'There is no limit. You have to believe you can achieve anything in your life and have faith in yourself.'

Allaine Duncan is passionate about dragon boat paddling and hasn’t let two mastectomies quell her zest for life. She lives on a goat and cattle property at Yeoval near Dubbo in Western NSW with her husband Colvin. Although in her mid 70s, Allaine continues to work on their farm while training for dragon boat racing three days a week. Each training session includes paddling with her team and building muscle strength with exercises. Allaine’s goal is to compete at an International Dragon Boat Regatta in Canada during June 2010.

What gave you the motivation/inspiration to follow your dream?

My passion is dragon boat paddling and racing. A cancer survivor group came to Dubbo just after I had my first mastectomy at the age of 66, and I was so inspired. They did tap-dancing and showed us so many things that women with breast cancer can do. It was very encouraging. They also had images of breast cancer survivors paddling dragon boats. I thought I would love to do something like that as did some of the other women. A local breast cancer survivor decided to start a dragon boat team in our area and the Orana Dragon Boat Club was born. It is one of the fastest growing sports in Australia. Our club is not only about breast cancer survivors - we also have people interested in dragon boat paddling as a sport.

At what point did you realise that your dream was actually possible and what was it that made you think you could really do it?

I was never a sporting person but because I grew up near Botany Bay I always enjoyed swimming. After my first dragon boat paddle I knew I could do it and attended my first regatta at Darling Harbour in Sydney in 2005. Dragon boat racing shows there is life after cancer.

When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up?

I wanted to be worthy of having a life in this world and not just living it for my own satisfaction. Some people become nurses. I became a speech and drama teacher. I continue to live by the ethos of living and giving to others.

How did your childhood influence you in later life?

I was originally a Sydney girl and went to Dubbo with my first husband, who had an accountancy business. We raised four children. Sadly my husband died of cancer. It was seven years before I’d agree to marry again, and I married Colvin who had also lost his partner to cancer. Colvin and I have now lived on the farm for over 16 years. My spiritual journey has greatly influenced the way I approach the world. I grew up in a strong Salvation Army family where giving was a way of life. There was no drinking, smoking or gambling. It took some courage to grow up separate from a world where most people drank, smoked and bet! I now follow the Bahai faith. Bahai believe all people are equal and we aim to serve humanity.

Who are your role models?

My mother was an outstanding lady, very brave and spiritual. My approach to challenges has probably been handed down to me from my mother and aunties.

What does success mean to you?

I think success for me is meeting my challenges and coping with them because I know I can get through to the other side feeling sane and centred. Success is also a chance to speak out for breast cancer sufferers and encourage women to realise how much they can still accomplish even if they have had their breast removed.

What has been one of the biggest barriers you have had to face, what happened, and how did you overcome it?

I have had a few challenges over the years. My mother, auntie, grandmother and great grandmother all the way down the line have had breast cancer. I kind of half expected it to happen to me at some stage. And it did happen.

My mother died when I was 15. Having helped to nurse her, I was then asked to look after the house and rear my seven-year-old younger brother. It was a big responsibility for a young girl, to deal with grief and to step into my mother’s shoes trying to fill that gap and make life a bit easier for my father and two brothers. But I did it. I educated myself along the way and left home at 19 to get married. My husband wanted to move to Tamworth so I was taken away from all my family, which was hard. We had four children, and while in Tamworth I taught and also did a women’s program on the ABC for many years.

I certainly didn't know what I was letting myself in for when I went to Colvin’s farm, but I’m not sorry. Learning how to live on the land at my age was pretty hard for me. I had to learn to drive a tractor and front-end loader from scratch. Distance is always a barrier when you live in the bush - I live a 45 minute drive from town so travelling to the dragon boat training sessions three times a week as well as working on the farm and being involved in other volunteering activities like Red Cross is always a challenge.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What is your vision for the future?

Well, I am nearly 74. I would like to think I can keep dragon boating for a couple more years as I am healthy at the moment and keeping fit as best I can. The farm is always a challenge. Like most farmers my husband is not interested in retiring. He sees himself going on forever even though his body isn't getting any younger, so who knows what the future holds there. Colvin has a son and a daughter. His daughter lives on the neighbouring property and she has two little children who are beautiful! I get a lot of enjoyment out of them. I know there will be challenges ahead and I will do whatever I can with those years to help others.

What would you like to say to other women who may be just starting out on a Daring to Dream journey?

There is no limit. You have to believe you can achieve anything in your life and have faith in yourself. Take your mind away from yourself. So often, people worry about themselves and worry about what is going to happen to them. Have an outward look at the world and see the many things women can help with. Contribute and pour your energies into things that are going to help the world and other women. Living on a farm doesn't mean you have to restrict yourself to local stuff - look out further and see the world for what it is.