BEI LOON DRAGON BOAT CLUB

FROM THE COMMITTEE

A couple of reminders:

Concerns or queries - As mentioned at the AGM in July, if you have any major concerns or issues, you need addressed, please email the President at president@beiloon.com.au

Also, my apologies to Robyn Clarke whose name was omitted from the Committee list last Newsletter. Robyn was re-elected as the Pink’s Representative again for this season. 

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Thank you for your responses to the Buses to Regattas Survey. It was the first time we have used the Survey option in TeamApp. There were a few initial issues that we’ll address next time. We had over 60 replies and interestingly the results were fairly even. We will be discussing the matter at the next Committee meeting and will advise on the decision.

Also, thanks to the responses to the Volunteers to move boats Event. We had over 30 replies with many members a Maybe dependant on work commitments and the date and time of arrival. Recent news is that the 2 boats have an estimated ETA from mid to late October. We will keep you all updated when we have a more definite arrival date.

Please have a read and take note of the Team App Guidelines below and follow them as closely as possible. The information is a great help for the Coaches in planning training and Regattas.

Libby has started to provide Profiles and outline achievements of members outside of Dragon Boating. Have a read of them below and notice the interesting lives some of our paddlers have led.

Neil Jones

President

FROM THE COACHES – TEAMAPP GUIDELINES

Training

Paddlers

• RSVP Yes by the deadline if you plan on attending. Generally, you do not need to reply No if you’re not coming.

• RSVP No if you have previously replied Yes, but need to change. We look at changes in the No responses when tracking changes after we’ve started planning the session.

• RSVP earlier to training sessions in the weeks leading up to competitive regattas. We may look at availability a day or two earlier to figure out whether it is feasible to train in teams.

Sweeps and Coaches

• RSVP 2 or 3 sessions in advance when possible. We can share the workload more evenly if we know in advance who is available.

• Reply No when you are away or not available.
  If you’re away for an extended period, reply No for the first few sessions that you will be away, and Yes for the first one when you will be back.

• Assign yourself to your preferred Sweep days (or add comments). We can add/change assignments if needed, but it is easier to have a starting point.

Regattas

• RSVP as early as possible, and before the notified deadline. If you’re unsure then RSVP to give an indication, and add a comment to let us know that it might need to change.

• Once the deadline has passed, message us at coach@beiloon.com.au. Do NOT expect us to notice if you change your response on Team App. Planning moves onto different spreadsheets, and we do not revisit the TeamApp responses. We only keep Team App RSVPs active because it discards all the records of the responses when they are disabled.

Please note if you can’t make training there is no need to put your reason in the comments. Just No is sufficient to let us know you are unable to attend.

Hats off to our newbies who attended their first regatta at the Winter Warmer. They survived the cold, rain and many races and there were many races. However, Sarah made it easier for everyone with her well thought out idea to display them all.

UPCOMING REGATTAS

Our next Regatta is Sunday 12^th October, 2025 at Penrith and the RSVP date of 21^st September is now on team app so please ensure you have responded by then. 

This regatta is closely followed by the Masters in Canberra from 18^th-20^th October. Accommodation details and invoices for the Masters will be sent out closer to the event. 

Also, if you would like to order merchandise for the Masters, click on the link below.

Australian Masters Games – Belgravia Apparel | Sports AU

Please keep your eye out for emails and team app with information about both these Regattas.

I hope you all feel a little safer out on the water now due to our longest serving member Andrea Whittet being presented with a medal from Life Saving Australia for her 25 year commitment to life saving – Congratulations Andrea fantastic achievement.

NOT JUST PADDLERS

How does a girl who grew up on a sugar cane plantation in the Tweed valley become an editor of systematic reviews? Study in the life sciences, communications and informatics, interest in health and medicine, and knowledge that loads of scientific information often doesn't do a whole lot of good for many people, led to me becoming a medical editor.

I worked for Cochrane - a major publisher of systematic reviews. Systematic reviews collate, compare and evaluate the findings from randomised controlled trials for specific health conditions, populations and treatments compared with a control or other treatments. Evidence from systematic reviews inform clinical guidelines development so health practitioners can provide the most effective treatment. Working with clinical teams of authors was exciting, challenging and always evolving.

Growing up rural also meant that kitchen survival skills were considered necessary. Baking is a (mostly) relaxing and creative outlet that is my happy place in retirement. My kitchen beats a lab any day. 

One of our amazing Bei Loon Paddlers – Ann Jones who provides free tastings at many of our regattas.

From Resin to Racing: My Journey Beyond Engineering

A few years before the excitement of dragon boating entered my life, I found myself searching for something beyond the daily rhythm of family and work as an electronics engineer. That's when, thanks to my lovely wife, I discovered something truly different: sculpting. It was the perfect outlet to spark creativity and challenge myself in new ways.

My artistic journey commences with Sydney Art Space in Mona Vale; a vibrant creative hub where local artists, from beginners to seasoned professionals, come together to explore and create. Since then, I’ve completed six sculptures, each one a unique and rewarding journey from concept to completion. I aim to try something new with every piece. So far, my chosen medium has been resin, layered with various patinas to add texture and visual interest. Looking ahead, I’d love to try casting in bronze - though that may require a bit of saving first!

Most of my sculptures begin in clay, where I spend the bulk of my time refining the form. Once I'm satisfied, I move on to mould-making: first applying a silicone layer, followed by plaster. This is later filled with acrylic resin to form the sculpture. On average, each piece takes me over a year to complete.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have a circle of supportive friends who encourage both my artistic pursuits and, more recently, my physical adventures out on the water.

Craig Duncan Sculptor extraordinaire – At times, likes to dress up as an astronaut.