RACE START: Rotary’s Australia Day Duck Race starts from Narooma Bridge about 11.45am, after the official Australia Day ceremony at Ken Rose Park. The race can then be followed from the boardwalk.
ROTARY ducks will take a dive off Narooma Bridge on Australia Day this Saturday to provide future shelter for people left homeless by a disaster somewhere around the Pacific region.
Proceeds from this year’s race will purchase a ShelterBox which will be stored along with hundreds of others at a central location ready to be transported to wherever it will be needed.
Narooma Rotary President Terry Irvine said the ducks will be dropped over the bridge soon after the end of the Australia Day ceremony in Ken Rose Park, about 11.45.
The finishing line is out from the Apex Park boat ramp (near the netted beach).
“ShelterBox is a wonderful Rotary International project,” Mr Irvine said. “Each ShelterBox costs $1000 and delivers aid, shelter, warmth and dignity for a family of up to 10 people for a prolonged period.”
It includes a high dome tent, thermal blankets or sleeping bags, stove, water containers, treated mosquito nets, water purification tablets, a multi-fuel stove, and tools all boxed in a rugged multi-use container.
ShelterBoxes can be carried into remote areas by boat, canoe, helicopter and even camel.
Narooma Rotary, with local community support, has funded about 14 ShelterBoxes in recent years.
Tickets cost $5 each, there are 500 ducks with first prize $1000.
Sellers will be outside Narooma Newsagency today with any remaining tickets to be sold at the Australia Day breakfast at Surf Beach.
Narooma Building Supplies are race sponsors and custodians of the ducks.
