SUNDAY IS LOOMING!

Very much looking forward to meeting all the teams and seeing you all dressed in your finery! Amazing how the time has come around so fast!
Thanks for the fantastic support and remember to get lots of rest on Saturday cos you'll need all your energy on Sunday!

KIWIS ARE COMING!

We are thrilled that 4 NZ paddlers are coming across the 'ditch' to paddle at our event as part of DA Ratatouille team. All this as a result of the wonderful time they had together in Caloundra last September - hard to believe a year has flown past!

WOOLWORTHS JOINS THE RACE

The 2008 Woolworths Dragonboat team is excited and ready to race in the upcoming Dragons Abreast Australia Regatta on 19th October in Sydney.

Most of the team are fairly new to the sport of Dragonboating but we have jumped at the opportunity to help raise money for the Breast Cancer cause. The Woolworths team comprises of employees from our Norwest Support Office and we all come from different areas of the business. We competed in our first Corporate Race in March 2008 and were happy to have reached the finals in our first ever competition.

We look forward to meeting other companies and businesses at the upcoming Regatta and wish all participants the best of luck!

GRANT THORNTON LEADS THE WAY

Congratulations to the creative team at Grant Thornton who are leading the way with the Fundraising Challenge - a total of $2520 to date. Well done!

Hot on their heels are Dragons Abreast Sydney and the Dragons Abreast Ratatouille team which includes 4 Kiwi's from across the 'ditch' coming to take part!

It's not too late to register - contact us on regatta@dragonsabreast.com.au

KEYRINGS OF HOPE

Some enterprising teams have asked if they can access these wonderful keyrings as a way of raising funds towards their entry contributions.

Absolutely!

Contact us regatta@dragonsabreast.com.au if you would like to do this. They are so cute and come beautifully packed so make a great gift.

NT and QLD both looking for teams

Both areas are keen to bring teams to Darling Harbour - Lexie Warren in Brisbane is following leads and I have today emailed my many contacts in an attempt to get a Northern Territory team to Sydney - we began in the NT and it is fitting that an NT social or coporate team takes to the water!
Watch this space!
Cheers
Michelle

LEADING THE FIELD

Conratulations to Gadens Lawyers and Woolworths for leading the field with the fundraising entries already at $2,000.

Dragons Abreast Sydney is also up there with 2 teams on the board - well done Wilma and all in Sydney!

PRELIMINARY REGISTRATIONS

We are delighted to see so many teams submitting preliminary registrations.

Dragon boating is a sport that has a place for everyone - as all participants will soon discover and we know you are all going to have heaps of fun!

We hear rumours that some are getting a head start on their outfits - taking this very seriously and determined to win best dressed team! The fact that this is the weekend of the Sydney Motorshow means there should be an even bigger audience to show off to - so all efforts will get lots of exposure.

Dragons Abreast ACT Corporate Challenge Regatta

A corporate regatta of the magnitude of the Dragons Abreast National Corporate regatta has never been held before, but Dragons Abreast ACT have been holding a similar regatta for corporate, community and social teams since 2002. When we say community teams, we mean teams with a focus on the areas in which we have become involved, some would say to our misfortune, such as Palliative Care, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, breast surgeons and the like. Over the years these teams have brought fun and laughter to the event, both by their names (like Bum Steers for the Endoscopy Unit at Calvary Hospital) and with their outfits. In 2006 one group turned out fully geared-up in hospital theatre rig, complete with stethoscopes and facemasks!

The banks, architectural companies, real estate agents and other corporate groups have displayed their friendly rivalry both in advance of the regatta, and most especially on the day. The first year we held the regatta a group of Canberra Grammar School teachers and parents, who were tired of driving their dragonboating students to the lake's edge and then standing around waiting while the kids were having fun and they weren't, decided to give it a go and entered a team. To their surprise and delight they won, and went on to form their own dragon boat club, the Dragon Flyers.

This state-level regatta will again be held on Lake Burley Griffin in October this year, but the National one is shaping up to be an even more spectacular event!

WELCOME

Welcome all entrants in the Dragons Abreast Inaugural Corporate & Social Regatta to be held on the 19th October 2008 in Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW.

October is breast cancer month globally and Dragons Abreast are thrilled that we have the chance to promote our message of awareness, hope and inspiration in such a very public venue on the eve of Australian Breast Cancer Day.

Through this blog all teams will be able share news, photos and brag about how you are each going with plans for the big day.

We know you are going to have a fantastic experience as dragon boating is the most fabulous fun and easy to learn - the key to it all being TEAM work - as collectively, working cooperatively, it is amazing what can be achieved - not only on the water!

I am very much looking forward to reading all about your adventures as you prepared for this great event.

Michelle Hanton
Dragons Abreast Australia