Men’s Shed sets sail on a fundraising adventure

• The Mayor and Goondiwindi Men’s Shed welcome Pittsworth and District Men’s Shed
• Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park is the location for the lunch before the adventurers travel to Victoria
• Cr Lawrence Springborg acknowledged the essential role Men’s Shed play within the community

This week, the Mayor, and the Goondiwindi Men’s Shed team will welcome a convoy of 60 adventure-loving blokes from the Pittsworth and District Men's Shed that have taken on a fundraising challenge for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the It’s a Bloke Thing charity.

To make a difference and draw attention to their cause, they've built a raft, but not just any raft. It's a raft made from the finest composite fibre beams, and their plan is to float their buoyant creation 600 kilometres, equating to six days, along the mighty Murray River in Victoria.

But before they can embark on their epic river journey, they have to transport the raft by trailer all the way to Yarrawonga, Victoria, passing through Goondiwindi on Wednesday 2 August for lunch before heading onto Moree, Coonabarabran, Dubbo, West Wyalong, Narrandera, Morundah and then off to the beginning of the water leg at Yarrawonga.

At the lunch Goondiwindi Regional Council Mayor, the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM will welcome the travellers to the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park before sending them on their way with a bottle of water dipped from the Macintyre River.

Team leader and skipper Merv Hinneberg said they are collecting bottled water from each of the rivers along the way including the Macintyre and depositing their contents into the Murray to counter criticism that Queensland and New South Wales are holding back water from the system.

The raft, affectionately known as Shed Down the Murray, recently proved its seaworthiness in its inaugural voyage in Warwick’s Leslie Dam.

Cr Lawrence Springborg acknowledged the essential role Men’s Shed play within the community.

“The Men’s Shed supports and assists men's health in an ongoing effort to eliminate prostate cancer,” Cr Springborg said.

This epic voyage isn't just about the men’s love for adventure, though. The Men’s Shed is on a mission to raise $200,000 for two charities - the Prostate Cancer Foundation and It's a Bloke Thing.

To assist the crew on their quest, you can donate on the day at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park or through Pittsworth and District Men’s Shed.