2011 Inspire Award - Pacific Dragons (Sat 16 Jul 2011)

Geoff, Lisa, Nicola and Joanne - 2011 Inspire Award Winners - Lisa and Nicola (Sat 16 Jul 2011)
Lisa, Jenny and Nicola - PD's Women Post Final Win Celebration - CNY 2008 - Darling Harbour / Sydney (Thu 06 Nov 2004)

Jo and I thank Pacific Dragons for Jenny's Memory to be remembered through the annual presentation of the Inspire Award (*).

Jo and I were honoured to present the 2011 Inspire Award (*) to Nicola Frowen and Lisa Green at the Pacific Dragons AGM held on Sat 16 Jul 2011.

My nomination for this award follows. As you will read, in many ways this award was a personal thank you to both Lisa and Nicola for the contribution they have made to helping me find my place in a new world.

From: Geoff
Date: 17 June 2011 1:21:04 PM AEST
To: "geoffeldridge@yahoo.com.au"
Subject: Inspire Award (*) Nomination ..

My nomination is for two people - Nicola Frowen and Lisa Green.

Why two people? I have thought about the nomination long and hard. For me, it came down to Lisa and Nicola, but when I started to write “why” for each of them, I found was virtually writing the same thing. As you will come to see, if you have not already realised – they are twins and that has meaning and implication.

Nicola and Lisa are actively involved in the running of the club, both from an administrative and paddling perspective. Both are long term committee members filling important roles, ensuring the short-term vitality and long term viability of the club. They are goal driven and process oriented, and constantly and consistently achieve results, through hard-work, effort and persistence. They are both adaptable and willing, and they will take on ad hoc and often difficult tasks at short notice. They are always approachable and fulfil the responsibilities in a collaborative and friendly way.

Lisa and Nicola have made vital contributions to the club as coaches and managers. Lisa and Nicola as OC6 Coaches – taking many club sessions and coaching the 2011 Takapuna Team. Nicola and Lisa have both helped with the Single Craft sessions. On the Dragon Boat side of things Nicola, with Lisa’s support managed the 2011 Macua bound PD’s Dragon Boat – they performed all the administrative tasks –before, during and after; arranged flights, accommodation, sponsorship, uniforms, etc. In my view we would not have left our shores, if it was not for Nicola and Lisa. The hardest thing about becoming World Champions in Macau, was not crossing the line first, it was actually getting there. Without Nicola’s drive, particularly, our world champion memories would still be just dreams. We cannot thank you enough.

As paddlers, they have excelled this year. Be it, in the Dragon Boat, OC6 or OC1, they have trained with dedication and purpose. This has resulted in PB’s in many areas and rankings in the top echelons of the various crews and craft. In this area they are twins again – often ranking within metres or seconds of each other in the various trials that are conducted for crew selections. In individual events, they are often on each other’s tail in the last metres of an OC1 race. They do all of this in a quiet, humble and modest way. I have seen them have draw confidence from their achievements and they have used them to keep improving – the best is yet to come for both.

It is easy to be inspired by their achievements as Club members. However, from a personal perspective, they have become role models to me – I see them as strong and independent people, and they have helped guide and inspire me as I try to find my place in the world without Jenny. Along with Joanne, both Lisa and Nicola have supported, guided and inspired me – they all already know this. I know Jenny would be touched by the time they have taken to listen to me, the advice they have given and the inspiration they have provided when I have questioned myself during times when I was completely lost in grief and the shock of Jenny’s passing.

When one becomes as actively involved in the clubs running, events and happenings (as Nicola and Lisa have), there are bound to be times that are difficult, and there have been a few such times. I know that they have each supported the other during such times and for that I admire them. For you see, being “twins” means they are best friends and I admire them for that and the “love” they have for each other.

I would like to think that Jenny would support me in my nomination and that the 2011 Inspire Award would be a worthy acknowledgement of Nicola’s and Lisa’s part in making Pacific Dragons what is today (and in the future), but also for helping me find meaning and direction in my life.

Lisa and Nicola - Great Wall / China (Thu 05 Aug 2010)
Jenny and Joanne - Great Wall / China (Thu 06 Nov 2004)

The Pacific Dragon's Inspire Award - In Jenny's Memory

Jenny - Byron Bay (Fri 05 Oct 2007)
From Pacific Dragons Annual Award Nomination email, the Inspire Award is described as follows ..

This award is dedicated to the memory of Jenny Petterson who we lost to breast cancer in June 2009, this is the second season since we have introduced this very special perpetual club award. Jenny was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She was a key member of our Dragon Boat and Outrigging crews for several years, and a NSW and Australian representative and medallist many times over. She was an excellent stroke, her power , fitness and endurance made her a strong addition to any crew. She had the honour of being the Australian flag bearer at the Asian Championships in Macau 2006.

Off the water, Jenny loved a good party (often in costume) and looked fabulous in an orange wig! She made the best birthday cakes and along with her twin sister Joanne, gifted many of her teammates with a special keepsake to celebrate being orange, or pink or blue or wearing the green and gold.

Jenny would always greet you with the most amazing smile, her dedication and commitment to her sport was unquestionable no matter what she was going through with her illness and her enjoyment and passion for her paddling was contagious.

