This Day in History: 1984-07-27

1984 July 27-29: The Avon Descent Festival was held for the first time in Northam on the Friday night before the 12^th Avon Descent boat race from Northam to Bayswater.  Computers were used for the first time to record times of the 541 entries at the various check points along the Avon River. The Shire of Toodyay provided water, rubbish bins and temporary roadworks at the Saturday overnight campsite at Cobbler Pool. Quarry Industries, the owner of the campsite, was working with a committee on a proposal to create a more permanent campsite in the future. Channel 9 filmed special segments of the race for the home video market. Low water levels made it a slow and gruelling race.

Sources:
Northam advertiser: 19 July 1984, p.6; 26 July 1984, pp. 20-21; 2 Aug. 1984, p.1 (photo).