Dragons Abreast Central Coast

03/02/2026

💜 World Cancer Day – Tomorrow, 4 February 💜

Cancer turns life upside down — literally.

Tomorrow is World Cancer Day, and this year’s Upside Down Challenge is about sharing real stories, real faces, and real lives affected by cancer.

As paddlers, survivors, supporters, carers, and friends — we get it.
We’re , but stronger together.

👉 Action:
• Flip a photo or short video
• Share your story (big or small)
• Post it on your socials
• Use and

Campaign info + ideas here:
🔗

Our campaign places patients and people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the conversation.

01/02/2026

Sharing this to highlight an amazing charity some of our members may not know about — Dreams2live4

This story features one of our Dragons Abreast Central Coast paddlers and her experience accessing Dreams2Live4 while living with advanced (stage 4) cancer. 🐬

Dreams2Live4 supports people with advanced cancer by helping make a meaningful, achievable dream come true — planned around health, treatment and what’s realistic.

If you or someone you love is living with advanced cancer, this is a charity worth knowing about.

Central Coast Dreamer Lorna is 52 and living with advanced breast cancer. Here she shared her dream making process with us saying “After reflecting on what’s realistic and still deeply meaningful, I would love my dream to be a swim with wild dolphins at Port Stephens. 🐬

The ocean has been my place of healing throughout my cancer journey - from dragon boat paddling to daily beach walks. To be in the water alongside dolphins, creatures known for their playfulness, freedom, and intelligence, would be a powerful reminder of joy and resilience. This dream feels achievable, close to home, and would create memories with my loved ones that I will carry far beyond treatment.

Lorna and partner Mark had a weekend away and a healing swim with dolphins – saying after “The weekend was wonderful! We properly relaxed & it felt like being a "normal" human again.” ❤️

01/02/2026

This morning we swapped boats for the pool and completed our annual swim test & capsize drill.

Dragons Abreast Central Coast paddles under the umbrella of Central Coast Dragon Boat Club (CCDBC).

Each year, all paddlers complete swimming, treading water and safety drills to make sure everyone on the water is safe and confident.

All done and ready for 2026 ✔️

Thanks to CCDBC for running the session — and well done to everyone who jumped in 🚣‍♀️🐉 ➡️ 🏊‍♀️

31/01/2026

This caught our attention.

Research suggests AI-assisted mammography may help reduce the risk of cancers being missed, by supporting — not replacing — radiologists.

For women who’ve lived through breast cancer, screening and interval diagnoses, that’s meaningful.

Not a promise. But progress.

A quiet shift may be happening inside mammography rooms and it could change when breast cancer is found, not just how.

For decades, breast cancer screening has relied on the trained eyes of radiologists. But a landmark Swedish trial suggests AI may help spot cancers earlier and reduce the chance they’re missed until later years.

In a study of 100,000 women, researchers tested AI-supported mammography against standard double-radiologist reading. The results, published in The Lancet, were striking: women screened with AI had a 12% lower rate of cancers diagnosed in later years, suggesting fewer tumors slipped through undetected.

Even more compelling, 81% of cancers in the AI group were caught at the screening stage, compared with 74% in standard care. The AI-assisted approach also detected 27% fewer aggressive subtypes, hinting that earlier intervention may alter disease trajectories not just timing.

The system didn’t replace doctors. Instead, it triaged risk, flagging suspicious scans and easing radiologist workload. Lead author Dr Kristina Lång of Lund University emphasized caution, noting that AI must be carefully monitored to avoid unintended harms.

Experts from Cancer Research UK called the findings promising but stressed that larger, multi-centre trials are needed to confirm whether earlier detection truly saves more lives.

Curiosity is rising. So is the question of trust.

If AI could quietly reduce the odds of a missed cancer but still needed human oversight, would you want it reading your mammogram?

Source: Gommers J, Hernström M, Josefsson V, et al. Interval cancer, sensitivity, and specificity comparing AI-supported mammography screening with standard double reading without AI in the MASAI study: a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority, single-blinded, population-based, screening-accuracy trial. The Lancet. 2026;407:505-514.
*image for illustration purposes only

31/01/2026

Here are some photos that one of our Dragons Abreast Central Coast ladies, Janice has captured on Lake Budgewoi.

What she’s caught so beautifully are the black swans — native to Australia and found almost nowhere else in the world.

This is where we paddle.
Calm water, steady strokes, wildlife all around — not what most people imagine when they think of “training”, but exactly why it works.

30/01/2026

Looking forward to our weekly Dragons Abreast Central Coast training paddle at 5pm today.

A rare view of the compound from the water — you don’t usually see it from this angle.
Calm water, light breeze and around 27°C… pretty much perfect paddling conditions.

