This Day in History: 1980-08-10

The WA Amateur Canoe Association ran the inaugural Wild Water Marathon canoeing championships on the Avon River, starting from Toodyay and finishing 70km away at Walyunga National Park. Toodyay Shire President Ian Vincent Murray flagged off the 50 competitors at 7.45 am from Duidgee Park.The event was won by Lindsay Binning (aged 18) of Belmont, with the time of 5 hrs 47 min 35 sec. As it was a fund-raising event for TVW7 Telethon, the organizers were disappointed with the low number of entries, caused mainly by the low water level.

Sources:
Northam advertiser, 7 Aug. 1980, p.1; 21 Aug. 1980, p.1.
Toodyay Shire Council minutes, 21 July 1980; 15 Sept. 1980.