Not just a beer can regatta

Ask any true Territorian how the Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta started and you’re likely to hear a tale about the construction workers of ’75 and their heavy-drinking, littering ways. 

‘A quick fix to clean up after the all workers from down south who were here to rebuild the city after Cyclone Tracy’; ‘they couldn’t handle the humidity and had to keep their fluids up’, or so the story goes.

But like so many events in the Territory, the Regatta began as a meagre bet between mates and has grown to become internationally known and a popular family event among locals and visitors alike. 

“The first regatta set sail in June of 1974, six months before the infamous cyclone,” Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta President Des Gellert said.

“It was the brainchild of Palmerston entrepreneur Lutz Frankenfeld and then NT News journalist Paul Rice-Chapman.”

The Lions clubs of Darwin took over management of the quirky event in 1978 and introduced land-based and children’s events to make it a family fun day.

“Apart from soft drink and beer can boat races, we have a full day program that includes thong throwing, tug-of-wars, sandcastle competitions, beach races and Henley-on-Mindil event,” Mr Gellert said.

“All boat entries are judged in three categories including Best Soft Drink Can Boat, Best Novelty Boat and Best Beer Can Boat, but the highlight of the day is the Battle of Mindil.”

The Battle can be likened to a ‘pirate battle of old’ according to Gellert and sees entrants sail and hunt for treasure hidden at the depths of Mindil Beach.   

But apart from the frivolity and water-loving fun, the Beer Can Regatta is a serious fundraising event. 

Last year alone the regatta, which is a combined effort of the Nightcliff, Palmerston, Casuarina and Litchfield Lions Clubs, raised enough money to purchase a new car worth $31 000 for Anglicare.

This year, Sommerville Community Services will be the beneficiary.

“Over the last five years the Lions Clubs of Darwin have raised in excess of $100,000 for various charities, including a fully-fitted, brand new ambulance for St John Ambulance,” Mr Gellert said.

“We hope to raise enough funds at this year’s regatta to purchase a new car for Sommerville, which will enable them to extend their reach and provide family and disability services to those in need.”

The 2010 Darwin Lions Beer Can Regatta is on Sunday, 8 August from 10am to 5pm at Mindil Beach.

Bar, soft drink and water facilities will be available, along with the renowned food and craft stalls of the much loved Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.

Entry is by gold coin donation or $50 for boat registrations, with all proceeds supporting the projects of the combined Lions Clubs of Darwin.

For more information visit www.beercanregatta.org.au.

Three hundred Alice homes to become smarter

Almost 300 householders in Alice Springs will become smarter with their energy use from this week when new Alice Solar City In-house Displays are installed, allowing them to monitor their energy consumption and CO2 emissions every day.

It is part of the Cost Reflective Tariff (CRT) trial which many residents chose to participate in as part of their involvement with Alice Solar City.

“Having this information at their fingertips is something that has not been possible before, and thanks to the Alice Solar City project, Alice Springs is one of the few places in the country where this sort of technology is being trialed”, says Alice Solar City General Manager Brian Elmer

“Trying to save energy in your home using an in-house display is a bit like driving a car with a speedo – you know where you stand and it tells you when you should lift your foot off the accelerator, or in this case, curb your energy use.”

“Currently there are 270 households in Alice Springs that have changed from being charged a flat rate for their electricity consumption, to a peak / off-peak pricing structure instead.”

This means their power costs more during peak periods (9am – 6pm Monday to Friday) than in off-peak periods (6pm – 9am), encouraging them to ‘shift’ their power use, which in turn aims to reduce the peak load on the town’s generator.

“The In-house Display will help them make more informed decisions about when they choose to use their electricity and give them live information about their overall electricity consumption.”

“This is a crucial part of the Alice Solar City project; normally, the only feedback or information we get about our electricity consumption is once every 3 months when we get our electricity bill. This technology instead gives information in real time to householders, which can help them modify their electricity use behavior day to day”.

“By touching the portable LCD screen, householders can check their overall electricity consumption, a breakdown of their peak and off peak electricity use and CO2 emissions by day, week or month and indicative power costs for the current month.”

“For example, the Display might show a householder they have consumed 22 kilowatt hours (kWh) for the day, but it also shows what they could aim for to be considered an energy champion house, which is 11 kWh.”

“Knowing how much CO2 your household emits to the environment each day or week is also a powerful motivator to curb energy use and find those unseen power guzzlers, such as second or third fridges or standby power from electronic devices like televisions and stereos.

“We have seen CRT customers shift their power use for things like putting on a load of washing in the evening, making sure lights are off as much as possible during the day, and being mindful of the way they use the booster on their hot water system.”

Alice Solar City is looking for approximately 70 more householders to participate in the Cost Reflective Trial, who will also receive an In-house Display at no charge.