Newsletter - 1st January 2014
News From Fire Dragon Australia
2013 NEWS II
Grand Master Hardy celebrated the return of the Fire Dragon contingent which travelled to the USA at a lunch on 2nd November. Tall and not-so-tall tales of our brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts in the States regaled to those who were not able to make the journey, together with the best wishes of Pai, Shinzan, Grand Master Hardy's teacher.
On Sunday 17 November Fire Dragon lent its support to the Australian School of Contemporary Chinese at their 10th Anniversary celebration. Joining their talented and hardworking students was a privilege, and Fire Dragon performed well in a restricted space. Grand Master Hardy performed his first sword cut of a melon - not perfect, but no blood, and lots of bits of melon!
Grand Master Hardy organised an Archery Day for interested Club members on 23rd November, and a good number of students came to the Canberra Archery Club with family and friends to try their hands and eyes with bow and arrows. Young and old enjoyed the experience of a related martial art!
Fire Dragon students, friends and family at the Canberra Archery Club range, and with bows and arrows.
And from the other side of the field -
And looking carefully at the far end, there are fewer balloons than in the previous picture - some archers hit the target!
The annual Christmas Dinner was held on Friday 20th December, and much fun was had by all, with good food and a chance to relax with fellow Dragons. Grand Master Hardy was very pleased to present the 2013 Niket Rewal award for devotion to the Way of the White Dragon to Daniel Cochrane, who was there with his family.
Daniel Cochrane, the winner of the 2013 Niket Rewal Award, with his ladies!
More Fire Dragon members at the Dinner
Eating is important!
Never under-estimate the importance of food!
Or conversation!
Swapping stories
Should not interrupt eating too much!
Sadly, the Queanbeyan Fire Dragon Club closed at the end of 2013. While there remained some devoted and very capable students, the lack of a good venue, and the departure of Wasu Scott Savage meant that the Club was no longer viable. Remaining students were encouraged to attend the Ainslie Club, though it is a long drive!
And the concept of Family will help - as the Christmas Dinner showed, with Queanbeyan and Ainslie students and instructors side by side.
The 28 December was the date that the Pai Lum Family lost a valued and loved senior teacher: Grand Master Guiffre left us all as the result of a motor bike accident in Florida. He is sorely missed by the many Australian Dragons he taught and helped on our visits to the States, and especially Grand Master Hardy, who has experienced the full force of his wisdom and compassion. His loss is, however, a stimulus to all Dragons to continue to work hard to understand themselves, and the Way!
The late Grand Master Jeff Guiffre with Dragons from Australia and several parts of the US. He will be sorely missed!