On Trust, Respect and Photography - Kate Geraghty / Joel Meares (Fri 15May 2015)

Joanne and Mike - Llysfaen Primary School / Wales (Fri 16 Aug 2013)

Kate Geraghty on Trust, Respect and Photography:

It's a privilege to meet people and for them to trust us enough to tell us their story, [..] each one of them has to be given the respect to tell their story.

Via Photographer Kate Geraghty on the privilege of witnessing history by Joel Meares.

Mike, Phyll and Jenny in Spirit, Joanne and Geoff - Phyll MacKeddie-Haslam Memorial Garden / Llysfaen Primary School / Cardiff / Wales (Fri 16 Aug 2013)

Mike, Phyll and Jenny in Spirit, Joanne and Geoff - Phyll MacKeddie-Haslam Memorial Garden / Llysfaen Primary School / Cardiff / Wales (Fri 16 Aug 2013)

Believe! - Phyll MacKeddie-Haslam Memorial Garden / Llysfaen Primary School / Cardiff / Wales (Fri 16 Aug 2013)

Believe! (*) - Phyll MacKeddie-Haslam Memorial Garden / Llysfaen Primary School / Cardiff / Wales (Fri 16 Aug 2013)

Introduction - Dragons Abreast Seminar - Brisbane (31 Aug 2010)

The Introduction

Dragons Abreast Ausrtralia Seminar
Cancer Council Queensland
Tuesday 31st August, 2010

Thank you for having us here tonight. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to tell Jenny’s story.

This is the first time that Joanne and I have had the opportunity to tell Jenny’s Story since her passing on the 30 June 2009.

Geoff and Joanne - Jenny's Memorial and Ashes Placement - Woronora - 30 Aug 2010
As Mike Haslam (Executive President of the International Dragon Boat Federation) wrote to us just before our first Christmas without Jenny ..

"Jenny will continue to be an inspiration to us all and her story will be there for others as an example of the strength of the human body and spirit when faced with adversity, [..]

Her story and your telling of it will ensure that Jenny lives on, not only in your own hearts and minds, but in those of everyone who comes to know her through you."

Jenny, Mike and Joanne - Club Crew World Championships - Penang/Malaysia - Thu 29 Jul 2008
Geoff, Mike and Joanne with Jenny's Paddle and Gold Medal - Prague/Racice - World Dragon Boat Championships - Day 5 - Sun 30 Aug 2009
Jenny’s life changed after the June 2004 airing of In the Pink, the Australian Story Episode that we have just watched. From then on, Jenny was often recognised in public. She, and even Joanne, would often be "pulled up" by people in the street or at regattas so that they could share their story about how the Australian Story episode helped them to make positive changes to their lives.

In the Pink - Australian Story - Mon 14 Jun 2004
In the Pink - Australian Story - Mon 14 Jun 2004
A few months later, in October 2004, just before Jenny and Jo flew out to Shanghai for the World Dragon Boat Championships, Jenny was asked to speak at a Pink Ribbon Lunch where the Governor of NSW, Marie Bashir, was the special guest.

Geoff, Joanne, Marie Bashir and Jenny - Pink Ribbon Lunch - Sydney - Mon 11 Oct 2004
The talk was well received and this was the start of many to follow, as she became a Speaker for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

As the years passed by, Jenny’s story evolved (through the spreading of the cancer and her dragon boat adventures) and she was constantly editing and adding to it.

Jenny as Ausrtalian Flag Bearer with Australian Dragon Boat Crew - Opening Ceremony - Asian Dragon Boat Championships - Sep 2006
Jenny - Jenny's Gall Bladder had failed a few weeks after a liver resection - St George Hospital Emergency Unit - Jun 2007
In the later years she added a photo slide show to provide a visual element to the presentation.

Powerpoint Slide Presentation - Riverview Talk (pdf soon)
So when we were invited by Michelle and Jo to speak about Jenny’s Story tonight, we thought long and hard about it. In the end, we felt that we could not tell Jenny’s story better than she did. So we thought it would be appropriate, and as a tribute to Jenny, we would present Jenny’s last talk (pdf), which she did at Riverview College on the 1st April 2009, just three short months before she left us.

Geoff, Jenny and Joanne - Riverview School Talk - Wed 01 Apr 2009

The complete presentation is here:

• The Climb - Our Main Range Summit Challenge (here)


• The Climb (Video) - Jenny's Amazing Climb (here)

Macau 2010: The warrior of light is a believer ..

The warrior of light is a believer.

Because he believes in miracles, miracles begin to happen. Because he is sure that his thoughts can change his life, his life begins to change. Because he is certain that he will find love, that love appears.

Now and then he is disappointed. Sometimes he gets hurt.

