Quirky Australia flying contest makes big splash with DIY devices
"It's just a wonderful event and ... its what Melbourne is all about."
MELBOURNE, (AFP) - Strapped to homemade flying devices shaped as gliders and even houses, competitors jumped into a river in the heart of Australia’s second-largest city Sunday as part of a quirky annual competition to raise money for charity.
The Birdman Rally held at Melbourne’s Yarra River sees participants jump off a four-metre (13-foot) platform flying homemade gliders without mechanical assistance.
While the goal is to stay in the air for as long as possible before plunging into the river, contestants are also judged on their costumes, pre-jump performances and how much they have raised for their nominated charity.
This year’s winner Mark Rees, who managed to jump seven metres (23 feet), literally had his charity strapped to his back.
Rees raised just over Aus$16,000 (US$11,300) to support a water filtration system for schools in Asia-Pacific developing nations, with the donations to be matched by his local rotary club in Melbourne.
The filtration device is called a "SkyHydrant", a white rocket-shaped object about half his body length.
"It’s very exciting. As you walk up there and there’s pyrotechnics going off and music," Rees told AFP after his plunge into the Yarra.
"It’s just a wonderful event and ... it’s what Melbourne is all about."
