Who are we?
2001: A group of ladies were talked into joining the Newcastle Hunter Dragon Boat club by a very active Breast cancer Survivor-Julie Woods. These ladies included Sheila Thompson, Ann Ditton, Emelia Favier, Julie Quigley, Ruth Croke and Kath Leeson. The group not only paddled in Newcastle but also became involved in the Central Coast Outriggers club as a way of keeping fit without the weekly trip to Newcastle. They competed in Regattas under the Dragons Abreast Banner in Newcastle, Darling Harbour in Sydney, Canberra, Penrith and the Gold Coast.
2002: As the group grew to about 15 regular paddlers turning up each week they all began to discuss setting up a club on the Central Coast and decided to ask Wyong Council for assistance. They also approached several clubs and local water front activity areas for a suitable site for their boat and equipment to call home. The Tuggerah Lakes Memorial Club offered the use of the Long Jetty Sailing club if the current sailing members would agree. After a meeting with these members, all were in agreement that this location was ideal for both paddling and sailing and a "successful marriage " was arranged.
October 2002: An open day was organised by the Sailing club for both sailing and anyone interested in starting a Dragon boat club. That day attracted over 50 interested people and a meeting was arranged for the 12th of November at the Memorial club.
November 2002: The meeting was attended by 46 people, a committee was formed, comprising of President, Kath Leeson, Secretary, Sheila Thompson, Treasurer, Geraldine Mustchin, Publicity Officer, Marlene Byrne, Dragons abreast advisor, Louise Zammit.
At a later meeting 2 more committee members were elected, Vice President, Dianne Rumsey, and committee representative Stuart Purvis-Smith.
During August 2003 it was decided that we needed to improve our Paddling Facilities because of the decline of the water level in Tuggerah Lake.
A decision was made to move to Toukley and share Clubrooms with the Coast Guard (visit their website at www.coastguard.com.au and go to Location, then go to Tuggerah Lakes) in Peel Street, Toukley on the Budgewoi Lake. Through publicity we picked up many new Paddlers during the 2003/2004 season, had a successful run at Regatta's with our mixed men�s and women�s team, with our first second placing in a race at Darling Harbour Sydney, missing first place by 6 tenth's of a second.
A big thank you must go out to Julie Woods and her group of Breast Cancer Survivors and Supporters who gave us the opportunity to make this club a success.
