Stowaways take trophy

Stowaways take trophy

Last month, the Stowaways LGBTI dragon boat team blitzed the competition, winning the trophy and silver medals for a second place finish in the Dragons Abreast Festival Corporate and Community Dragon Boat Competition. This was the first year the Stowaways had entered the competition and the first LGBTI team entry.

The festival itself featured more than 66 teams competing on the day in the corporate, hospital, social and community challenges and the Blue Blokes (prostate cancer survivors) versus the Pink Dragons (breast cancer survivors).

The Prostate Dragons came first in this challenge, followed very closely by the Pink Dragons Zest, the Stowaways entry in the category.

There was also a ‘Flowers On The Water’ Ceremony held in the middle of the day, when a dozen dragon boats full of breast cancer and prostate cancer survivors, paddled out into the middle of the harbour, joining together to form a flotilla.

Two minutes of silence were held to honour all those who have been lost to breast and prostate cancer. After this, thousands of red rose petals were dropped by hand into the water from the boats.

Sydney’s gay and lesbian softball league, the Sydney Outfielders, joined together in association with ACON to honour their former teammate, Libby Stowe, by forming the Stowaways.

“The team is named ‘Stowaways’ in support of Libby Stowe,” Outfielders and Dragons Abreast member Shannon Maguire told the Star Observer last month.

“Libby was the original captain of the Libby’s Pink Mitts, an Outfielders softball team.

“Sadly we lost this brave, fun-love, warm and inclusive woman to breast cancer in 2006.”

The team was adorned with a variety of costumes – from pirates to buxom wenches – on the day.

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