Dragons Abreast team in one of the boats that has since been destroyed by fire.

Fundraising day to help dragon boaters

By NSW Teachers Federation

A fundraising day will be held on September 4 to raise money to replace Dragon Boats NSW's fleet of boats, destroyed in a suspicious fire.

The entire fleet of 12 boats was destroyed where they were stored, in the grounds of Glebe Secondary College on August 9.

The boats were being used by many NSW dragon boat teams, including teams preparing to represent Australia in October at the World Dragon Boat Championships to be held in Shanghai. Other teams now without boats include Dragons Abreast Sydney, a team of breast cancer survivors.

Federation members Anne Gates, Vivienne Gregg, Margo-Lynne Lee, Carol Fentoulis and Federation deputy librarian Fairlie Stanish paddle for Dragons Abreast, while Anne, Margo-Lynne, Carol and Fairlie will also be part of the Australian Women Masters team bound for the Shanghai titles.

The Australian squad is using boats loaned from the Chinese Youth League Dragon Boat Team to continue their training program which includes paddling in dragon boats four times a week, as well as cross training and a weights program.

The fundraising day will be held at Glebe Secondary College Campus -- Taylor Street, Glebe from 10am.

• Watch the start -- 10 am -- of Australia's first "Dragathon" (a 24 hour paddle) in Blackwattle Bay.
• Paddling feats -- Can a dragon boat tow a water-skier?
• Your chance to try dragon boat paddling!

Other fun will include bands, food, dragon dance, raffles, massage, craft stalls and a fundraising auction.

Donations to the boat fund can also be made direct Dragon Boats NSW Inc (www.dragonboatsnsw.org.au/news_rebuild.html), National Australia Bank, Cnr Pitt St/Bathurst St Sydney NSW 2000, BSB: 082-080, Account number 55-729-1677 or Send donations to Dragon Boats NSW Inc, PO Box 162, North Strathfield NSW 2137.

For further information

August 2004 contents