From recovery to resilience: Docklands’ dragon boat club for breast cancer survivors
When Docklands local Sue Mason was recovering from breast cancer surgery in 2021, she sat by her window listening to the drum of dragon boats echoing across Victoria Harbour.
“I could hear them while I was recovering,” she said. “I’d sit there thinking, when I’m well enough, I’ll go down and see what they’re doing down there.”
What she found was the DAMBusters BCS Dragon Boat Club – a team made up largely of breast cancer survivors and their supporters – and it would go on to transform her recovery and her outlook on life.
Sue joined the club soon after finishing treatment, and three years later, she’s now the president. For her, dragon boating has become much more than a sport.
“It’s something you can do after breast cancer,” she said. “There are so many things you have to give up or can’t go back to after surgery, but paddling is great for recovery. It strengthens your body, but it also gives you a sense of belonging again.”
That sense of community, she said, has been just as powerful as the physical rehabilitation.
“Most of our members have been through breast cancer themselves. We all understand each other – the surgeries, the treatment, the emotional ups and downs. If you need to talk, there’s always someone who’s been there. We’ve become incredibly close, not just as teammates but as friends.”
The DAMBusters, based at Victoria Harbour in Docklands, are part of a global network of breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams.
The club regularly competes in regattas across Australia and will represent Australia next year in France at the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) festival, which brings together teams from around the world every four years.
Recently, the club celebrated a new partnership with Z&J Sports, which donated a set of custom-made, lightweight paddles for the team to use in competition.
Sue said the gesture meant a lot to the team, with Z&J Sports donating the paddles so that they can take them to France to show to other international teams.
For Z&J Sports sales and marketing manager Usher Shao, the partnership was a natural fit.
“DAMBusters is a club for a great cause,” Mr Shao said. “Their members are women who have gone through or are going through treatment, and they’ve built this incredible community around dragon boating. We were really touched by their story and wanted to help.”
The collaboration began after a chance meeting at a sponsorship event for another local team.
“We met the DAMBusters while sponsoring the Melbourne University Dragon Boat Club,” Mr Shao said.
Their story really inspired us. It aligns perfectly with our brand values – determination, teamwork, and community.
Headquartered in China with an Australian base in Geelong, Z&J Sports is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of water sports equipment.
“We’ve supplied paddles used in regattas across Asia and even by Harvard University’s Dragon Boat Club,” Mr Shao said. “Our goal is to grow connections within the Australian water sports community, and working with the DAMBusters has been a highlight of that journey.”
While competition is part of the DAMBusters’ routine, Sue said it was the camaraderie that truly mattered.
“We’ve won a few trophies, but it’s not really about being the fastest team,” she said. “It’s about celebrating life after breast cancer, staying active, and supporting each other.”
The club trains on Sunday mornings and Tuesday nights, welcoming both survivors and supporters.
“We even have people who’ve lost a partner, mum, or sister to breast cancer,” Sue said. “Everyone is welcome in the boat. You don’t need any experience; we’ll teach you everything.”
“Joining DAMBusters gave me my confidence back,” she said. “It reminded me that life after breast cancer can still be full, active, and connected. Every time I get on the water, I feel grateful to be here – and to be part of this amazing group of women.”
-------from DOCKLANDS NEWS