May 2021
Colleen arrived at Sulphur Point keen to join the Boobops 12 years ago in 2008. Together with RuthOldershaw, they made the trek over the hill from Matamata, which was to be the first of many.
Unfortunately Colleen was advised by her Doctor not to paddle due to health reasons, but undeterred by this, she asked if she could be trained as a sweep. With no previous water experience, this was a bold move, but bold she was, picking up the sweep oar and mastering the job.
At the first Nationals she went to in Ashburton she was not qualified enough to sweep, and so she was the Boobops caller. When numbering off she was not wanting to be missed out and always started the numbering with “Zero”, and for ages, that was her nickname.
Colleen soon qualified as a sweep and qualified to level four, one level below the highest sweep qualification. She has swept internationally and is currently the NZBA appointed RSO sweep coordinator, overseeing and assessing all sweeps as they move up the ranks ensuring safe paddling for all crews.
Colleen has been actively sweeping until 2019 when she severely broke her ankle while disembarking from a boat after training at Lake Karapiro, the team was training for the 14thIDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championship to be held in Pattaya in Thailand.
In the early years Colleen soon became involved at club level and in 2014 she was elected Club president serving 5 years steering the club in the right direction.
One of her main aims was to grow the club, and she determinedly set out to form a mixed team. And thus the Dragon Flyers were started.
Colleen also promoted international participation and encouraged paddlers from BOPDBC to take part in events. From this the club has competed in The World club crew championships in Adelaide 2014 .and Pan Pacs Masters Jupitor games in the Gold Coast Australia in 2016
Colleen often was out on the water sweeping for the Boobops and other teams, some weeks up to 5 days, often travelling after a long day of work which saw her traveling from all over the country.
Another vision was for the BOPDBC to be part of brand new RSO and leave the
Waikato DBA umbrella, 2018 the Eastern Region DBA was formed.
While being club president Colleen was accepted as a board member of the NZDBA. She was involved for 5 years. One of her many achievements was to action an age group class at Nationals and then to extend it to include Senior C in 2021, something that has proved to be very popular, especially by the Bay Dragons. Being on the NZDBA meant putting in countless hours of work, endless phone and zoom meetings and extensive travel to attend meetings. Colleen has been described by other fellow NZDBA committee members as being like a dog with a bone, just will not take no for an answer and persists until she has reached her goal.
Last but not least, now Colleen has stepped down from her former committee and board positions she is now involved in the IBCPC as the National representative for NZ and Chief Volunteer Coordinator, and is presently seeking volunteers for the 2023 event at Karapiro.
Dragon boating has been Colleen’s life for many years working tirelessly at Local and National levels and we believe she is very deserving of recognition and therefore awared her a Life Membership in the BOPDBC.
Image to right: May 2021 at the Celebration Night
Colleen Harris and Brooke Hargreaves (Club President)
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