DUCKS….TAKE YOUR MARKS…

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY

On Monday 18 August at 10.30am, the Calanna Rotary Duck fundraising folk and Harald Falge will assemble lagoon-side to make a colourful splash launching this year’s duck race.

Date: Monday 18 August 2008
Time: 10.30 am
Place: Lagoon, Cairns Esplanade
What: Official launch of 2008 fundraising effort by Rotary through its Annual
Calanna Rotary Duck Race and other Events
Who: Organisers from Rotary Mulgrave Cairns,
event major sponsor, Mario Calanna of Calanna Pharmacy, Harcourts
representative, Harald Falge (of Harald’s House) PLUS
Rotary’s giant Duck mascot, loads of little yellow ducks and
KIDS fishing for plastic crocs
Why?: To assist in raising much needed funds to support Harald’s House in their quest to build a home for the Homeless Children and under privileged of Cairns and support and guide them into a better life back into our local community

Backgrounder:
This event is a colourful spectacle that takes place annually as a highlight of Festival Cairns finale. This year the events line-up takes place from 1pm, Saturday 20 September and will no doubt attract plenty of spectators who will gather to witness 10,000 plastic ducks take their marks at 4pm.

This year’s race is the third year the money raised by Rotary will benefit Harald’s House.

In the past four years since its inception, the duck race has raised well over $100 000 for local charities.

The tickets are $5 and will be available for purchase from any ANZ branch in the Cairns area and Calanna Pharmacies in Woree and north Cairns. There are four prizes up for grabs including a $11,000 spa from The Pool Man, a $7,000 trip to New Zealand for four people courtesy of Flight Centre and a Skytrans Cairns Taipans Family Gold Pass.

This year’s duck race has been greatly expanded to feature an afternoon program of duck related events beginning with a ‘blessing of the ducks’ and traditional Aboriginal dance.

In conjunction with this year’s duck race, Rotary Mulgrave will also host “Harcourts Crikey-Catch-a-Croc Spectacular” with all children welcome to enter. There will be a limit number of crocs. Children will have the opportunity to fish one of these crocs out of the lagoon to win a stunt bike from Pump ‘n’ Pedals.

The entry fee for “Harcourts Crikey-Catch-a-Croc Spectacular” is $10. Entry forms will be available from Harcourts or on the day. This event will be held at 1pm at the Lagoon.

The duck themed events continue with a first in 2008 – the “Myer Fashion Parade”. Models will strutt their stuff down at duck headquarters on the Esplanade Lagoon – wearing the latest swimwear fashion from Myer. This will be immediately followed by a more tongue-in-cheek event, “Myer Fashion on the Duck Field” held at 2.00pm. This event is open to all who wish to dress up in their finest “Duck” costume to win $500 shopping spree from Myer. Entry to this event is $10.

At 3pm it is The Rotary Corporate Duck Race before the main race at 4pm and finally, a celebrity duck race which is being kept under wraps. This event is based on four celebrity ducks being auctioned by Locco at 4CAFM – who are then required to swim to the half way line – and the best news is, they all win a prize.

The 2008 Calanna Rotary duck Race at the Lagoon Brought to you by Southern Cross Ten, 4CAFM, Calanna Pharmacy, The Pool Man, Flight Centre, Harcourts, Pump ‘n’ Pedals and Rotary Mulgrave Cairns

For further information, contact event organiser Sally Dixon, Mobile No: 0412 412 989
Office Ph: 4033 0254

Ends

Issued by: Pip Miller PR Tel: 0419 681543