THE State Emergency Service (SES) Swan Hill unit is celebrating 30 years of their duck race of the year.
Money raised from the event goes to the volunteer organisation to purchase vital equipment for the crew to do their job.
The annual New Year’s Day SES duck race will be plunged into the Murray River at 2pm.
SES Swan Hill volunteer Julie Jochs said ticket sales were slow, so the crew was pushing for more tickets to be sold.
“It’s the only one we do during the year,” Ms Jochs said.
“Because we work full-time, we don’t have time to do cake stalls and things like that.
“It’s hard work during the December, but it brings in more than $10,000 for us.”
Ms Jochs said the event started as a “brainstorming exercise” of how to raise funds without doing a raffle or stall.
She said at first, the event raced 1000 ducks, later raised to 1400, then 2000.
Tickets are $5 each to select a numbered duck in the race.
They can be purchased from Swan Hill Region Information Centre, Priceline Pharmacy, Swan Hill Disposals, Think Water or directly from any SES member.
First prize is $1000 for the first duck to cross the finish line, with 10 cash and vouchers prizes all up.
There will be 2000 rubber ducks in the race.
This year’s race brought in $8500 for the SES Swan Hill unit, with funds from next year’s race going towards a machine to help the SES locate bodies underwater.
SES Swan Hill unit is also running a colouring competition in The Guardian, which will be drawn at Riverside Park at midday on January 1.
First prize is an SES truck lunch box and a $20 Toyworld voucher.
Entries can be dropped off at Swan Hill Disposals or ThinkWater.
