Paddlers for Public Education meet the challenge

All four members of the Paddlers for Public Education team successfully participated in the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic.

The team raised more than $3000 for the Arrow Foundation, a registered charity which provides funds for cancer research at St Vincent's Hospital.

Claire Shanahan and David Broad paddled from Windsor to Wiseman's Ferry (66 kilometres) which was their goal for their first Classic. However, next year they are confident it will be Brooklyn.

John Hughes and Geoff Turnbull made it the 111 kilometres to Brooklyn to the cheers of their land crew who were all proudly wearing their Paddlers for Public Education T-shirts.

Geoff said: "Although the night was very cold (a number of paddlers withdrew with hypothermia) and at times there was a heavy mist on the water it was just magical paddling with a bright full moon under a cloudless starry sky."

"During the day as the paddlers completed their registration and scrutineering a number of teachers (both volunteers and paddlers) approached our gallant band and said how proud they were to see public education and the NSW Teachers Federation given such a high profile at the Classic," Geoff said.

Geoff said: "We want to thank everyone who contributed to this very worthy cause.

"Special thanks goes to the NSW Teachers Federation, the Randwick College Association and the Sydney Institute Student Association for their sponsorship."

The team was also greatful to Newcastle Trades Hall Council. Geoff also paid tribute to the land crews: "Without our wonderful land crews our success would not have been possible. They met us at our two pit-stops with hot food and drinks, helped our aching bodies back into the canoes and sent us off with warm words of encouragement. The success on the night belongs as much to them as to the paddlers," he said.

The team If you are interested in joining the paddlers in next year's Classic as part of the Paddlers for Public Education team email Claire Shanahan at mail@nswtf.org.au or Geoff at Geoff.Turnbull@det.nsw.edu.au

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November 2004 contents