THE race might have been run and won but there’s plenty more to come in the events that make up this year’s Sustainable Namoi Living program.
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The series of colourful activities that are designed to inspire and educate us about our Namoi catchment environment is in its sixth year and April sees a tasty emphasis on food in a couple of events, including the Farm Gate Trail as part of Taste Tamworth.
They’re a bit more sedentary than the big opening event, the Amazing Enviro Race, held in late February.
The race was a physical and mental challenge for teams of two based on TV’s Amazing Race Australia and 60 local school students put their green skills to the test, along with their feet and fitness skills for this year’s race.
Participants ranged from 13 years of age through to 20, and featured students from schools across the region including Calrossy Anglican School, Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, St Mary’s Gunnedah and Quirindi High School.
The twist of the Amazing Enviro Race is that the 10 challenges participants face as part of the 5km course, are all based around issues of environment and sustainability.
Challenges included planting a tree for Landcare, completing a slalom course while carrying a bucket holding 37 litres of water (the same amount as a five minute shower), and successfully conquering the game of ‘Recycling Bin Bingo’, where a certain number of pieces of garbage must be allocated to the appropriate bin before moving on.
The contestants started off in Bicentennial Park ran all the way to Munro’s Mill, back and forth over the Gipps Street footbridge and almost to the Tourist Information Centre before completing the final challenge of rating a group of cars at Woodleys on their environmental credentials.
There was plenty of competitive spirit, but the overall titles went to Kobe Russell and Will Lumber from Farrer (who took home a pair of waterproof and shockproof action video cameras), Courtney Mead and Lea Gilchrist just seconds behind as the first female team and second place overall (also taking home some coveted cameras).
It was only the second time the race had been held, but organisers are confident the positive response and the number of participants will ensure it will run again next year.
