Aussie Team News

To all Dragonhearters, our friends and families,

This is it!!! Three more days from now and Team Aussie will depart for Australia. We are all so excited. The anticipation has mounted, the suitcases are out and being packed...(One of us has been packed for at least a month!) and final details are being gone over.

Who is going? The paddlers are: Linda, Paula, Beth, Penni, Mary Ellen, Karen, Red, Pam, Carol, Mary Alice, Louise, Jeanne, Roberta, Elaine, Trish, Mary Anne and Jane. At our head will be Livona our super drummer who will be leading us, inspiring courage, strength and unity with every drum beat. We will also be joined by a mate, Jean from Philadelphia who will be paddling with us. Our support team members are: Ann Marie, Glenna, Cheryl, Gisela, Jim, Peter, Ralph, Joel, Laura and John L. Sadly and deeply missed will be our coach John who truly inspires and gently urges us on. He will be with us in spirit enthusiastically cheering.

Our exact departure is from Burlington on US Air for LA via Philadelphia and then on to Brisbane arriving on the 24th loosing one day somewhere along the way. From that point on will be a whirlwind of activities...opening ceremonies and races and lots of sight seeing and before we know it we'll be on our way home with lots of stories. Time of departure: 11:23 AM, Saturday, September 22. We will be at the airport highly visable in our distinctive hand made team jackets and waving Australian flags which were kindly and thoughtfully given to us by Donna Butkus...thank you Donna! from around 9:15 AM until we go through security. I think I heard that some of you wanted to come by for a send off. You wont miss us! You will just add flames to the fire of enthusiasm. Most of us will return on October 7th. Linda, Pam, Mary Alice, Red, Beth and Joel will return on the 12th in the morning after a night on the red eye ..... this will not negate the restful time that will be had in Fiji. Watch this blog for our news which we will post along the way as often as possible. Follow us and we will let you know how we are doing. We are "sitting pretty" and paddles are UP!!!