Mother Hen ready to patrol the River Murray
The Murray Bridge Water Activities Group is ending, but its members' generosity will live on in a boat they gifted to the Murray Bridge Rowing Club.
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In the true definition of community spirit, the Murray Bridge Water Activities Group have used their own funds to purchase a second coaching boat for the Murray Bridge Rowing Club.
The Rowing Club will use the new runabout Mother Hen to keep an eye on participants, particularly juniors, who may not be so experienced on the river as other users.
In 2013, members of Sailability and a women’s kayaking team comprised mostly of cancer survivors formed the Murray Bridge Water Activities Group.
Renamed the “Water Activities Group”, their membership was for all those involved in non-motorised water sports.
Sadly, the MB Water Activities Group is closing down.
Falling foul of the issues so many community groups are currently facing – years of COVID, an aging membership, the recent flood and lack of volunteers – it has all taken its toll.
The Water Activities Group committee approached the Murray Bridge Rowing Club to see if they’d be interested in a second coaching boat, as their existing bank balance covered the cost of a suitable vessel.
A public meeting about the offer resulted in the Mother Hen, a fully powered runabout capable of zipping around to get where needed fast.
Clem Tynan from Sailability said that the decision to offer the Murray Bridge Rowing Club another coaching boat proved to be a good one.
“An inspection was arranged, and I haven’t seen smiles on two faces … that big for a long time.”
The Murray Bridge Rowing Club was founded in 1909 and is one of South Australia’s oldest and most successful clubs, producing various Australian representatives, including Olympian James McRae.
