RUBBER duckies will race down the Murray River on New Year’s Day to raise money for the State Emergency Service Swan Hill unit to purchase new equipment.
In its 29th year, the annual SES duck race sees numbered ducks race to the finish line, in the local SES’ only fundraiser for the year.
This year’s race raised just under $8500 for the unit.
Unit controller Darren Barnes said the money would go towards a machine to help the SES locate bodies underwater.
“This year, we’re looking to purchase a sonar machine, which is basically a fish finder, but an expensive one of more than $10,000,” Mr Barnes said.
“It’s site scanning equipment, so it will help us with (locating bodies in) drownings and other things like that.
“It will give us three-dimensional imaging of underwater.”
He said the equipment would last 20 years.
Mr Barnes said the SES unit would generally have to wait for police divers from Sydney to attend to drownings, taking 11 hours to travel to the region.
“Where hopefully this will help us find (the body) in the first hour or two,” he said.
In previous years, the money raised from the event has gone towards purchasing SES vehicles and boats.
With the 30th anniversary in 2021, Mr Barnes said he hoped they could bring back the raft race that used to be part of the annual event.
Community members can purchase raffle tickets for the numbered ducks, which are $5 each or $50 for a book.
They can be purchased at the Swan Hill Region Information Centre each Saturday from 8am until 1pm until race day, or from any Swan Hill SES unit member.
First prize if your duck wins is $1000, with 10 cash money prizes all up.
There will be 2000 ducks in the race.
