Dragons Abreast Canberra crew in their 90s fashions at the 25th Anniversary of Dragons Abreast Australia 29th September 2023.
Photo Credit: Steve Taylor.

Dragons Abreast Canberra members celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA) in style from 29th September-1 October 2023 while remembering and honouring their angels including their founder Anna Wellings Booth OAM. 

Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA) has its origin from attendees (including Michelle Hanton OAM) being inspired by Canadian speakers at the first Breast Cancer Network Australia (BNCA) summit held in Canberra during October 1998 promoting the health and wellness benefits of dragon boating for breast cancer survivors. Post this summit, Dragons Abreast Australia originated under Michelle’s leadership in the Northern Territory (NT) with the first survivor paddlers paddling in December 1998 in Darwin, NT. In early 1999, Anna Wellings-Booth OAM established Dragons Abreast Canberra. Now 25 years later the DAA movement has spread right across Australia with some 27 clubs and other individual members of DAA, the most recently established club being the Blue Mountains in July 2023.

A “Mingle on the Terrace” at Penrith Panthers on the Friday evening started off the 25th Anniversary of DAA celebrations. It was exciting to meet up with friends and clubs from all over Australia. Tench Reserve, Penrith which had recently undergone a $14 million transformation after significant flooding under the NSW Government's “$50 million Parks for People Program” was the venue for Saturday’s festival. After welcomes and congratulations from Pearl Lee, CEO DAA; Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen; Uncle Dennis; and Chief Executive Officer Dragon Boats NSW, David Krantz; a special spiritual, healing, and cleansing smoking ceremony was led by Uncle Dennis. Participants and volunteers of the festival were invited to walk through the healing and cleansing smoke adjacent to the Nepean River shore.

After Dragons Abreast Canberra completed the decorating of their winning Floriade themed decorated marquee, they joined teams adorned in their 90s fashions in an all club group warm up, followed by a day of racing for 200 m in 10s and 20s crews of both Breast Cancer Survivors and Supporters. Later in the afternoon, eight composite “Hat Race” crews raced and then gently rafted together and paddle tapped in the emotional “Flowers on the Water” ceremony. This allowed all participants both in the boats and on land, the opportunity to pause and reflect, to celebrate the life we all live after diagnosis, to remember our Angels, and to strengthen all the bonds that connect us.

A celebratory dinner on the Saturday evening at The Log Cabin, Penrith in ‘Bling It Up For Pink’ fashions continued the celebrations. Robyn Moore as DAA Ambassador was entertainer and announcer for the evening, with messages of congratulations from Governor General His Excellency David Hurley and her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley congratulating Dragons Abreast Australia on their 25th Anniversary (Youtube: Dragons Abreast Australia 25th Anniversary Message from the Governor General of Australia) and acknowledging our own Dragons Abreast Canberra member Kerrie Griffin as a recent awardee of an OAM for service to community health. A summary of the DAA 25th Anniversary interview recorded with Michelle Hanton was provided by Robyn and has since been available via YouTube.

On Sunday Dragons Abreast Canberra raced proudly in 1999 Dragons Abreast Canberra race shirts at the DBNSW Regatta Series - Round 2 in both Senior A Women's 20s crews, and Breast Cancer Survivor 10s crews in 500 m racing. 

A big congratulations to the DAA Board: Pearl Lee, Sue Von Richter, Leonie Silk, Sharon Cooper, and Annie Boulton; and thank you to all Officials and Volunteers over the weekend. Paddles Up!