Sunday May 16, 2010

East Kimberley Tours & Rotary 4WD Adventure Bash

Date	Sunday 16 May
Time	Depart 6:30AM
Location	Departs Celebrity Tree Park, Victoria Highway, Kununurra
Cost	$80 per vehicle
Tickets	Kununurra Visitor Centre

Last year 60 vehicles took to the road in the annual East Kimberley Tours and Rotary 4WD Adventure Bash, braving gruelling conditions and obscure obstacles to raise thousands of dollars for Rotary Kununurra.

Since the event’s inception in 2001, over $35,000 has been raised by local townsfolk and tourists, as the intrepid adventurers conquer the challenging course from the heart of El Questro to Wyndham. Stopping at historical sites, tourist attractions, pioneer stations and much more, the 4WD bash is the ultimate test of map reading and bribery!

Participants travel from across Australia to join this adventure through the outback. Fancy dress (including the car) is mandatory, as is a sense of humour and better than average four-wheel driving skills. Bog holes, creek crossings and all manner of patience-testing hurdles are all part of the fun.

Adding to the event’s success is the lure of the $7,000 prize purse, with rewards offered for everything from ‘best bog’ to ‘best dressed’. After the rally, participants and officials enjoy an awards ceremony, BBQ and entertainment on the banks of Lake Kununurra.

Sunday May 16, 2010

Sharing Our Stories

Date	Sunday 16 May
Time	7:00am for a 7:30am departure - return approximately 11:30am
Location	Meet at Celebrity Tree Park Boat Ramp, Victoria Highway
Cost	$80 Adults, $35 Children
Tickets	Kununurra Visitor Centre

A partnership between the Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley, MG Corporation and Gelganyem Trust, the award winning Sharing Our Stories is a popular Muster highlight for locals and visitors.

Storytelling, as a traditional medium, has long been used to facilitate understanding and knowledge. Hear stories from local indigenous people as they recount their experiences growing up in the Ord Valley and explain the importance of the surrounding landscape and local community.

A scrumptious champagne brunch will be served as you enjoy the majestic scenery of the Ord River and Lake Kununurra

Sunday May 16, 2010

Dam to Land – The ORIA Story

Date	Sunday 16 May
Time	8:30am – 5:00pm
Location	Departs Kununurra Visitor Centre, Coolibah Drive
Cost	$195 per person (includes lunch and afternoon tea)
Tickets	Kununurra Visitor Centre

From the dam to the land, the Ord irrigation scheme provides the lifeblood to the East Kimberley.

This spectacular tour explores every aspect of the regions most important asset, its water – from the stunning wildlife surrounds of the Ord River and Lake Argyle, to the intricate irrigation systems used by local growers to harvest the regions agriculture.

This full day tour includes lunch, afternoon tea, river cruise, coach tour, expert commentary fro the team at the Ord Irrigation Cooperative, visits to local farms and much more. Here’s a taste of the highlights:

• Scenic Cruise from the Ord Rivet to Lake Argyle

• Take in the spectacular lake and surrounds from the Lake Argyle Lookout

• Visit sandalwood plantations to see the unique growing systems used in the worlds largest Indian sandalwood planting

• Tour the historic Kimberley Research Station

• Enjoy afternoon tea at the Pump House Restaurant – the site on the Ord River where water was first pumped to irrigate the Ord Valley

• See the diverse range of crops harvested from the Ord, including:

fruit trees – mango, red grapefruit and limes

horticultural crops – rockmelons, pumpkins and beans

field crops – chickpea, chia, maize and sorghum

You’ll also hear how the Royalties for Regions scheme will see the Ord irrigation area doubled in size to 30,000ha in the next five years, providing exciting growth opportunities and opening the door for investment in new agricultural industries.

This event occurs on Friday 21st May also.