Organising CommitteeThe 2007 Organising Committee are a diverse group of women and between them have a great wealth of knowledge and diversity of experience. Collectively they are working hard to ensure that Abreast in Australia is a magnificent success and truly the experience of a lifetime for all survivors, supporters, volunteers and members of the public.
Little did I realize when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 1997 that ten years later I would be heavily involved in this wonderful sport of dragon boat racing and preparing to welcome the world to Australia! My diagnosis of breast cancer acted as a catalyst and certainly changed my focus in life. It’s all good stuff! I have grown so much as a person, learned so much from everyone I have been involved with and enjoyed fantastic experiences as part of Internationally Abreast, an Australian/Canadian initiative, of which I am very proud to say I am a founding member. My involvement in dragon boat would not be possible without the strength and support of my wonderful husband Steve, and my understanding children Wayne (21) and Sasha (12) who have grown up with the dragon spirit woven through their lives. Having participated at the many dragon boat festivals across the globe I am very excited and thrilled to be heading up the Abreast in Australia Committee and am very much looking forward to showing off all we have to offer and returning the wonderful hospitality that I have experienced on my visits overseas. We are working very hard to ensure this truly is a Celebration of Life where the focus is on participation and inclusiveness – you can be sure a warm welcome awaits each and every one of you!
Caloundra is growing from a sleepy village playing host to the local cow cockies on their annual pilgrimage to the coast, to a cosmopolitan centre rivalling its better-known northern neighbour Noosa. Spend a day cruising from Noosa back down to Caloundra and take in all the villages along the way. Noosa has great walks through the national park - try spotting a koala, or chasing the scrub turkeys as they scratch through the undergrowth. There is even a nude beach - if you are so inclined to meet with Nature! The boutiques in Noosa are very enticing and it is fun to watch the shoppers from the many street side cafes. There are also trips to Eumundi and Montville in the mountains nearby. On the way south there are several little villages to pop into - Tewantin, Noosaville, Sunshine, Sunrise, Coolum, Peregian etc. A favourite Restaurant in Noosaville is Ricky's on the River - Yum! Mooloolaba is buzzing - so many great little restaurants - my favourite is Pippies - great seafood served in style. The shopping there is also dangerous - and if you really yearn for the Mall, there is a large shopping centre nearby with all the usual major outlets. Try having a snack on the deck of the local Surf Club - right on the water. Visit Underwater World in Mooloolaba - see what lives in the water we swim in! The focus here is marine creatures in their natural habitat - not performing like circus acts, although the seals are very clever. I could go on & on, but come see for yourself! We have so much to share with you and make your stay unforgettable – you could stay a month and still not see it all!
G'day! I am happily based in Brisbane, Queensland, not too far from the lovely beaches of the Sunshine Coast. I work full time in the IT Industry – implementing health systems and keep pretty busy with that and my other role as the Queensland State Representative for Dragons Abreast Australia. I paddle locally for Brisbane team Missabittatitti (I believe many of you have met some of my MBT buddies in Canada last year). After being diagnosed with breast cancer over 7 years ago aged 37, a good friend introduced me to Dragons Abreast Australia and I have been hooked ever since. I have met the most amazing, strong women, and am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to have met them and have them as my friends. I am sure all of you understand how important the bond we have is and how inspirational the women we share this with are to us all! I am really looking forward to September 2007 and meeting so many of you coming all the way “Down Under”. See you soon!
I can rightfully claim the title of wise old dragon solely because I am the most senior member of the 2007 Organising Committee! I have been involved with Dragons Abreast since its inception and paddled with the first ever Internationally Abreast team in Toronto where I was so very warmly welcomed. I look forward to welcoming you to the Sunshine Coast and Abreast in Australia for what will be a great festival and fair dinkum I know you will have a grouse time!
