon boat races on the 17th February. We are all looking forward to catching up with old friends and making new ones. There are several composite teams this year - as everyone is starting to catch on to what great fun these are!

I am pleased to report that our offices here in Darwin are beginning to take on a semblance of normality (whatever that is!) post Caloundra - the clean up is pretty much finished and files are being packed in archive boxes.

This will be a year of great change at Dragons Abreast - starting with a new look newsletter which will be released next week - watch your emails for it!!!

The office officially reopens next Monday - 7th January - so we'll be in a flurry of activity then.
Michelle

Dragons Abreast ACT annual challenge regatta

2007-10-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

Each year Dragons Abreast ACT holds a major regatta during October for corporate and social teams, and 2007 was the biggest yet! An additional category was added - our medical partners, including radiation oncologists, staff from Clare Holland House (the hospice), Calvary Hospital, and the KiwiRoos, who had the best war cry yet heard!

Photos can be accessed from http://www.dragonsabreast.com.au/ACT/photos.htm

The women's final was won convincingly by Fernwood Tuggeranong in a time of 1.14.87, and they were awarded the Maggie Sharp Memorial prize.

The Medical Division was won by the KiwiRoos (Calvary Health Care) in a time of 1.08.41, and they were presented with the Sylvia Flaxman Award by John and Mandy Flaxman, husband and daughter of Sylvia.

The winners of the corporate division were the Oompah Loompahs (Disability Housing and Community Services) in a blistering time of 1.02.34. Brendan Smyth MLA presented the Pink Lady Shield.

The regatta takes place each year in Central Basin of Lake Burley Griffin, at Commonwealth Place, site of the International Flag Display, which forms a colourful backdrop to the spectacle.

Regional meetings

2007-09-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

The Dragons Abreast Canberra group was happy to welcome representatives from Sydney, Penrith, Illawarra, Wagga Wagga and Albury on Saturday 8 September for a meeting to discuss ideas on the future of Dragons Abreast Australia. What a wonderful group of women, led by our National Coordinator, Michelle Hanton! Ideas were put forward, and will be expanded upon by other regional groups at meetings to be held throughout Australia.
Abreast in Australia 2007 is our major focus right now, but with the input of all 33 clubs around Australia, marvellous things are in store for Dragons Abreast for 2008.

COUNTDOWN TO BOOK LAUNCH!

2007-08-18T03:05:00.000-07:00

Golly gosh - the days and weeks are running away from us all. Seems like an aeon ago since I last wrote!

I am delighted to report that Dragon Central is abuzz with activity as we prepare to launch 'A Dragon's Tale' - we are sooooo excited and it is very hard keeping it all under wraps when we want to shout from the rooftops how thrilled we are with the book. But we are all sworn to secrecy and even our Regional Reps have not seen it.

Here's a snap of me in the office (doesn't that sound grand - when actually it is a little tiny room with 3 computers and a wonderful group of volunteers!) - admiring the cover. The gold foil work looks sensational.

The first public launch is Darwin - of course! Cos that's where we began the whole thing - seems like a dream - all those years ago, when we didn't know the front of the boat from the back!We're also thrilled that Hog's Breath Cafe's in Canberra, Joondalup, Adelaide, Hobart, Melbourne and Caloundra have so generously agreed to host our launches on those cities. Pictured is Jo Parry (from our AIA Organising Committee) with Jo Kelly from Hog's Breath Caloundra and of course Pinky the Hoggies mascot!

Riverbend Bookshop in Bulimba is the site of our Brisbane launch scheduled for 4th Sept and the shop will also stock the book. YEE HA!

Port Lincoln are hosting their launch on 7th Sept - simultaneous with Canberra!

What an exciting time and even more thrilling is seeing all the preorders that we've received!

Thank you one and all for your support - this is YOUR story. Michelle

WHAT A DAY!

2007-08-08T05:41:00.001-07:00

It's been an amazing day! Quite surreal really - tonight was the evening that the Dragon Walk of History went up on display for this first time.

What is it? The most incredible looong dragon display which documents - in pictures our story - from our start here in Darwin to what we are today. One side is dedicated to the national stuff and the other is comprised of 3 disks from each of our member groups, It is 32 metres long and just sensational.

A lady commented to me tonigh 'it brought back so many memories' - and she's right - every single picture tells a story. Each holds a special memory. I look at them and I am overwhelmed with the journey we have travelled.