Then he hears people say ‘He is so ingenuous’

But the warrior knows that it is worth it. For every defeat, he has two victories in his favour.

All believers know this.

From the Manual of Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho. A really hard campaign (and here) for me in many ways, but I know we believed when it counted most - it was a matter of 'remembering and honouring', and 'letting go' at the same time .

Pacific Dragons 2km Premier Mixed Team - (b-f-l-r) Kaizer Austin, Michelle Hone, Lisa Green, Rachel Mosen, Joanne Petterson, Nicola Frowen, Geoff Eldridge (Jenny's Candle), Kerry Davenport, Helen Papin, Paul Smith, Di Morgan, Michelle Ng, Stuart Young, Anne Weber, Christian Happich, Annett Happich, Christophe Pistoni, Craig Stewart, Graeme Bacon, Matt Spies, Michal Hrcka, Justin Spake, Mark Hall, Todd Skeels, Norman Joe - Macau/China - Thu 29 Jul 2009
A candle for Jenny - Macau/China - Thu 29 Jul 2009
Pacific Dragons Small Boat 200m Premier Womens - (b-f-l-r) Michelle Hone, Nicola Frowen, Joanne Petterson, Annett Happich, Michelle Ng, Anne Weber, kathaleen Burrows, Di Morgan, Julia Ryall, Suzy Kong, Kerry Davenport, Helen Papin, Lisa Green, Rachel Mosen - Macau/China - Fri 30 Jul 2010
Geoff, Joanne and Mike Haslam - Macau/China - Fri 30 Jul 2010
Premier Mixed 500m Final - Macau/China - Sat 31 Jul 2010
Pacific Dragons Premier Mixed 500m Team - Back (l-r) Geoff Eldridge, Norman Joe, Rachel Mosen, Kerry Davenport, Darren Ma, Todd Skeels, Craig Stewart, Justin Spake, Michal Hrcka, Suzy Kong, Annett Happich, Mark Hall, Lisa Green, Stuart Young, Toby Wilson, Graeme Bacon Front (l-r) Michelle Ng, Helen Papin, Christian Happich, Matt Spies, Michelle Hone, Nicola Frowen, Di Morgan, Paul Smith, Christophe Pistoni, Julia Ryall, Kathaleen Burrows - Macau/China - Sun 01 Aug 2010

Jenny’s Gold Medal

PRAGUE 2009 – 9TH IDBF WORLD DRAGON BOAT CHAMPIONSHIPS – AUG 2009
Jenny’s Gold Medal
Prague was an amazing experience. Winning a Gold Medal and singing our National Anthem is something I don't think Joanne (Jenny's younger identical twin sister) or I (Jenny's Husband) will ever be able to explain or describe.

World Champs!! – “Thank You Jenny”
Anyway, I should try to find some words about our Prague experience .. The thing I will remember most about Prague is ..

.. We met Mike Haslam (IDBF Executive President) a couple of times and we spoke initially for quite a while at the end of the third day. We thanked him for his ”Tribute to Jenny” and the wonderful article for Jenny in the July 2009 DBI Newsletter. It became apparent in talking to him that he was truly “touched” by Jenny and he spoke quite openly about the positive impact she had had on his own life over the years and in particular since her passing on the 30 June 2009.

Just before we parted, I asked him whether we could have a photo together, as this had become a bit of tradition with Jenny, Joanne and Mike over the years. This time instead of capturing the moment, I would be in the photo, taking the place of Jenny. After the photo was taken, we all became quite emotional and I asked Joanne to give Mike a comforting hug. As we parted, I was happy, we had said “ thank you” and I had the photo of Mike and Joanne, and thought that would be it for the Regatta. Well, maybe not ..

Geoff, Mike and Joanne - Prague/Racice - Day 3 - 28 Aug 2009

Mike and Joanne - Prague/Racice - Day 3 - 28 Aug 2009
The following day, the Australian Senior Mixed Crew, which Joanne and I were team members, won a Gold Medal in the Mixed 500m Event. For all of us, particularly Joanne and I, this was an amazing experience and a “Dream come True”. We all gave it everything we had and we got off the Dragon Boat onto the Lane 1 Pontoon, not “Wondering, ‘What If’?”. Jenny was our “our Guiding Light and Inspiration” and this was just one example of how Joanne and I are trying to live our lives in Jenny’s “Afterglow”.

Senior Mixed 500m Final - Day 4 - 29 Aug 2009 - "Don't Wonder 'What If?'" Jenny P

Australian Senior Mixed 500m Team – Prague/Racice - Day 4 - 29 Aug 2009
On the last day of the Regatta during the lunch break, Mike came over to the Australian tent to handout copies of the latest DBI Newsletter (the one with Jenny's story) and he again spoke to Joanne and I at length.

