General News
31 July, 2026
France awaits Dragons
WITH their classy pink berets and matching lifejackets and oars, five women from Warrnambool’s South C Dragons will next month head to France.
The group of eager rowers will join members from a Queensland-based club to form one of half a dozen Australian teams entered in next month’s IBCPC (International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission) Dragon Boat Festival in the town of Aix-les-Bains.
The competition, which is open to all breast cancer survivors worldwide, will take place over a week in August on France’s largest natural glacial lake, Lac du Bourget.
The dragon boat festival is held every three to four years and is an international, non-competitive participatory event for breast cancer paddler teams who engage in dragon boat activities as post breast cancer diagnosis rehabilitation.
For the first time since the establishment of IBCPC in 2010, the festival will take place in France.
This year will see 4500 survivors of breast cancer take to the water, representing 37 countries.
An official opening ceremony, which will include a parade of nations, will take place on Thursday, August 27, with races to be held over several distances on Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29.
The event will conclude with a highly anticipated flower/closing ceremony.
“We are just so excited to be going,” South C Dragons member Judy Conn said.
“To have five Warrnambool women travelling to France is incredible. We weren’t able to fill a boat on our own so we will join with a group from the Gold Coast to form a team.
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“We have paddled with them before so we know each other and row well together. It will be a trip of a lifetime.”
Judy will be joined by fellow South C Dragons, Anne Wallace, Marlene O’Brien, Janet Goodall and Glenda Mugavin.
“There will be 200 metre and 500 metre races and there may also be a two kilometre race but that’s yet to be confirmed,” Judy said.
“It will be exciting to take part in the opening ceremony and, for many of us, no doubt one of the highlights will be the flower ceremony as part of the closing event on the final day.
“This will be a time of reflection, to pause and remember all those lost to breast cancer. Some lucky participants will be chosen to take boats out on to the water and release flower petals during the ceremony. It will be absolutely beautiful I’m sure.”
While the five Warrnambool members have continued to train regularly on the Hopkins river, they have also incorporated walk, gym and swim sessions into their schedules to prepare for the French program.
“It has certainly given us even more reason to keep fit and healthy and I think we’re all enjoying the challenges,” Judy said.
“Dragon boats are so much fun and we cannot wait to get over there, to make new friendships and get out on the water and see how we go. It’s all about participation and having fun.”
