Warrnambool Social Breast Cancer Support Group co-ordinator Ann Krause, who is also the president of the South C dragon boat team, said the display of the boat Go Anna at the breakwater on Saturday was to help draw attention to the illness during breast cancer awareness month.

“We had a very interesting array of people come and have a chat. It was about raising awareness during October, which is breast cancer month,” she said.

“There were seven of us down at the breakwater on and off, chatting to people which included husbands who don’t have the same support systems as women. 

“We also had a young couple come by who were cancer researchers. They were just down here for the weekend.” Ms Krause said women who had just finished treatment had also come along and would join in monthly breast cancer support group gatherings.

“We paddle the dragon boat every Saturday morning between October and May with 60 per cent of the paddlers survivors, and other crew members have had family members or friends affected by cancer,” she said.

“We’ve been back paddling for two weeks and are preparing for a regatta in Ballarat during November and we also hope to go to Tasmania in February next year.”

Ms Krause said Breast Cancer Network Australia supported women and their families through information kits, booklets, diaries, CDs and online support.

“There’s now a whole package of information when people are first diagnosed and similar information available for women who suffer secondary breast cancers,” she said.