Page 4939 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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the event. The team was put together by Anita O’Meara, who is the owner and manager of Curves Jamison and Gungahlin. Along with Anita I would like to acknowledge the other members of the team, including Suzanne Nucifora, Jessica Watson, Judith Barker, Keith Alexander, Sandra Hargraves, Peta Power, Tracy Feeney, Karen Etheredge, Yvette Walker, Colleen Bretag, Annette Bretell, Wendy Adams, Mariana Vicol, Raffy Borg, Justine Reynolds, Laura Owen, Boerge Alexander and David O’Meara.
Whilst our times were not quite as competitive as some of the other boats, we all had a fun day, and I am sure we had the best catered tent for our post-race recovery. The event was a great way to boost awareness of breast cancer, to try out dragon boat racing and to enjoy the social aspects of being part of the team.
I would like to acknowledge the 42 teams who participated: Amaroo Puddlers; Angry Dragons; Breast Strokes; BunyiPAs; Burgmann; Burly Gryphons; Can’t Row, Can’t Swim; Cox; Crossfit Base; Curves Corsairs; Curves Wanniassa; DAFF Dragons; DEEWR Dragons; Defence Dambusters; DOFD (Finance); Double DHA; EuroStars; Flaming Briefs; GM’s Galley Slaves; Grammar; Gwen’s Gondola; Hotel Realm, who won the A final; i.Paddle; Kez’s Krew; Kiwiroos; KPMG Britannia; Lab Rats; Love Boat; Lymphomaniacs; MTS Dragon Slayers; Nutrimetics; Pioneer Princesses; QE3; Royal Super Soakers; Splash Dash & Race; Sustainable Dragons; Team UCAN; USAwesome; Westpac; Windlab and Zoo.
The event of course was a fundraising activity, with the majority of funds raised going to Dragons Abreast Australia, which, in turn, raises awareness of breast cancer and funds for breast cancer groups. Local beneficiaries are the Otis Foundation, which provides a lodge at Thredbo for R&R for those undergoing treatment; the ACT Palliative Care Society for the training of volunteers; Breast Cancer Network Australia, who provide advocacy; ACT Eden Monaro Cancer Support Group, who help with the practical issues of living with breast cancer; and Dragons Abreast ACT’s general running costs. The total raised from this year’s event has not been determined as yet but I do know that organisers were hoping to raise $40,000 from the event.
Thanks must go to those who made the event possible, including the chief organiser Boerge Alexander, Marion Blake, Megan Dennis, Di Wright, Patsy Sheales, Debbie Whitfield, Elspeth Humphries, Carol Summerhayes, Colleen White, Anne Baynes, Judy Cluse, Cindy Young, Anna Wellings Booth and Susan Pitt. Thanks also to the many others who assisted on the day, including Gillian Styles; Leslie Ralph; Les Williams; Bill Book; Mavis Fowler; Margaret Ritchie; Cathy Powell; Alex Skorich; the Dragon Boat Association and all the teams; the Rotary Club of North Canberra, Gungahlin and Hall; Suncorp for providing the barbecue; Canberra Yacht Club; ACT Rowing Association; Nutrimetics; Om Shanti College and St John’s Ambulance. I commend all those involved with the event and I look forward to the 2012 event.
This evening I would like to acknowledge Motorcycle Awareness Week, which was launched in Garema Place on Saturday, 22 October. Motorcycle Awareness Week is full of events aimed at raising awareness for riders and they have included the Old Parliament House ride for remembrance and of course the launch of the week in
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