Our Fleurieu App founder, Susie, is a woman that doesn’t sit still for too long! She juggles her work and family and then somehow finds time for her sport. Recently representing South Australia at National Championships, we thoughts we would share what she’s been getting up too.

As way of introduction for our readers that don’t know the history of the Fleurieu App, can you please give us a brief run down?

Sure! I had the Fleurieu App created specifically for the Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island in 2019. We launched August 5. I had spent 5 years living in New Zealand with my family, and in the final year helped launch a Marlborough App. The region had a local newspaper, a local magazine and the response to the App was incredible. The support was immediate for the local businesses, and a bonus for the visitors to the region. Upon returning home to the Fleurieu, and after a few too many times telling my husband “if I had a Marlborough App here, I’d know where to find my local….” the rest is history!

The Fleurieu App is filling the gap of our declining newspapers and providing a directory to encourage and support our local businesses. Being an app provides the platform for cost effective, accountable and interactive advertising for our regional businesses and events.

Staring from zero and launching a few months before our devastating bushfires on KI and then COVID -19, I am extremely proud of what myself and our local journalists have created in such a short and tough time.

Your recently represented South Australia at the National level for your chosen sport. Please tell our readers what this sport is and how you got involved.

Dragon Boat Racing is the sport. Yes, a little unusual, but unless you are involved in the sport, you wouldn’t believe how popular it is here, and all-around Australia!

10 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer – yep, happy 40^th birthday to me! I had created my own luck and found out I had breast cancer as early as is possible to be detected. My journey was life changing, but ultimately no where near as bad and as long as many breast cancer patients. I was of the generation that breast cancer was considered an older woman’s disease, so was totally shocked to find myself in this position and wanted to learn more and educate younger women. I volunteered to become a Community Liaison for Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) to spread the word about their incredible service for all men and women (and their families) that have to go through their own breast cancer journey, and its many forms. I met a number of people in the Eastern States that had taken up paddling in Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Teams. It has been proven to be a fabulous rehab sport for breast cancer patients.

I didn’t think much more about it until we moved to New Zealand. I found out the region we were moving to have a breast cancer dragon boat team. The very first day we arrived in Marlborough I was picked up and taken for my first paddle. I was hooked on that first day! A couple years later I was the team’s president, and then made the move to create a mixed men and women competitive team. 

Tell us a little about dragon boating. How many people are in a boat?

Originating in China over 2500 years ago. Each boat has an ornately carved dragon's head at the bow and a tail in the stern. The boat is painted with scales. The paddles symbolically represent the dragon's claws, the drum represents the heart.

A full boat has 20 paddlers, a sweep to steer the boat and a drummer to help keep the team in time. We tend to race 200m, 500m and 2k races. We often race the boat with only 10 paddlers too. Keen to come and give it a go?

Susie ready to represent South Australia

Where do you paddle?

I train with both the Goolwa River Dragons Club (GRDC) based on Hindmarsh Island, and also our racing team ACDC (Adelaide Combined Dragon Club) training on the Port River and at West Lakes.

Recently competing for your club and also representing the state at the Australian Nationals. Please tell us a little about the experience and where to next.

Yes, it was so much fun and a great opportunity being run in Adelaide this year. We raced for 5 days. One of those was a state vs state day. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I was representing my state!

What’s next? Anyone that knows me knows I always have the next goal regarding my sport or fitness. After the state racing, I think I would love to try and make the Australian team and compete at world level. Not sure how realistic that is, but I will give it my best shot!

Now that the dragon boat season has ended, training will continue, but it’s time for me to get back onto my surfboard – I have a lot to learn 😊