Christmas with the Dragon Flyers 2011

Come and join the Flyers at their Christmas Party on Sunday 11 December at 12.00pm on the shores of Lake Ginninderra in Belconnen. This year we're enjoying the great outdoors with a barbeque lunch and dessert and all you have to bring is yourself, family, friends, pets, paddleboards and floaties and your own ale, wine or soft drink.

For those not familiar with the Belconnen area or Lake Ginninderra, here is a link with some street names to help you. The two major roads nearby are Coulter Drive and Joynton Smith Drive.

See you all there!

• Christmas with the Dragon Flyers 2011
• Membership Renewals
• The Flyers Presentation Night - the aftermath
• Revenge of the bear
• Jindabyne Flowing Festival - the Flyers Excel Again
• The Flyers Uniform Bonanza
• 2010 Nationals Wash Up
• Important News - Dragon Flyers Safety Policy Refresher
• If you've got it, flaunt it - the Flyers' Promotional Campaign
• The newest and littlest Flyer

Membership Renewals

It's that time of the year again, when Membership Subscriptions are due. While the Flyers have held their subscription at $40, the CDBA has increased their subscription to $300 per year ($270 paddling and $30 Building Levy). For Sports members the total will be $340, for Supporter members (who pay their CDBA subscription through another team) the total is $40.

Membership Renewal notices are being sent out by email now and payment is required by the first regatta of the season which is 24 September. The preferred method of payment is by Bank Transfer, although we can take cheques and cash. If you have any questions email the Treasurer Stewart Murray (treasurer@dragonflyers.net.au) or Membership Officer Amanda Sichter (membership@dragonflyers.net.au).

The Flyers Presentation Night - the Aftermath

The Flyers' Presentation Night went off with a bang as 70 paddlers, friends and family attended the night of nights at the Turner Bowls Club. As always, the Flyers' social team put on a mega-event. Fiona and Brim have to be congratulated for their interpretations on Princess Brides, or were they fairy godmothers?

As always, much fun and merriment was had, the band was as good as the outfits were bad. Many people took the path of fashions best left forgotten, with denim pinafores a plenty, lurex, glitter, safari suits and of course too much blue eye shadow.

Others took a more thoughtful route, adopting team shirts from other rugby nations, English soccer and a couple of special efforts, wearing Navmat and Ice Dragon shirts.

No doubt the many photo's taken on the night will surface on this website, Facebook and elsewhere. Keep an eye out for updates on this page.

Revenge of the Bear

Some people are very patient, but it pays off over time. At the 2010 Nationals in Adelaide, Dylan the bear was subjected to things that can't be mentioned in polite company by an unmentionable team (well Navmat if you must know) with evidence of Dylan's traumatic experience available to those with a strong stomach.

Now Dylan has exacted his revenge. At the CDBA Presentation Night the members of Navmat hi-fived as they picked up some bling in the way of Third Place in the Mixed category. Foolishly, those on the Navmat table forgot to keep an eye on their coveted trophy and Dylan was able to scoop it up and make it his own.

Members of Navmat were invited to send their humble and grovelling apologies to Dylan by email (to forgive_me_please_dylan@dragonflyers.net.au), expressing their sincere regret of Dylan's treatment at their hands - so he might forgive them and return said trophy. While some heartfelt apologies were received, some were just downright rude. Read their pitiful attempts and Dylan's responses below.

Navmat - the trophy is now mine and will be shared with people more worthy; the Flyers.

Axel, trying to find the Flyers

Jindabyne Flowing Festival - the Flyers Excel Again

The Flyers managed to excel again at the Jindabyne Flowing Festival held on 20 Feb. As in past years, many of the Flyers arrived on Saturday to enjoy the fresh air and sights in the mountains, the usual camaraderie on Saturday night with other paddlers and perform well the next day.

The usual slowish start to the day, as Flyers who had stayed over appeared and those who had sent off at dawn from Canberra arrived. Thankfully, with the new Flyers Land Manager Axel, got them whipped into shape.

Les taking the Flyers out

But the racing was good. The Flyers fielded three teams, two as combinations with the Canberra Griffins. The Flyers followed up their recent successes at the local regattas with fast times, which was good considering everyone was racing in the old Geelong boats that used to be based in Canberra.

