Big-time swim for Narooma

Bay Post
Friday 21/3/2008 Page: 10

FOLLOWING the success of the Jindabyne Big Swim last month, the Narooma LifeSaving Energy Big Swim will be held in the Wagonga Inlet on April 20. The seven-kilometre swim will start at Taylor Bros on Riverside Drive in Narooma at 8am on the Sunday. Entrants will swim into the bay and around a clearly marked buoy before heading down the Wagonga Inlet (with the tide) to finish at Little Bar Beach.

Although there is no entry fee, swimmers will be asked to look for sponsorship to go towards funding renewable energy for the Narooma and Bermagui surf clubs. A two-kilometre swim will be held on the same day, starting from the bridge and finishing at Little Bar Beach. Clean Energy for Eternity founder Dr Matthew Nott said swimming with the tide would make the two kilometre swim a quick one, so an entry fee would be required.

"A surf boat race will follow the seven-kilometre swim," he said. "The day's water safety will be provided by the Narooma and Bermagui surf clubs and there will be live music in the afternoon." Dr Nott said the swim must raise at least $8000 to be a success. "We get an $8000 AGO (Australian Greenhouse Office) rebate," he said. "The Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shire councils have agreed to fund LifeSaving Energy dollar for dollar with community donations. "Along with that the Narooma and Bermagui surf clubs have already started fundraising.

"If you put that all together, if we can raise about $8000 with this swim then we can get the Bermagui and Narooma surf clubs set up with renewable energy." Dr Nott said they would get solar panels and a wind turbine onto the roof of the Narooma surf club in June but wait for Bermagui to get a clubhouse. "We can install the renewable energy at Bermagui as a free standing set up on the site of the surf club so it can immediately start saving money for the Bermi club," he said.

Along with the renewable energy fund requirement, the swim is also looking to raise some much-needed funding for the Narooma swimming club. "The swim club is an integral part of this event," Dr Nott said. "The event is evolving into a strong partnership between Clean Energy for Eternity and the surf clubs of South East NSW." Dr Nott said the Jindabyne LifeSaving Energy Big Swim held earlier this year raised nearly $20,000 for the Jindabyne surf club.

"Renewable energy will be installed on the roof of the Jindabyne surf club on May 3," he said. The next Lifesaving Energy Big Swim will be in the Moruya River on May 11 for experienced swimmers only. "This will be to raise money for the Moruya and Broulee surf clubs," Dr Nott said. "Both surf clubs are well underway with fundraising."