By Kath Gannaway
In a race carnival to rival the excitement of the Melbourne Cup, an estimated 1800 people lined the banks of the Yarra River at Warburton for the Australia Day Rubber Duck Race.
The race was a sell-out by the second heat as locals and visitors lined up at ducky headquarters for a stake in the event which saw 161 ducks bobbing their way over the rapids to qualify for a place in the race that stopped Warburton.
The event was a huge first-time success for the Warburton Traders’ Group headed by Leanne Nicholls from Warburton and Healesville Candy Emporiums and Belinda and Darren Evans of Charnwood Cottages.
Ms Nicholls said the aim was to bring people together to celebrate Australia Day in Warburton and raise funds for the Warburton Advancement League.
The ducks were released upstream with teams of local kayak enthusiasts waiting at the finishing post/net to declare the finalists in each heat and tackle the sometimes tricky job of retrieving the unfailingly-happy, never-tiring (and often strangely competitive) yellow ducks for the next heat.
The atmosphere was buzzing with a raft of prizes and entertainment including a water polo exhibition Victoria Canoe Polo members and a thong-throwing competition.
Upper Yarra SES volunteers sizzled sausages and the Warburton/Yarra Junction Community Bank Community Space was open with its trade-mark delicious vegetarian menu.
Ms Nicholls said everyone involved was delighted at the success of the event and looking forward to Australia Day 2018.
“It was a great surprise to see so many people turn up. We thought we might be lucky to get 300, and we sold out of ducks before the second race.
“It was amazing.
“I think we have learnt a lot from this year and it will be bigger and better next year,” she said.
The ducks were $2 each and businesses paid $10 to sponsor a duck. The business winners were Gold Duck – Bliss Hair Studios, Woori Yallock; Silver Duck – Charnwood Cottages, Warburton and Bronze Duck – Oscars By the River, Warburton.
Ms Nicholls said they expected to donate around $2000 to WAL.
See more photos online at mailcommunity.com.au
