NEW Year’s Eve was a significant day for South Australian
Murray Marathon team REPLICAS, in more ways than one.
Sailing into the
finish, the team achieved the full 404km while also fulfilling their own
personal goals.
The REPLICAS consisted of Fred Tanner and Melissa
Bussenschutt, each with their own unique story.
The pair first met at the
Adelaide Outriggers Canoe Club and decided to enter the Murray Marathon together
in a test of their endurance.
In an event that attracts people from across
Australia, what set this team apart were the stories of loss shared by Mr Tanner
and Ms Bussenschutt.
Mr Tanner paddled the entire 404km marathon with the
ashes of his wife Deb, scattering them along the way at points meaningful to
them both.
Deb passed away from dementia in June 2013.
Before her death,
the Tanners had been regular devotees of the Murray Marathon, an event that took
them to fondly remembered, beautiful places and helped them make lasting
friendships.
Picnic Point, Yarrawonga, Echuca and Swan Hill had all been
favourite holiday spots for the couple, and Mr Tanner felt the annual Murray
Marathon was a fitting way to say farewell.
He has
been taking part in the event on and off for the 20 years, with Deb by his
side.
“It meant a lot to paddle this, to have her in the boat with me,” Mr
Tanner said.
“She loves Echuca and Picnic Point. She was always supportive of
me in the marathon.”
Deb had acted as his roadie whenever he competed. He
credited her exceptional organisation skills for getting him through year after
year.
“She made my life pretty easy,” he laughed.”She’d always be
there.”
Tethering Deb’s ashes to his canoe, Mr Tanner scattered them at
intervals throughout the event.
“I also scattered them at the finish,” he
said.
“It’s been a big week for me.”
As well as providing a certain amount
of catharsis, Mr Tanner said the marathon’s atmosphere of camaraderie and fun
was an additional drawcard.
“I haven’t been here for a while because of [my
wife’s] illness,” he said.
“I’ve been catching up with old friends.
“We’ve
known each other for 20 years now.”
Mr Tanner said it had made sense to share
the canoe with teammate Melissa Bussenschutt, who lost her leg two years ago,
and is now a para-canoeist.
Mr Tanner said his fellow paddler was a tough
competitor and was working towards Paralympic standing as a canoeist.
The
Adelaide resident has been an avid paddler for the last 18 months and normally
competes in sprinting events.
The Murray Marathon was a significant change of
pace.
Ms Bussenschutt will compete later this year to qualify for the World
Championships and, later, the Paralympics.
“She’s highly competitive,” Mr
Tanner said.
“She’s never done this sort of distance before, it’s been
testing her endurance.”
Ms Bussenschutt and Mr Tanner competed in the Murray
Marathon in a rudderless outrigger known as a Va-a, the same kind of vessel in
which Ms Bussenschutt will compete in if she qualifies for the Paralympics.
A
Va-a is a traditional canoe historically used by people from Tahiti, Hawaii and
Samoa who paddled long distances by sea.
The REPLICAS competed in a smaller
Va-a, which has an outrigger attached for stability.
“We started coaching
[Melissa] in the Va-a at the Adelaide Outriggers Club and at the Westlakes Canoe
Club. We’re coaching her in two disciplines, in the K1 and the Va-a,” Mr Tanner
said.
“She’s going to the qualifying trials for adapted paddling or
para-outrigging, at Kawana Waters on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
“If she’s
successful she’ll be going to the World Championships.”
After finishing the
marathon, Mr Tanner and Ms Bussenschutt stopped to take in the sunshine on the
Murray River at the conclusion of an epic 404km.
They had a toast and a
celebratory drink while watching their fellow competitors cross the finish
line.
They planned to continue the celebrations at the Pioneer Settlement
later that evening.
“But I’m going to have a sleep in the meantime,” Mr
Tanner laughed.
