Traditional Canoe Blessing - Te Ariki
Paddlers from across the eastern suburbs gathered for a special ceremony at Colmslie Recreational Reserve to bless a new craft belonging to the RiverCity Outrigger Canoe Club.
Dozens gathered on the shore of the Brisbane River beside four craft where celebrant Eruera Niha and wife Queenie officiated at a special service to bless canoes for members, including a new six-man canoe.
The new canoe, named ‘Te Ariki‘, was recently purchased with a special grant from the Community Benefit Fund.
Te Ariki means first born to a noble family. Rivercity’s members chose the name because the sleek vessel is the first new racing canoe added to the club’s fleet.
Club president Carol Daly said the service was a first for the group.
"Since our club formed two years ago, 78 paddlers have joined our club from across the eastern suburbs," Ms Daly said.
"Our members like to honour the cultural and spiritual traditions of the sport. Outrigger canoes have their roots in Polynesian and Hawaiian culture where they were used for hunting, gathering and warfare.
"It’s easy to lose site of the history of these magnificent craft and see them purely as vehicles for competitive sport. RiverCity’s goal is to ensure that tradition and respect are not lost to competition," Ms Daly said.
Fifty people attended the event, held on the white sands of Colmslie Recreational Reserve’s beach. Guests included Councillor Shayne Sutton, Bulimba MP Pat Purcell, Mayoral Candidate Greg Rowell and his wife Mary-Louise.
The blessing tradition ensures safe passage, peace and kinship for all who travel and race in these craft.
"The canoes can become air borne during some of the open water races so working safely together as a team is really important,” Ms Daly said.
The RiverCity Outrigger Canoe Club counts world champion outrigger sprinters and high level international marathon paddlers among its members, including Sandy Cooper. (Pictured.)
The club is also affiliated with the Brisbane River Dragons (dragon boating club), with many members cross training throughout the season and achieving national and international placings.
A contingent of RiverCity’s paddlers will head off to the Cook Islands in November to compete in the ‘Vaka Eva’ event which is held in the islands every year.
‘Our goal is to hold regular community regattas throughout the race season so that we can promote the profile of this sport and introduce people to the river activities that we are all so lucky to pursue in our own backyard.”
