Much has been happening, and blogging has taken a back seat as my life transitions to retirement. Flooded house, relocation from rental to rental as repairs went on, then finally deciding to sell and downsize. Yes, life got a tad hectic, but…

Simultaneously, since November 2022….to help keep me distracted and sane….I have led the formation of a dragon boat club that has taken flight and is now the largest club in Queensland, possibly in Australia (I need to verify this).

When I was asked to help establish a dragon boat club on Bribie Island, I agreed on one condition: that it would be a community dragon boat club that welcomed people of all ages. We had no home, no boat, and nothing but a dream and a passion for the sport.

Today was the AGM for Dragon Boat Pumicestone. It marked the end of my Presidency. I had announced at the 2024 AGM that I would be stepping down, as it is my personal belief that staying too long in a role can stifle growth and create a sense of dependency.

My belief is that I am here to empower, educate, and encourage others to achieve their maximum potential. To me, success is about building a solid foundation upon which the next generation of leaders can build – it is about empowering others on the journey.

Little did I know that this year would be marked by numerous challenges to navigate, including the resignation of the Vice President, who was earmarked as my successor, and the death, in March 2025, of our Founding Vice President, who had stood by my side since we began this journey to establish Dragon Boat Pumicestone.

From adversity comes strength, and instead of breaking our Club, these obstacles saw us grow stronger. They revealed the true character and strength that lay beneath the surface of the membership. It was my absolute pleasure to hand the Presidency to Lisa Hoffmann.

Our club is not just a dragon boat team; it is a family. We have fostered a strong culture of community and care for one another, which has been the cornerstone of our success. Together, we have weathered a few storms, both metaphorical and literal, and emerged stronger and more united.

Tonight, I’m feeling immense gratitude for having been blessed to lead the Club from an initial vision, the ups and downs of registration with the necessary peak bodies and legal authorities, to finding boats, securing a “home” for our Club and building sufficient numbers so we could actually get out on the water.

I am beyond proud of our Club and absolutely blown away by the honour of having a cake especially made for me to cut as I stepped down! Another first for me!

Dragon boat has been a part of my life since 1998, and the reason I love this sport is that it is not primarily about competition – it’s the icing on the cake if you walk away with a medal.

The true dragon spirit lies in participation, inclusiveness, kindness, and a sense of unity with the water and with one another.

I am truly blessed and grateful to have been touched by the dragon spirit and to have the privilege of introducing this sport to others.

Thank you, Abreast In A Boat & Dr Don McKenzie for starting me on my journey. A special shout-out to all my fantastic dragon boat friends across the globe – how good is the dragon boat life!