Flyers finishing only a few metres behind the Ice Dragons

The Flyers chased down some of the more fancied teams, coming out of the blocks fast and then not letting them get away.

Many of the Flyers were able to relive old times, having the high gunwhale take off a bit of skin - but the new owners of the boats have done a good job with the paint work on the dragonheads, they have a bit of character.

Maybe the Flyers didn't come away with the bling, but that isn't what the event is about - it's about getting away, enjoying the sport and mixing with paddlers from a number of clubs. However, there are always a few where the 'excitment' got the better of them.

Kev having a 'snooze'

The Flyers Uniform Bonanza

For new and existing members, there is a continuing uniform bonanza so people can stock up on supplies - you too can look like Steve and Kev. For further details, prices and orders get in contact with Julie Hemmingway (uniform@dragonflyers.net.au)

2010 Nationals - the Wash Up

Well it's all over for another year. Tales will be told, songs sung and photo's emerge to describe the Flyers efforts in Adelaide. Highlights of the event included many Flyers in the ACT Grand Master Women's team picking up a silver medal, the Premier Mixed team (pictured below) making it through to the Semis and being placed 18th in the country.

But there were also some low lights. Despite what you say, some people don't know when to stop!

More information will appear on the Flyers Facebook Group shortly

Dragon Flyers Safety Policy.

As the new paddling season is upon us, all members old and new should read the Flyers Safety Policy.

The Dragon Flyers remain very concerned with boat safety, particularly given some of the winds we have seen recently. To this end we have:

1. Appointed Kevin as Safety Officer – an experience sailor, Kevin can overrule all of us and declare training or racing unsafe. He will maintain a hazard/risk register.
2. Reaffirmed the duty of the sweeps and coaches to make sure that they are confident in the conditions and not to take risks – this includes staying close to shore, numbering off, encouraging life jackets, avoiding lightening, asking paddlers for any relevant medical information.
3. Recognised that new coaches and sweeps still need to learn the peculiarities of the lake and introduced a system of mentors. (No new coach will be considered good looking until at least 1 year after their anointing.)
4. Reaffirmed that any paddler who feels uncomfortable with the conditions can opt out and not be penalised for it.
5. Restated that, in the end, each paddler is responsible for his or her safety and must act accordingly.
6. We will review cold water safety as winter draws on.

A Safety Guideline has been created, (click here to download a copy) and all members are asked to read this guideline and advise the Safety Officer when they have done so.

If you've got it, flaunt it - the Flyers' Promotional Campaign

The recent CDBA and Flyers Open Days were very successful with a large number of new members trying out the sport and seeing what they've been missing out on.

But you can never have too much of a good thing, and the Flyers, to maintain the energy of the Team is always looking out for new members. All members of the Flyers can help out by putting up posters, handing out some of the snazzy business cards

Copies of the two posters for the Dragon Flyers - can be downloaded from our site Poster 1 (on the left) or Poster 2 (right below). Please print it off – in colour if you can – and post it up in as many places as possible Be ambitious: as well as the notice board at work, put it up in shopping centres, sporting clubs, bus stops, etc. Marcus Gorondi (info@dragonflyers.net.au) or Amanda Sichter (membership@dragonflyers.net.au) will have a limited number at training for people who do not have access to a printer.

The most important thing though, is that when we have new paddlers come along to our training, make sure that we're there to look after them - just remember when you came down for your first paddle.

The Newest (and littlest) Flyer

Every now and then, good things happen in the world. The latest recruit to the Flyers, Dylan has certainly been through some rough times lately, but has landed back on his feet.

While out on a training session the Flyers came across poor Dylan, floating in the water. How he got there is a bit of a mystery - with some speculating he had been pushed, or maybe had jumped over a failed love affair (very Romeo and Juliet).

But after being rescued and a quick bit of sprucing up (thank goodness his care tag said 'machine washable') Dylan has made it into the Flyers team, complete with his uniform. At the recent regatta Dylan was part of the winning team.

Watch out for more on Dylan's exploits.