“Wheelie” unusual charity race raises $105K in COVID comeback
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Pic The Dad’s Army over-55s team arrives in Chillagoe, far north Queensland (Facebook)
One of Australia’s most unusual charity fundraisers has made a strong comeback, raising over $100,000 in far north Queensland.
The Great Wheelbarrow Race is a three-day team relay event that involves running and pushing wheelbarrows 140 kilometres from Mareeba to Chillagoe.
The event took place over the weekend for the first time since 2019, following a delay caused by the COVID19 pandemic.
This time, 24 teams took part, with each team choosing a charity to support.
Organisers said about 250 people participated, with a total of more than $100,000 being raised.
Race committee chairman and Mareeba Shire Councillor Locky Bensted told ABC Far North it was great to see the race return.
“The race is a huge injection for those western communities who haven’t seen tourists for the past two years.”
The race passes through the small towns of Almaden and Dimbulah on the way to Chillagoe.
The road is mostly flat and sealed, but there are some notorious uphill sections, including Top Cat Pass, to challenge competitors.
The Rusty Wheels team won the race, with a total time of seven hours and 20 minutes, clocking an average speed of just over 19 kilometres per hour.
The Great Wheelbarrow Race was inspired by stories of miners who worked the area in the 1800s, who used wheelbarrows to push their possessions from place to place.
In 2004, the Mareeba – Chillagoe road was named the Wheelbarrow Way in their honour.
