<![CDATA[DRAGONS ABREAST GOLD COAST - NEWS BLOGS]]>Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:40:32 +1000Weebly<![CDATA[25TH ANNIVERSARY & ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER - JUNE 2026]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:21:31 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/25th-anniversary-annual-awards-dinner-june-202693223022026 marked the 25th year of our wonderful club, an event truly worthy of celebration.  The sell-out event was held at the Currumbin RSL, attended by a stellar cast of past and present members as well as representatives from our latest sponsors, Kollosche Real Estate.  
Against a scrolling back drop of visual memories on the big screens we ate, drank and danced the night away.  Reminiscing with old friends and paying tribute to our founding members, no-one summed our club up better than the speech delivered by our inspirational Natalie Raddich. ​
]]><![CDATA[Pink Paddle Power Festival 2025]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:05:28 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/pink-paddle-power-festival-2025
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in 2024, Dragons Abreast Gold Coast was thrilled to be chosen to host the 2025 PPP Festival.  Held from 12–15 September, it proved to be a wonderfully successful event, fulfilling its purpose to promote the value of dragon boating for those women and men who have survived or are living with breast cancer. 
 
The participation level was high with 360 breast cancer survivors coming from around Australia and New Zealand, making up 15 crews representing 29 Dragons Abreast Clubs, all competing on the beautiful Currumbin Creek.  194 paddlers enjoyed the Long Paddle on the Tweed River and 330 danced the night away at the Celebration Dinner at Twin Towns. 145 followed up the next day at attended the DAA Convention.
 
It was a truly uplifting 4 days, celebrating life and thriving after a breast cancer diagnosis.
]]><![CDATA[PAN PACIFIC MASTERS GAMES - NOVEMBER 2024]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:52:21 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/pan-pacific-masters-games-november-20243092789Not long after our Italy adventures, we were back in the fray battling it out at the biennial Pan Pacs.  This weeklong event celebrates “aging well” and brings together athletes from the entire Pan Pacific region.  The competition was hot, fast and furious!  And we were so proud to come away with a Bronze medal in the 500 metre, Women’s 55+ and a Silver medal in the 4.8km Round the Island Women’s 55+.  
Unbeknown to us at the time, this would also prove to be the last hurrah for our esteemed Head Coach Lorrie (Lozza) Ledwell who had decided it was time to take a well earned rest.  DAGC will always be indebted to her for her massive contribution to our club. ]]><![CDATA[CCWC RAVENNA AUGUST 2024]]>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:29:04 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/ccwc-ravenna-august-20249810430Picture
 In August 2024, after an intense 9 months of preparation, including attending the Australian Championships in Perth where we won the right to compete at the 2024 Club Crew World Championships, 22 paddlers along with our Team Manager headed off to Ravenna, Italy as the only team representing Australia in the Women’s Senior C Division.  Three events were contested - 200 metres, 500 metres and 2km.  Whilst we didn’t manage to bring home any medals, we did ourselves proud especially in the 2km, shaving a whopping 16 seconds off our personal best.  We also came home as the highest placed Gold Coast Crew.
]]><![CDATA[We Are Going to Italy!]]>Wed, 10 Jul 2024 08:54:39 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/we-are-going-to-italy
DAGC is  excited to announce  the Senior C Women’s team qualified to compete in Ravenna, Italy at the 14th IDBF Club Crew World Championships to be held from 3rd to 8th September. This is an amazing achievement and will take paddlers to a new level, giving them valuable experience and everlasting memories.
Club Crew World Championships is just one tier below International Dragon Boat World Championships  which is contested by the best of the best from each country.
Australia has the Aurora’s.
​CCWC gives each country the opportunity to send five standard boat club teams of each category to compete with other countries . This is the only opportunity to do this from club level. The  team represents our best Senior C Women and the quest to achieve excellence whilst embracing life at the top level of our chosen sport.

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]]><![CDATA[STOCKLAND GRANTS APPROVAL]]>Sat, 01 Aug 2020 07:13:09 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/stockland-grants-approvalRecently, our club had an application for a grant of $1,000 approved by the Stockland Care Grants program.  As we had recently acquired a new boat for the club, we requested safety equipment i.e. lights, drink bottle holders, boat cover and also repairs to our tent which is used by paddlers and supporters who attend regattas .  Thanks to this grant we were able to fulfil all these requests and we are most grateful to Stockland for giving us the opportunity to acquire these items.  

Stockland Care Grants enables not for profit clubs like Dragons Abreast Gold Coast to achieve their goals of reaching out to our community and spreading the message of breast cancer awareness and to provide support for survivors and supporters through the sport of dragon boating which is known to be beneficial after treatment of cancer.

​Thank you Stockland.
]]><![CDATA[Trivia Night Success]]>Tue, 22 Oct 2019 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/trivia-night-successFriday 18th October was our inaugural Trivia Night  to fundraise and bring awareness of breast cancer to our local community.  October is breast cancer awareness month and is an opportunity for us all to focus on breast cancer and its impact on those affected by the disease in our community. Led by our intrepid social coordinator Josie – who spent many hours in preparation for the event and canvassing our local business community for raffle donations, the night was a an outstanding success, with Currumbin RSL filled to capacity with 220 guests.  Well done to Josie and each and every club member who contributed to the success of the night.  Hopefully this will be the first of many.
]]><![CDATA[Western Australia 55km marathon paddle]]>Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:00:00 GMThttps://www.dragonsabreastgoldcoast.com.au/news-blogs/western-australia-55km-marathon-paddlePicture
In June, 10 ladies from the Dragons Abreast Gold Coast team travelled to Western Australia to participate in a 55 km marathon paddle down the iconic Ord River.

The marathon is an event, which has continued to grow in popularity and  is run annually by the Kununurra Dragon Boat Club. This year it was reserved for breast cancer survivors and their supporters. The marathon is unique because it offers the challenge of the longest paddle available to paddlers in Australia and for breast cancer survivors it offered the opportunity to proclaim the health benefits of dragon boat paddling.

Survivors and their supporters came from all parts of Australia to fill 8 boats with 14 paddlers and a steer person ready for the start at Lake Argyle at 7: 30 a.m. . The paddlers reported that the river was fast flowing at first, but despite the heavy drag they experienced as they continued towards Kununurra all boats crossed the finish line by 4:30 p.m.

There were 3 stops along the way, which allowed the paddlers to stretch their cramped limbs and refuel their bodies. All the participants agreed that the magnificent scenery of gorges and the stunning wildlife that included freshwater crocs inspired their determination to finish the course.
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The day was completed with a dinner shared by all the paddlers allowing them to celebrate and commemorate a very special event while bringing awareness of breast cancer to the fore.
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