Bundaberg

General Contact tel: 1300 889 566 or
queensland@dragonsabreast.com.au (Regional Representative) and bundaberg@dragonsabreast.com.au

Bundaberg Dragons Abreast began paddling in June 2008 and formalized the group with DAA in January 2009. Our group is called Bundy Pink Bears, our logo is a big cuddly bear wearing a pink top and holding a Dragons Abreast Paddle.

Dragons Abreast Bundaberg was started when a local Rotarian, Don Robinson, who organizes the local Multicultural Festival, invited Dragon Boats to the festival. Don thought it such a great attraction he set out to get a local club going, he approached a Breast Cancer Survivor group and Bundaberg Dragon Boat Club was formed with the Committee and members largely Breast Cancer Survivors.

Soon followed the separate identity of Dragons Abreast Bundaberg, it had been a long time dream and goal of a member and past coordinator, Bev Cross, a tireless worker with Breast Cancer suffers and survivors, to have a Dragons Abreast team in Bundaberg, so the reality of the club has completed her dream.

Dragons Abreast Bundaberg were blessed when a couple from the same Rotary Club, Tom and Joan Head, donated from their company Challenge 21 a boat named Linda, in memory of Joan’s mother who passed away from breast cancer, their generosity then extended to holding a fundraising evening at their home to raise the money for a trailer. We are forever grateful to them for their generosity to Dragons Abreast.

We are about showing the support and camaraderie a group like Dragons Abreast can give to each other that have walked the same road. It can build confidence and shows there is quality of life and active participation in sport despite a diagnosis of breast cancer. Our club is small, very supportive and always encouraging new members, currently we are organizing a member drive targeting Women’s groups in Bundaberg to make them aware of the camaraderie and fun in the sun they can enjoy with Dragon Boating. Socially we gather on a regular basis enjoying outings to dinner after our bi-monthly meetings, some Sunday mornings after training we go for coffee.

Other outings have included a night at the local amateur theatre to see the locals perform, organizing a group to Jazz in the Vineyard, it’s not just about boating, the social side of our club is getting into full swing as well.

Our group paddle as a Dragons Abreast team, some of us train with the sporting team as well, so we enjoy the best of Dragon Boating. Our team members have competed in both Dragons Abreast and sporting regattas from Cooloola to Sydney, one day some of our members hope to make teams to travel overseas to compete.

Our club honoured the wish of our first coordinator, Anne Holmes, when we held our inaugural fundraising paddle from our training spot to the city centre, approx 15kms, in October 2009, with all paddlers sponsored great support was received from Bundaberg Dragon Boat members and the wider community to create a very successful day. This has become our major fundraiser for the group and is going from strength to strength from 1 boat in 2009 to 2 in 2010, who knows we might need to borrow a boat for 3 in 2011.

We bus to the start line on a bus generously supplied by our local Catholic High School “Shalom College” so our cars are at the finish. With yachts in the background, perfect weather (we have been lucky) and tides in our favour we paddle off. Paddling down the river is amazing as you certainly get a different perspective of the area from the boat with beautiful scenery and passing boats cheering us on. Media coverage was good, lots of fun was had, and money raised certainly puts the group in a much better position to pass on funds to DAA. The day ends with lunch at a local restaurant on the river, a great day is had by all who participate, family and friends who cheer us in at the finish join us for lunch. Everyone is already looking forward to the next Bundy Pink Bear Paddle and who knows the Pink Bear might even paddle to make it more fun and More Money for DAA.

All paddlers are welcome to join in our paddle down the river in October the date appears on our website by end of March. To secure a seat and get your sponsorship form contact us @ bundaberg@dragonsabreast.com.au

If you would like to try Dragon Boating with our Club:-

Paddling is held on Sundays:-

Cost:- $15.00 for 3 introductory sessions

Time:- 7.45am for sign in and instructions

Place:- Bundaberg Sailing Club Strathdee Road Port Bundaberg

Wear:- Sunsafe clothes & footwear (not thongs) you don’t mind getting wet, apply sunscreen

Bring:- Hat, water bottle, towel & sunscreen

Hope to see you soon to join in the fun of Dragons Abreast Bundaberg.