Australian Capital Territory
PO Box 7191 Yarralumla ACT 2600
tel: 1300 889 566
ACTregion@dragonsabreast.com.au (Regional)
or canberra@dragonsabreast.com.au
Events
Dedication of the Dragons Abreast Seat
Wednesday 14 November 2007
The seat is located on the path on the northern shore of Lennox Gardens.
After some time in planning, the Dragons Abreast Seat, an idea originally conceived by Sylvia and Anna in Canada several years ago, has just been installed on the edge of Lennox Gardens, overlooking the Lake, the city, the National Museum of Australia and the Brindabellas to the west.
Below are the words spoken by Anna Wellings Booth at the dedication of the seat on 14 November 2007, surrounded by around 50 Dragons Abreast members, friends and families.
[starts]
I think it’s important to explain the concept of this seat. It was quite a few years ago – 2001 actually – when Sylvia & I were travelling in Canada. For those who knew Sylvia you well know she was a mountain goat and never still for a moment unless meditating.
We had a wonderful arrangement when exploring – she would race off at top speed and I would amble along at my pace and we’d eventually meet up along the track. There was one occasion when I didn’t catch up and after an hour or so Sylvia became a little perturbed and returned to find me sitting on a seat by the river deep in thought. After berating me for being idle I told her I’d been having a delightful time with someone called Louise and pointed to a plaque on the seat I was on. You can imagine Sylvia’s reaction when I told her there were other seats with different inscriptions along the river bank and the next one told the story of someone killed by a bear, another in a horse accident and so on. Of course, she insisted I go with her so she could read the plaques and sit on each of the seats as we imagined the life of the person mentioned.
We talked about how good it would be if something similar could be done in Canberra and carried the idea back with us to action some time in the future after we had acquired our boat. It was always in the back of our minds and in Sylvia’s last months she reminded me not to forget the seat. It didn’t set out to be a memorial seat but as donations were made by family and friends to celebrate Sylvia’s life the reasons changed.
The inscription on the seat has the words "Look to this day..." which is the beginning of the poem which Elspeth sometimes recites on our early morning paddles. Here is the full text.
SALUTATION TO THE DAWN
Look to this day
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course lie
All the verities and realities of our existence -
The glory of action,
The bliss of growth,
The splendour of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision.
But today well spent
Makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well therefore to this day.
Such is the salutation to the dawn
from the Sanskrit |
By the time we were ready to move ahead with the seat, Maggie, another founding member of Dragons Abreast, was struggling with her illness and in her final days she had asked that donations be made to Dragons Abreast. I told her sisters, Jacinta & Celia, of the idea for the seat and they and their families were delighted to support this project.
I had previously written to Minister John Hargreaves seeking permission for a seat to be installed but had not received a response. I then followed this up which resulted in a contact with Fay Hug from ACT Parks & Conservation who was extremely enthusiastic and helpful. Judy Richmond then pursued the permission, purchase, siting, payment and general administration of what will be known as the Dragons Abreast seat.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this and I wonder whether it should be called a Memorial seat. I believe it’s really a gift to Dragons Abreast members and the Canberra community by Sylvia & Maggie as it was funded by their friends and family to honour and remember their time with us. I’m sure they are both well pleased with the result and look at what they have given us today – coming together, great weather, probably a rainbow or two!
Let’s remember and keep alive the spirit of two very different personalities – two women who contributed so much to the heart of Dragons Abreast, ACT
To Sylvia & Maggie – long may your memories continue to inspire.
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This page last updated:
June 26, 2008
