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On Saturday 27 March, 2004 approximately 4500 plastic ducks were set loose
on the Hawkesbury River at Macquarie Park, Windsor.
The Great
Hawkesbury Duck Race was organised by the Rotary Club of Kurrajong North
Richmond Inc.
Local
community organisations (including Horses in Drought Inc.) were invited to
participate by selling certificates of ownership for the event, each ticket
generating $2.50 to the selling organisation and an additional 25% being
passed on to the selling organisations nominated RFS
or SES group in the area. Horses in
Drought were pleased to nominate Tennyson RFS as
our recipient.
Hawkesbury
community organisations that participated, received a total injection of
just over $17,000 generated by the sale of tickets.
The race
was officiated by TV personality, Diana “Bubbles” Fisher, who
enthusiastically had the crowd quacking (yes quacking!!) to start the race.
The morning
commenced with a corporate race, with Kathy McManus Real Estate North Richmond
taking out line honours after an exhausting half hour race to the finish.
Then
the big event we had all been waiting for, the ducks were all ready and
lined up behind in the barriers.
Unfortunately, the track was downgraded from fast to very slow on
the day as there was a large accumulation of weed and algae that formed
quickly behind the barriers.
Happily
there were no reports of any drowning, however several entries decided that
it would be better to sit on the bank and watch the proceedings than to get
caught up in the excitement of it all.
The SES
crew did a great job from their boats scooping up the stragglers, and directing
all to the finish line.
Horses
in Drought congratulate the organisers on such a successful event, and look
forward to participating in an even bigger and better event, again next
year.
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Click here to see slideshow of Great Hawkesbury Duckrace v:shapes="_x0000_i1064">