Tonight was hosted by the NT Government and we are so grateful to them. Minister Lawrie officiated and her words were so kind to us - she is a long time friend of Dragons Abreast and really has a passion for our cause which began long before she was a parliamentarian. We were also so fortunate that the Patron of NT Breast Cancer Voice was able to sneak away from her duties at Government House and join us - Ms Nerys Evans - a stauch supporter. This photo shows from L to R - Jane Aagaard MLA whose role is Speaker of the House, Minister Delia Lawrie, me and Ms Nerys Evans, Patron NT Breast Cancer Voice.

We are indebted to all our members across Australia for their incredible support and participation with this - most of all to Judy Smith and Pauline Tauscke from Dragons Abreast NT for working for hours on bringing it all to life!

Some of you have given feedback about the blog and would like to be able to comment on line - we did allow that at the begining but within a day had someone put an inappopriate link - so we now no longer allow that. However if you would like to make a comment please feel free to email to contact@dragonsabreast.com.au and we will make sure it is passed on and if appropriate posted here.

Michelle

HOPEFULLY ON THE RIGHT DATE!

2007-08-05T22:20:00.000-07:00

Righto - it is now Monday afternoon in Darwin. I am writing and publishing immediately so we can hopefully get on track. Bet you are all having a giggle at my IT (not!) savvy!

It's Darwin Cup Day today - so a public holiday here - but Dragon Central is a centre of activity! No trips to the horse race tracks for these busy folks. Bonny came in to help and get packed for the next stages of my dash around Australia - I am off on Thursday to Brisbane and Sydney.

My meeting in Sydney will be with our major sponsor - EcoPoint Myall Shores Resort - I always look forward to a face to face catch up with all our sponsors. This meeting will be in the Sydney boardroom and not the gorgeous venue of Myall Shores Resort! I've attached a photo of our last trip there. It shows Bonny - the admin whizz, myself, Anna and Jan on the ferry to the resort. As you can see it was brilliant sunshine and some were game to wear short sleeves! Check out http://www.ecopoint.com.au/ - there are some great Hot Deals! Wish I could sneak away more often as it really is a wonderful, restful spot - but it is full steam ahead now till after October.

On the national front of DAA we are very excited about a whole bunch of other initiatives that I'll keep you abreast of as they develop! Bye for now!
Michelle

NEWS FROM NATIONAL OFFICE

2007-08-04T01:17:00.000-07:00

Well I don't know what I have done with this blog - as I just posted something I started the other day but never finished and it came up as posted on the day I drafted it! Please forgive my ineptness with this! I will get better!!

2007-07-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

You will notice a new look to the website - it is a work in progress but we hope you will like it! I've been remiss in writing here - but of course the secret is that I must put it into my diary so I set aside time each day - no matter how busy we are.

As I went for my Saturday morning usually I walk with our wonderful registrar Lyn - but she could not make it, so I was alone. Not chattering as we walked gave me a little thinking time - and I need that occasionally as things are so busy here at the moment. It is all most exciting as we head towards Abreast in Australia and the release of our book A Dragon's Tale.

As I passed by the cliffs at East Point, overlooking the beautiful, peaceful waters, complete with sailing boats bobbing about, I reflected on how luck I am. I have been very fortunate to be able to represent so many fantastic women from all over Australia and have a great team that works with me - all volunteers and each and everyone is just amazing!
Michelle

2007-07-26T00:29:00.000-07:00

What a shock when I went to the home page today and found my face staring back at me! Jan has been hard at work on her 2 weeks off.

This blogging business is most interesting! I have learnt a tad more - well - it will be sensational as we can use it as a means to update all on AIA events and local coordinators and regional reps will be able to post their bits and pieces here of local news that folks might be interested in - all very instant and fast!

I was delighted when a friend came around brandishing a copy of the Senior News - a Centrelink publication and there on the front page was a beaming Pam - from our group in Sydney - what a great photo and a lovely mention of Dragons Abreast too!

Bulletin 13 went out last night and that has been very well received judging by the responses that have come into the Post Office today.
Michelle

Welcome to Dragons Abreast Australia blog

2007-07-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Good morning!
Jan Skorich - our clever webmaster decided that it would be a great idea for DAA to have a blog - so much happens all the time and it is often hard to keep everyone in the loop. SO as part of our revamp and move into the world of technology - she has set up this blog for me!
Please bear with me as I learn all about blogging!
I plan to write here frequently so you can be updated on our happenings - as Coordinators and Regional Reps. The newsletters and official correspondence will still come out via email so you can forward to your members. This is more of a frequent communication tool!
I have returned from the week at EcoPoint Myall Shores Resort - which was sensational as always - to a mass of correspondence which I am slowly plowing through. Amazing how things pile up so quickly! Michelle