Paddlers’ quest for The Mighty Murray

Commencing March 22 (2005), two cousins from Albury and Melbourne, Rowen Privett and Josh Smith, will attempt what may be a ‘world-first’ … to paddle the entire length of the Murray River … some 2,560 kilometres from near Mt Kosciusko to South Australia.

The adventurers, Josh Smith, 24 (graduate Electrical Engineer ) & Rowen Privett, 30 (Outdoor Educator) will be donning their zinc cream in true Shane Warne style and commencing the journey from the source of this great river. No one else has paddled the Murray’s entire length before, mainly due to the hardships that would be encountered by the upper reaches well above Lake Hume. They expect to be the first adventurers to do so.

During the journey they will be promoting two worthy organisations: The Spastic Society of NSW, in caring for children and adults with Cerebral Palsy; and non-profit organisation Greenfleet Australia.

Along the way, Rowan and Josh will be inviting motorists to sign up to Greenfleet’s program to help restore this precious waterway. “Having spent a lot of our lives on the Mighty Murray, we’d like to give something back to the river that has fed our existence so well,” says Rowan.

So far, more than 800,000 trees have been planted by Greenfleet on behalf of motorists as part of its ‘Murray Darling Rescue’ project. For $40 (tax-deductible) Greenfleet plants 17 native trees on the motorist’s behalf. As they grow, these trees will absorb the greenhouse emissions that the average car produces in one year (based on 4.3 tonnnes of CO2). The program helps to bring important ecological benefits – reducing salinity, improving land degradation and providing essential habitat for native species. To sign up your car visit www.greenfleet.com.au or phone 1800 032 999.

Rowan and Josh have been raising money for The Spastic Centre through sponsorship by family and friends – who have pledged amounts between $0.25 and $1 per km travelled. The money will be spent on essential assistance through specific therapy like occupational, physio, hydro, speech etc., and equipment such as mobility walkers.

Updates during the journey will be available at www.murrayquest.com.