September 13, 2015
The inaugural Wooroolin Lions “Paddle 4 Fun” at the Wetlands on Saturday attracted watercraft of all shapes and sizes – including a bath tub – but the $500 top prize was won by a man out walking his dog!
Tom Bourke, from Coolamon in southern NSW, was staying in the Wooroolin camping area when he realised something was happening in the nearby Wetlands.
He decided to wander down with his dog “Ablett” to check out what was going on.
When he discovered it was a Lions Club fundraiser, he asked how he could help … and as he didn’t have a canoe to paddle, it was suggested he buy a “duck”.
He bought two of the small plastic ducks which were then paddled around the Wetlands course by another entrant.
When the time came for the big draw of “lucky ducks” at 3:00pm, Tom’s duck was the one pulled out.
“No one is going to believe me when I go back home,” he joked.
There were 18 canoes and kayaks entered in the “Paddle 4 Fun”, each carrying a complement of plastic ducks to be marked off at the various checkpoints around the course.
Dick and Jenny Robinson, from Nanango Lions Club, had the oddest entry – a converted horse trough / bath tub flying the Boxing Kangaroo flag.
Unfortunately the draught of the bath tub was a bit too deep for much of the Wetlands course.
“But we had a lot of fun!” Dick said.
Anglican Minister Fr Ian Bailey, from Kingaroy, and his wife Robyne used the Paddle 4 Fun as a warm-up for their seven-day “Mates4Mates” kayak trip through the Whitsundays which begins on Tuesday.
- Related article: Lions Plan To Paddle Their Paws
* * *
Winners
- $500 – Duck 41 – Tom Bourke
- $100 (Kingaroy Joinery) – Duck 25 – Jason Stewart
- BCF Fishing Rod – Duck 69 – Bolt and Ben Mair
- $50 – Duck 19 – Ben Tigell
- $50 – Duck 17 – Peter Wingfield
- $50 – Duck 32 – Ross Grevell
- $50 – Duck 12 – Dave Little
- $50 – Duck 1 – Harry Weller
- $50 – Duck 49 – Greg Horne
- $50 – Duck 20 – Jaime Mag