I was born in Ottawa and grew up skiing and skating in the winters, with summers at camp and at the cottage. It was at camp that I developed my love of canoe tripping in Algonquin Park and northern Quebec. I went to university in Toronto and taught French immersion kindergarten before going to Boston for a Masters in early childhood and a teaching position at Ryerson University. A canoe trip on the South Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories changed my life in many ways. It is amazing wilderness country with white water, deep canyons and Virginia Falls- twice the height of Niagara! The trip takes about 25 days and you don’t meet many people up there- but I met an Australian and after a courtship in canoes and on skis, I married him. We lived in Abu Dhabi and then in Spain where our first son was born. Canada was deep in recession in 1982 so we moved to Australia- I tried to tell myself that Canberra was almost like Ottawa! After breast cancer, in 1999, on a visit to Canada, newspaper articles about breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams captured my imagination and on my return to Canberra, I discovered Anna who was founding a Dragons Abreast team. I became the team’s first sweep (steer) and this has led to participating in coaching accreditation. I t has been a fantastic paddling journey through Australia, New Zealand, Rome and Canada. I have come to the conclusion that I will always have a foot on both sides of the world in the two most wonderful countries on earth.
I’m another Missabittatitti paddler from Brisbane. If you were in Canada in 2005, you probably saw me running around in one of those inconspicuous big pink furry hats. I am married with two teenage boys and work part-time as a teacher aide in a kindergarten. The rest of my life seems to be taken up with dragon boating events. You know how it goes – there are always so many things happening that I barely have time to paddle. Life is certainly not boring! I was fortunate that my family was able to travel to Canada with me for the 10 Year Abreast in a Boat Celebration. They know how important my dragon boating is to me but to feel the incredible spirit of so many pink paddlers and the emotion of the Flowers on the Water Ceremony was a powerful bonding experience for all of us. I am very excited to be involved with our own Abreast in Australia celebration especially as it is on my own doorstep and is another beautiful part of the world. I look forward to meeting new friends and catching up with old friends. I have to warn you – make sure you pack your dancing shoes because we are going to party. Fair dinkum!
Jan was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990 aged 39, when her youngest child was seven. Treatments for cancer included mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation, Tamoxifen and reconstructive surgery. Sixteen later, her children are 38, 36, 25 and 24, and Jan has six grandchildren. In her other life she works for the European Commission, and has had quite an adventurous life on various overseas postings – Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Belgium and Ireland. Her husband Alek worked for many years for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but has now taken on a busy position with the Department of Health and Ageing. |
Michelle Hanton, Founder of Dragons Abreast, winner of the 2004 Telstra NT Business Woman of the Year, and a Board member of Australian Dragon Boat Federation has been paddling since 1998. Michelle has twice represented her country as a member of Team Australia (Philadelphia 2002 and Berlin 2005).
Janelle Gamble, a Director of Dragons Abreast Australia, has lived in Queensland for many years, has been on the breast cancer merry-go-round three times, paddling since 2000 with Dragons Abreast and Brisbane River Dragons. Janelle was founder of Missabitatitti, our Brisbane group, and is passionate about Queensland and sends you her personal invitation to savor its delights.
Jo Parry 
Anna Wellings Booth – the founder of Dragons Abreast ACT was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 at age 45. Anna is passionate about breast cancer advocacy and has represented consumers on countless local and national committees for eighteen years.
Elspeth Humphries - our resident Canadian expert and she still sounds like one 24 years later, but we claim her as a ‘true blue’ Aussie now as she is married to an Australian architect Graham and has three Australian sons.
Pete Cardell
Jan Skorich is a founding member of the ACT group and has been the Webmaster for Dragons Abreast since its formation. She is also the Regional Representative for Dragons Abreast ACT & Region, having recently (albeit reluctantly, through lack of time) handed over the job of ACT Coordinator, a position she held, and enjoyed, for a number of years. She says 'the best thing is working with all these enthusiastic women, who make life a delight, and paddling a pleasure!' Proudly supported by
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