So what reasons would you nominate a club member for this award? There are many reasons you could choose, for example, they may have inspired you to take up coaching, to improve your technique, to get fitter, to learn to steer, to be more involved with the administration of the club or to reach a paddling goal you though you could never reach. Here are some definitions of the word inspire that may help you think about a suitable person for this award:

• To stimulate to action; motivate


• To affect or touch


• To have an animating effect upon; influence or impel; esp to stimulate or impel to some creative or effective effort


• To cause, guide, communicate or motivate as by divine or supernatural influence

Jenny, Julia and Joanne - AusDBF Australian Champs After Party - Kawana / Qld (Sun 25 Apr 2009)

Remembering Jenny by Julia Ryall

When the swell and the wind combine to treat us to runners,

when the boat run is magical and the sun shines on our backs,

when the water is warm and dolphins swim beside us,

when a rainbow forms overhead or gold hangs warmly on our chests,

when there is a splash, a laugh, a smile or an embrace,

when each individual feels a sense of achievement and

when the team is proud…

We will think of Jen. And, she’ll be there, smiling, shining, sharing the moment.

Always.

Julia Ryall - Tue 30 Jun 2009

The Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga - Live on Howard Stern (youtube)

The Edge of Glory (*) - Lady Gaga (*) - Live on Howard Stern (youtube)
Lady Gaga tells Howard Stern the song is about:

knowing in your heart that you may never reach that glorious moment until you die so live life on the edge

Elsewhere she says:

The song's about your last moment on earth, the moment of truth; the edge of glory is that moment right before you leave the earth

The Edge Of Glory Lyrics

There ain't no reason you and me should be alone
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
I got a reason that you're who should take me home tonight

I need a man that thinks it's right when it's so wrong
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
Right on the limits where we know we both belong tonight

It's hard to feel the rush
To push the dangerous
I'm gonna run right to, to the edge with you
Where we can both fall over in love

I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment of truth
Out on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you

Another shot before we kiss the other side
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
I'm on the edge of something final we call life tonight
Alright, alright
Pull on your shades 'cause I'll be dancing in the flames
Tonight, yeah baby
Tonight, yeah baby
It doesn't hurt 'cause everybody knows my name tonight
Alright, alright

It's hard to feel the rush
To push the dangerous
I'm gonna run right to, to the edge with you
Where we can both fall over in love

I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment of truth
Out on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you

I'm on the edge with you

I'm on the edge with you

I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment of truth
Out on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
The edge
I'm on the edge of glory
And I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you

stay calm and go as hard as possible - Cadel Evans - Sydney Morning Herald (Sat 23 Jul 2011)

"All you have to do is stay calm and go as hard as possible" (*) - Cadel Evans - Sydney Morning Herald (Sat 23 Jul 2011)
From today's Sydney Morning Herald (*), Cadel Evans (*, *) told Rupert Guinness (*) before last nights epic stage:..

All you have to do is stay calm and go as hard as possible from the start to the finish. It's quite simple, [..]

You are only riding a bike from point A to point B, but in terms of technique there is so much in terms of pedalling and breathing, and there are the corners. Just concentrating and riding out beyond your limit is very taxing.

Cadel's pre-stage words were almost prophetic.

Brillant ride by Cadel last night. He had a mechanical (*) and did not panic or get upset (as most of Australia did). He worked out the problem, kept riding until his team car caught up with him. Unlike David Millar from a few years ago, Cadel gently dropped his old bike and quietly mounted his new bike and got on with the job. Inspiration stuff and a lesson to us all.

Cadel, is doing this on his own. No French or Spanish friends in the Peleton like the rest of them.

Love the transformation in your attitude Cadel. All the best for the Time Trial (*) - the Race of Truth (*) - tonight.

Go Cadel - you are on the Edge of Glory (*).


Random Recollections: Reminds me of the poster and a book I bought in Ealling, London back in Sep 2009 (I bought the book just after taking the photo of the Pink Bike - it's a classic book - had not laughed so much in a long time) ..

Keep Calm, Carry On Poster (*)

Sunset Shower Tree - Shipley Plateau / Blue Mountains (Sun 25 Jul 2004)

Sunset Shower Tree - Trees - Shipley Plateau / Blue Mountains (Sun 25 Jul 2004)

All the world's roads lead to the heart of the warrior

All the world's roads lead to the heart of the warrior; he plunges unhesitatingly into the river of passions always flowing through his life.

The warrior knows that he is free to choose his desires, and he makes these decisions with courage, detachment and - sometimes - with just a touch of madness.

He embraces his passions and enjoys them intensely. He knows that there is no need to renounce the pleasures of conquest; they are part of life and bring joy to all those who participate in them.

But he never loses sight of those things that last or of the strong bonds that are forged over time.

A warrior can distinguish between the transient and the enduring.

From the Manual of the Warrior of Light (*) by Paulo Coelho (*)

Intersection (*) - Jamaica Road / Bermondsey / London (Fri 04 Sep 2009)

Don't Wonder 'What If?' - Jenny Petterson - Pocketful of Sequins (book)

Don't Wonder 'What If?' - Jenny's Page - Pocketful of Sequins (*)
take a chance

step outside
your comfort zone.
give it a try.

don't wonder
'what if?'

Jenny 43 years old

“Don’t Wonder ‘What if?’” is a term Jenny coined for a book , titled A Pocketful of Sequins - Words from the Heart (*), which was published in 2005.

Jenny was asked to attend a workshop organised by the author, Joanne Fedler (*), where a group of Breast Cancer Survivors and Supporters were asked to talk and write various things about their experiences and journey with Breast Cancer.

It is a great little book and each person’s saying was annotated with a small painting made by an artist - Julianne Ward.

I have some photos from the Book Launch that Jenny and Joanne attended in late 2005. When I get a chance I will put them here.

Cover - Pocketful of Sequins (*)
Back Cover - Pocketful of Sequins (*)