We talked to him about winning Gold and how everyone in the Mixed Crew and Squad felt that we had a 21st paddler in the boat when we raced the final. I told him about the wristbands we were wearing with Jenny's "Don't wonder ‘What If?’" quote inscribed on the inside (we all raced with the wristbands inside out).

Finally, I told him how we all went into Prague the evening of the day we won” Gold”, to quietly celebrate a truly amazing experience in our lives - as the German Team told us after the Final - "we made the impossible, possible". Everyone, except Joanne and I, wore their medals out that night (indeed, some are still wearing them :-). When asked on numerous occasions where were our medals? - We said “back at the hotel room with Jenny's photo”. I think everyone understood.

Jenny with Joanne and Geoff's Medals – Prague/Hotel Duo - Day 4 - 29 Aug 2009
Just before Mike left the tent, he said to us he felt that we should have a "Special" Gold medal presented to us for Jenny, in her honour, memory and contribution to Dragon Boating. Obviously, we were quite touched by his thoughts and this gesture. As he left he said he would arrange it all, though we were not quite sure how.

During the afternoon Mike came over twice to the Australian Team Tent, from the Official's Tower (a good 10 min return trip). Joanne and I were not around both times - either racing or watching races (my only chance the whole Regatta). When I got back to the tent I had numerous people tell me an IDBF official was looking for Joanne and I - little did they know it was the President of the IDBF.

Since the Senior Women’s Team were racing the 500m Final, I decided not to find Mike until I could "round up" Joanne. Our Women's Team placed a close 4th in the Final and just as they started coming off the water, Mike appeared from behind me (yet another 10 min return trip for him) and said he would wait until Joanne came through. Being a Final, it took some time to get all the Crews off the water and through all the celebrations, back slapping and hand shaking that goes on, particularly for the final race of the Regatta for all the Senior Women’s Teams.

When Joanne was finally free, I grabbed her and then Mike presented us a “Special” Gold Medal in Jenny's Memory and Honour. As you can see from the photo below, Joanne has used Jenny's paddle since she passed away on the 30 June 2009. We all had a few tears in our eyes, including Mike. An amazing gesture and a memory I will never forget.

Geoff, Mike and Joanne with Jenny's Paddle and Gold Medal - Prague/Racice - Day 5 - Sun 30 Aug 2009
Later that evening, as the sun was setting at the Regatta’s “After Party”, which was being held at the Regatta site, Joanne and I scattered some of Jenny's Ashes on the water from the Lane One Pontoon, where we had raced the Final from and celebrated the Victory. Below, you will see some photos of the serene and peaceful sunset as we reflected back on Jenny's life and the whole Prague experience.

Joanne and Geoff scattering Jenny's Ashes - Prague/Racice - Day 5 - Sun 30 Aug 2009


Jenny’s Gold Medal from Lane 1 Pontoon - Prague/Racice - Day 5 - Sun 30 Aug 2009
Death may have ended Jenny’s Life, but our Relationship lives on. Prague has shown us all that.

Thank you Jenny, you would often say that you felt Lucky (more here) to have experienced life with Cancer. However, I consider it us to be the “Lucky Ones”. You have given us the knowledge, strength, hope, guidance and inspiration to continue to live our lives to the full. We live on in your “Afterglow”.

You will be with us, Always ..

Don’t Wonder “What If?” – Jenny P

.. just one story from Prague.

Geoff Eldridge - Jenny’s Loving Husband - 30 October 2009

Postscript: The essence of the above comes from an email I wrote (high in the French Pyrenees just 10km from the famous Col du Tourmalet of Tour De France fame) to Julia Ryall, my Club Dragon Boat Coach at Pacific Dragon’s and a truly Great Friend. I wanted to thank her for all of the effort she has put into me as paddler (four years of hard work actually and still a "work in progress") and as a friend. As I said to her before we left for Prague, she has made me the paddler I am, and indeed has helped make me the person I am. It’s not just about the paddle. Since Jenny’s passing, she has shouldered much of the responsibility for keeping the Dragon Boat community informed and coordinated (as well as her beautiful tribute). Indeed, it was Julia I asked to inform Mike Haslam about Jenny’s passing. She has also provided a “shoulder to cry on” and has helped to keep me “pointing in the right direction”, when it all seems like it has become too much. I am not sure how to really thank her, but maybe her contribution to us as paddlers and people (there were seven PD’s on the boat that day), and as a result this Prague story, will go some way to do just that ..

Julia - Thank You.
"Triple J" - Joanne, Julia and Jenny - AusDBF Nationals - After Party – Kawana/Qld - Sun 26 April 2009