Many of the 1,000 Narooma Rotary ducks that dived off Narooma Bridge on Australia Day raced well past the finishing line at Apex Park ending up at Rotary Park.
Narooma Rotary President Bob Aston said it was a fairly fast race despite the wind, and some that were initially caught in an eddy at the bridge soon managed to catch up with the main field.
‘We had good weather, good crowds and an able fleet of kayakers and volunteers from Narooma Surf Club who managed to round up all the ducks,’ he said.
Winning duck 208 was held by Melanie Reid of Safety Beach in Melbourne, who won $1,000. The last duck was 543, held by Tamara Prowse of Wagga Wagga who won $100.
Proceeds will go towards Australian Rotary Health and the Club’s Tertiary Scholarship fund for students from Narooma High.
Donations will also be made to Narooma Surf Club in appreciation of their assistance and to Bermagui CRABS (Cancer Research Advocate Bikers) who lend us the ducks.
Above: One thousand ducks dived off Narooma Bridge on Australia Day 2018.
Above: The 1,000 Rotary ducks race downstream towards the finishing line on Australia Day 2018.
Above:Narooma Surf Lifesaving Club’s Alicia and Ben Bate helped retrieve the 1,000 exhausted ducks after the annual Australia Day race, seen here with Narooma Rotarians John Doyle, Bob Aston, Lynda Ord and Michael O’Connor.
Above: Narooma Rotarians and friends manned their kayaks to round up the many bolting ducks near Rotary Park.
Above: Narooma Rotary President Bob Aston centre presented cheques to Margaret Heywood of Narooma, the aunty of winner Melanie Reid, and Tamara Prowse at Narooma Motors Car Show the following day.
