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Armidale's dragon boat lady to paddle for Oz
Friday, 14 May 2004
ARMIDALE'S pink dragon boat lady Vivienne Gregg has been
selected as part of the team to compete at the World Championships in
Shanghai.
Vivienne Gregg has been enjoying the sport for more than
three years.
A breast cancer survivor, Vivienne joined the fledgling
breast cancer group, Dragons Abreast Australia in 2001.
Dragons Abreast Australia teams are not the usual competitive
paddlers but are out in the public arena to raise awareness of breast
cancer in the community.
Paddlers are of varying athletic abilities, strengths,
ages and health.
Since Vivienne joined in 2001 she has competed with Dragons
Abreast Australia in Sydney (Darling Harbour and Penrith), Canberra, Brisbane
and the Gold Coast, Darwin and most recently, at the National Championships
in Perth.
In addition to paddling with DAA, Vivienne is a member
of the Newcastle/Hunter Dragon Boat Club, paddling and practising with
them as often as possible - a big ask given that Throsby Creek in Newcastle
is many hours away.
In Perth at Easter, Vivienne paddled as a member of the
NSW Women's Masters Team - a group made up of some sporting team paddlers
as well as a number of DAA women from Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.
The Masters team was successful in achieving a competitive
time and will now represent Australia in the World Dragon Boat Racing
Championships in Shanghai in October 2005.
Training for this event has commenced and Vivienne will
need to travel to Sydney frequently to join her teammates on the water
at Blackwattle Bay.
Fitness and upper body strength are paramount, so Vivienne
is now doing two to three hours daily in the gym on rowing machines, aerobics,
aquarobics, swimming and distance walking.
"It's a privilege to paddle for Australia, but my
true enthusiasm is to be a member of the Dragons Abreast teams, as I have
met so many wonderful people through the organisation," Vivienne
said.
"Our aim is friendship, fun, fitness and support,
and the most amazing thing is to hear other crews and spectators telling
the DAA Pink Ladies that we are an inspiration to them," she said.
Having worn the blue and white of NSW in Perth, Vivienne
is now ready to don the green and gold for Australia.
This page last updated:
August 6, 2007
Tea Gardens Nota Feb 2007 
