SATURDAY 25TH JULY DAWNED TO A DREARY HORIZON OBSCURING CLOUDS OVER THE GLASSHOUSE MOUNTAINS WITH A POTENTIAL SQUALL PREDICTED FOR THE PUMICESTONE PASSAGE. IT WAS A COLD, SHOWERY AND MISERABLE MORNING BUT A SOMEHOW FITTING ONE FOR SUCH A SOMBRE OCCASION.
Members of Dragons Abreast, Bribie Island (DABI) paddled in the rain to conduct “Flowers on the WaterTM, a very special Dragons Abreast Australia ceremony.
This is one of the most emotional and important traditions within dragon boat paddling for Breast Cancer survivors. It is conducted on rare occasions to honour those who have been, and are continuing, to travel the path of a Breast Cancer diagnosis, as well as those who have lost their battle with breast cancer.
Belonging to a breast cancer survivor group means that inevitably some of us do lose our lives to BC and in Australia, we have coined the name, Angels Abreast for the members who have left us.
Our Flowers on the Water ceremony is trademarked by Dragons Abreast Australia to maintain the significance and to protect the dignity and respect for all.
Thankfully, the rain stopped at the right time to enable us to have the Memorial Service without getting soaked. Our onshore Commentator introduced the ceremony to gathered friends whilst to honour our Angel, her teammates from DABI paddled out in purple and pink dragon boats. The two boats rafted up together as our own Chaplain evoked very moving and beautiful words while we scattered multi-coloured flower petals onto the swell.
A poignant minute of silence accompanied soulful music and the carpet of floating colour as we remembered our Angel; thanked her for being part of our lives, and contemplated the special times we had together. Both boats then paddle-tapped a circle of honour to shore where all were invited to join us and participate by sprinkling petals into the water.
We felt that we had farewelled our Angel uniquely as a glorious rainbow dipped into the channel at Ningi Creek.