30/01/2026

Sitting on the fence wondering if paddling is for you?
Meet Pat.
She joined Dragons Abreast in her 90s.
Never sporty. Absolutely loved it.
There’s no age limit, no fitness test — just a willingness to give it a go 💜🐉

28/01/2026

While holidaying in Perth, our DACC paddler, Annie Fahey took her paddle on the road and joined a session with the Perth Pirates Dragon Boat Club on the beautiful Swan River.

This is what we love about dragon boating....we’re connected not only through the Dragons Abreast community, but also through the wider Dragon Boating Australia network — meaning wherever you travel, you can reach out to local clubs and often jump in for a paddle.

Annie shared:
It was my great & exciting experience as a Club member of the "Sea Dragons" Central Coast Dragon Boat Club 🐉 & "CoastBusters" Dragons Abreast Central Coast, whilst in Perth to paddle with the Perth Pirates Dragon Boat Club 🛶.
They were so welcoming & friendly which made for a fun & happy paddle on the Swan 🦢 river with them
THANK YOU 🙏 Perth Pirates team, hugs,
Annie 🤗

Thanks Perth Pirates for the warm welcome — and go Annie, representing DACC out west!

26/01/2026

Wow! Lorrie Ledwell
How inspiring is this dragon 🐉

👏👏 The Board of DBQ is thrilled to extend our congratulations to Lorrie Ledwell on receiving the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list published today 😍

"For service to community health, and to breast cancer awareness."

Please join us in sending your congratulations to this amazing woman - you can learn more about her achievements 👇

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Dragons Abreast Gold Coast

Co-Founder and Volunteer, 2007-2024.

Head Coach, 2018-2024.

Committee Member, 4 years.

Former Head Sweep.

Former Manager, Boat Operations.

Crew Member, 2007-2024.

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Breast Cancer Network Australia

Fundraiser and Volunteer, over 20 years.

Gold Coast Representative, 20 years.

Former Host, Promotional Events.

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Dragon Boat Queensland

Board Member, 2009-2011.

Former Crew and Committee Member, Burleigh Firedragons, 4 years.

Crew Member, Dragon Abreast Currumbin Dragons, 2001.

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World Dragon Boat Championships

Competitor, Prague, Czech Republic, 2009.

Competitor, Sydney, Australia, 2007.

Competitor, Shanghai, China, 2004.

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Club Crew World Dragon Boat Championships

Competitor, Adelaide, Australia, 2016.

Competitor, Ravenna, Italy, 2014.

Competitor, Macau, China, 2010.

Competitor, Cape town, South Africa, 2004.

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Fenceliners Inc

National President, 1998-2005.

Newsletter Editor, 8 years.

Former Fundraiser.
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Awards and Recognition include:

Inductee, Hall of Fame, Australian Dragon Boat Federation, 2024.

McPherson Community Achievers Award, The Honourable Karen Andrews, Member for McPherson, 2018.

24/01/2026

🐉 More than one boat. More than one club. 🐉

This video, shared from the Dragons Abreast Australia (DAA) website, is a great reminder that while Dragons Abreast Central Coast (DACC) may be a small local crew, we’re part of a huge international network of support, connection, and shared experience.

Across Australia — and around the world — dragon-boat paddling brings people together after breast cancer treatment. Not because you need to be “fit” or experienced, but because movement heals, and community matters.

What we do:
• Paddle together — survivors and supporters side by side
• Use dragon boating as low-impact, effective exercise that supports recovery, lymphatic health, and overall wellbeing
• Create connection, friendship, and belonging through shared experience
• Welcome people of all ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds — no prior paddling experience required

We’re proud to be one small cog in something much bigger.
Check out more at: 👉 https://dragonsabreast.com.au/

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

23/01/2026

A big thank you to everyone who paddled with us at our weekly Friday Dragons Abreast Central Coast training session 💗

Huge thanks to Michael, Alyce, and Jenice from Central Coast Dragon Boat Club for getting on board and adding strength and experience to the boat — much appreciated.

A special shout-out to our two new paddlers, Amanda and Sue — fantastic effort and great energy on the water. Welcome to the crew! 👏🐲

Big love to our Stroke Pair, Anne Owen & Ann Holland, setting the rhythm and keeping us in time from the very first stroke 🥁💪

As always, tight coaching from Janice Kennedy and Pam Percic kept us focused and moving well, and Michelle on sweep kept it all together and steered us to TAKE IT HOME 💪🔥

Strong paddling, good laughs, and a beautiful session on the water — thank you, crew 💕
Dragons Abreast Central Coast






🐲

23/01/2026

🐉 DACC Friday training on the water — Lunar New Year prep 🐉

This is our regular Friday afternoon Dragons Abreast Central Coast training session, and in this paddle we’re doing race prep for the Lunar New Year competition.

We’re practising a range of race-start combinations to get race-ready — and in this clip, we’re working on the 5-10-5 start, focusing on getting the boat up to speed, locking in power, and then lengthening out together from the very first stroke. 🐲💪