All for a good cause: Corowa Sergeant Stephen Marshall will take on the might of the Murray in next week’s Massive Murray Paddle event.
Corowa Police Sergeant Steve Marshall will join forces with fellow Murray River Police District officers in next week’s iconic Massive Murray Paddle.
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Sgt Marshall and his relay team members will join a large flotilla of canoes and kayaks on their annual five day, 415km journey down the Murray River starting in Yarrawonga this Monday.
The iconic Massive Murray Paddle (MMP15) will run for the 54th time and finishes in Swan Hill.
Sgt Marshall’s team are fundraising for the event and he will be speaking to The Rotary Club of Corowa this Wednesday night.
“I haven’t done any training, but coming from central coast I grew up with surf skis so it’s like riding a bike, so I should be OK,” Sgt Marshall said.
It’s been a rocky few years for the event with the Covid Pandemic and devastating floods conspiring to both cancel and move the timing of the event, but this year it will once again run in its usual timeslot of late November.
“Recent flooding along the event course had us worried for a while,” race organiser Shannon O’Brien, owner of Sydney Harbour Kayaks said.
The iconic five day, 415km Massive Murray Paddle will start for the 54th time from below the Yarrawonga Weir this Monday.
“But we are delighted we can go ahead this year as usual.”
Flood damage to the tracks in the Gunbower Forest have made the area inaccessible to road crews, meaning the planned Day 5 route is unable to go ahead. Instead Day 4 – Moama to Torrumbarry - will be run twice, finishing on Day 4 at Torrumbarry Headworks, and on Day 5, the race Finish Line will now be at Gunbower Boat Ramp.
“Day 5 finish will be particularly exciting,” says Mr O’Brien.
“Paddlers will pass through the Torrumbarry Loch, a first for the Massive Murray Paddle. The Loch Master will be present to open the loch, allowing paddlers to pass through the weir and on to Gunbower.”
TFNS (Transport for NSW) returns as a major sponsor for the event, which continues to promote the government’s important on-water safety messages. On Day 3, “Be Bright Be Seen Day”, competitors are encouraged to dress up themselves and their craft in bright colours, in keeping with TFNSW’s safety slogan “Be Bright, Be Seen”.
A new major sponsor of the event is the Australian National Maritime Museum, whose scope covers all waterways of Australia, and not least the mighty Murray River.
“We are extremely excited to welcome the Australian National Maritime Museum on board,” Mr O’Brien said.
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