THE annual State Emergency Service duck race is on again next year and Swan Hill Mayor Les McPhee,has ticket No.1.
Tickets are sold to correspond with a number on one of the 2000 little plastic ducks that will be released into the Murray River on January 1.
The race will start at The Ten Steps, at Riverside Park, and end with a catching pen under the Swan Hill Bridge.
When the first duck floats into the pen, its sponsor will receive the first prize of $1000 and the following eight ducks will also receive a prize.
This is the 34th time the race has run and has become a significant tradition as part of the New Year’s Day festivities in the town.
This is Swan Hill SES’s only fundraising event for the year and if all the ducks are sponsored they will raise $10,000 to help purchase additional equipment.
In previous years, the funds have helped purchase spine boards, torches and essential equipment for the rescue boat.
Cr McPhee said that he was pleased to be involved with the event and honoured to be selected as this year’s significant person to purchase ticket No.1.
“The SES does a wonderful job throughout the year as does any volunteer organisation in our municipality,” Cr McPhee said.
“I encourage everyone to get behind this and sponsor a little duck and watch it run down the Mighty Murray and hopefully you might win $1000.
“Even if you don’t win, you have donated to a good cause.”
Tickets are available from the Swan Hill information centre, Swan Hill Packaging, Think Water, Priceline Pharmacy and Swan Hill Disposals for just $5.
