Western Australia
Bunbury
PO Box 4130
East Bunbury WA 6230
tel: 1300 889 566
or WASA@dragonsabreast.com.au
and bunbury@dragonsabreast.com.au
CREWSADERS DRAGONS ABREAST BUNBURY – JUNE 2010 UPDATE
By Jill Harrison
The last 12 months has been a mixture of joyous celebration and heartfelt sorrow for the Crewsaders, both of which has strengthened the bond we have with each other.
In 2009 the Crewsaders were successful in receiving a Lotteries West grant which enabled us to purchase a Champion class boat through DBWA. In November the boat was transported from Perth for us by Forza’s Paul Harrison.
In November 2009 Christine Penny (and her husband Ian) and Jill Harrison, accompanied Forza and DBWA members to Albany to assist at a “have a go day” for new club, Albany Dreaming, who have a number of members who are breast cancer survivors. We were made very welcome over the weekend. Forza members have given follow up training, and as another regional club, we hope to have an ongoing relationship with Albany Dreaming, and are planning a weekend for the Crewsaders to travel to Albany.
In February 2010 we held a paddling morning for Camp Quality children and their families. Thank you to Suzanne Ellis for organizing this wonderful morning on the water.
Several Crewsaders assisted at the Chef’s Long Table in Bunbury in February, and the Crewsaders received funding from this event to buy a Cox Vox so our sweeps can be heard more easily in the boat. Last years Chef’s Long Table funding enabled us to purchase a set of carbon fibre paddles, and a new set of race shirts were sponsored by Coastal Automotive.
In March the Crewsaders, with the help of some paddlers from Albany Dreaming, competed at the Forza Dragon Boat Festival in Bunbury. The Crewsaders were successful in winning the womens division from Perth Amazons over a series of three races. The Albany Dreaming girls learnt a lot from the experience.
Our ongoing affiliation with Forza allows those Crewsaders who want to compete to do so as part of the Forza club. Over the 2009-2010 race season several Crewsaders joined Forza to compete in the DBWA Grand Prix series. The Women’s 10s had a very successful campaign winning two of the four rounds in this division. Several girls also competed with Forza in the Mixed Division at the WA State Titles in March.
In April 2010 we celebrated out fifth anniversary complete with a cake made in the shape of a dragon boat. The weather put on a perfect morning for us, so different from the blustery weather we experienced on 1 April 2005.
As part of the anniversary celebration we launched our new Champion boat, which we named “Estuary Long Mu” – “Mother of Dragons” after a woman revered in Chinese culture. The boat was named and launched with the help of local MP Nola Marino. We then took the boat out onto the water for a circuit and Nola climbed onto the drum seat – the first time she had ever been in a dragon boat.
Our special thanks go to our members Suzanne Ellis, who researched and recommended the name Long Mu, and to Deidre Moat and her company Front Line Signs for sign writing the boat.
Our original boat Estuary Juille, was much in need of repairs and the floor re-fibreglassed. Due to a mixture of circumstances this took over six months to complete, but we finally received the Estuary Juille back in May, and it should give us good service for the next 20 years.
Our connection with the Estuary Juille became even more special and significant during May with the passing away of one of our co-founders and inaugural Co-Ordinator, Julie Scott, after living with metastatic breast cancer for 10 years. Jill Harrison was honored to be asked to speak at Julie’s funeral on behalf of the Crewsaders. The Crewsaders formed a guard of honour for Julie on her departure from the funeral which was attended by hundreds of people, showing the enormous respect for Julie within the community.
Petals were placed on Julie’s coffin during the funeral. The petals were collected and on Saturday morning Julie’s family and friends joined the Crewsaders to lay the petals on the water in the Leschenault Inlet where we train.
On the Saturday following Julie’s passing the Crewsaders where joined by a dolphin that swam along with us close by the front of the boat – something that has never happened to us before. It was a very precious moment as we believe it was Julie joining us for one more beautiful morning on the water.
The Crewsaders extend our thoughts and prayers to Julie’s husband and family. She was an amazing and inspiring woman. The inclusion of Julie’s name in the “Estuary Juille” will ensure that Julie will be remembered and honored into the future.
The Crewsaders sincerely thank our Co-Ordinator Christine Penny for her work over the past season. Christine puts a lot of time and energy into the Crewsaders and leads us forward with her vision for the future, good humour and lots of hugs for anyone who needs one.
We congratulate Roz Webb who competed with DAA in Canada. Roz is the WA/SA DAA representative and revels in the competition provided through our affiliation with Forza and the opportunities available to her through DAA.
Crewsaders could not continue without the help of many people. We extend our special thanks to Forza’s Assistant Coach Merinda Fenn, who really is an honorary member of Crewsaders. Merinda came to the Crewsaders on our first day in April 2005 and has continued to be a source of wonderful support whenever she is needed - sweeping, coaching, helping with maintenance. Merinda can always be relied on – and as Christine says “Merinda is my rock”.
We also thank Forza sweep, Lee-Anne Walters who helps out when we need a sweep, Forza Head Coach Paul Harrison who is always on hand when we need him and has transported the Estuary Juille numerous times during the repair process. Also thank you to Forza Manager Mark Kusin and members of the Forza club who continue to be supportive of the Crewsaders. And of course our husbands, partners, family and friends for their love and support.
In May the Crewsaders followed tradition with another dance performance at the Forza end of season windup – this year it was a 60s theme and Crewsaders performed “California Girl’ by the Beach boys complete with bikini print Tshirts and sarongs.
As members leave and new members join, the Crewsaders continues to evolve and change. We still have a core group of ladies that began in 2005, and the new members have added new life and substance to our group which continues to enjoy the companionship of good friends, celebrating life and paddling with the dolphins on our beautiful Leschenault Inlet.
Jill Harrison
Crewsaders Coach
16 June 2010
South Western Times 3 June 2010 (click for full size)
Bunbury Herald 27 April 2010 (click for full size)
Bunbury Archives
This page last updated
September 15, 2011
