IRNMR - Inland Rivers National Marathon Register

IRNMR - Inland Rivers National Marathon Register A record of journeys down the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin ending in Goolwa, near the Murray Mouth.

If you would like to be greeted by the IRNMR team at the end of your river journey, please contact Kaylene Maalste at least 48 hours before arrival.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ZAC CAHILL (IRNMR #558 NON-POWERED SECTION)The IRNMR team met Zac at the Goolwa Wharf beach on May 23...
03/06/2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO ZAC CAHILL (IRNMR #558 NON-POWERED SECTION)
The IRNMR team met Zac at the Goolwa Wharf beach on May 23rd, 2026, a day ahead of schedule. His craft was a Hobie Pro, that he launched at Clark’s Lagoon on March 4th , he had intended to travel with his dog Snickers, but Snickers had other ideas and travelled along with Zac’s Dad in the comfort of the Land Rover. For Zac this was a personal challenge, and he delighted in the bird life and scenery, and found everyday an amazing experience. He was able to cross Lake Alexandrina and after navigating some rough passages was glad to arrive in Clayton Bay for a rest day. After his interview and a cup of coffee Zac continued on to the Mouth and then loaded the Hobie on the Land Rover and set off with Snickers on his next challenge. IRNMR congratulates Zac on his voyage.

Text and Team Leader Kaylene Maalste
Photos by Kaylene Maalste
1. Arrival
2. Zac and Hobie Pro
3. Writing Application
4. Zac with certificate

CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTT TOWNER (IRNMR #557 NON-POWERED SECTION)The IRNMR team met Scott at Sugar’s Beach on May 21st, 2...
26/05/2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO SCOTT TOWNER (IRNMR #557 NON-POWERED SECTION)

The IRNMR team met Scott at Sugar’s Beach on May 21st, 2026 after paddling from Bringenbrong Bridge to the Murray Mouth. Scott’s trip was dedicated to his father and Scott was also interested to experience the upper reaches of the Murray. After a roll over at the beginning of his trip Scott settled down to enjoying his surroundings, he complimented the townspeople on their hospitality and interest in his trip. Due to Lock 5 being closed for maintenance Scott had to wheel his kayak 1.8 Km around the lock. His next challenge was Lake Alexandrina, after 12 k’s out into the Lake from Wellington, Scott had to return to Wellington and portage to Narrung. After arriving at the Mouth, Scott walked over to the ocean to experience the beauty of the waves rolling through the mouth. IRNMR congratulate Scott on his voyage.

Text and Team Leader Kaylene Maalste
Photos by Robert Stubbs and Kaylene Maalste
1. Arrival
2. Scott’s kayak
3. Presentation of certificate
4. Scott with certificate

IRNMR WELCOMES CHRISTOPHER BIDDISCOMBE (IRNMR #556) ( POWERED SECTION)Chris arrived in Goolwa on 16th April, 2026 and ...
18/04/2026

IRNMR WELCOMES CHRISTOPHER BIDDISCOMBE (IRNMR #556) ( POWERED SECTION)

Chris arrived in Goolwa on 16th April, 2026 and was met by Kaylene Maalste at the Goolwa North Boat Ramp. Chris was inspired by a story he heard of a canoer who paddled from Echuca to Murray Bridge back in 1962. Due to work commitments Chris completed his trip in two stages. The first from Bringenbrong Bridge to Mildura 14-20th September 2025. The second stage was from Mildura to Goolwa 13-16th April, 2026. Chris decided a canoe was too slow and travelled down the Murray on a Kawasaki Ulta LX jet ski. Although travelling at a good pace, he had time to enjoy watching the pelicans and other bird life. A downer was getting an infection in his hand from digging out a propeller in the mud at the beginning of his trip.

Congratulations to Chris on his River Murray adventure.

Text: Kaylene Maalste
Photographer and Registrar: Kaylene Maalste
Photos:
1. Chris approaching the boat ramp
2. A jubilant Chris on arrival
3. Chris receiving his certificate
4. Chris holding his certificate

IRNMR WELCOMES EDWARD GRENFELL (IRNMR #554) ( POWERED SECTION)Edward Grenfell (Eddie) arrived in Goolwa on 27th March, ...
03/04/2026

IRNMR WELCOMES EDWARD GRENFELL (IRNMR #554) ( POWERED SECTION)

Edward Grenfell (Eddie) arrived in Goolwa on 27th March, 2026 and was met by Kaylene Maalste. He had completed a 28 day trip down the Murray beginning at Yarrawonga Weir on 28th February, 2026, in his 4.8 meter power boat. Before tying up at Hindmarsh Island boat ramp, Eddie spent a night at the Mouth to fulfill his goal of reaching the Ocean. Eddie spoke of the opportunity to spend time on the river to enjoy his surroundings and occasionally have family visit for a few days and to throw a fishing line in to catch a fish or two. He also spoke of the friendliness of the lock masters. His future plans are to do some 4WD long distance driving, or maybe some fishing off the Queensland coast. Congratulations on his River Murray adventure.

Text: Kaylene Maalste
Photographer : Kaylene Maalste
Photos:
1. Eddie aboard his boat
2. Eddie
3. Eddie after receiving his certificate

GOOLWA WELCOMES RONALD & JACKY McCALLUM (IRNMR 553) (NON-POWERED SECTION)Arriving at Goolwa Wharf and pulling into the s...
01/03/2026

GOOLWA WELCOMES RONALD & JACKY McCALLUM (IRNMR 553) (NON-POWERED SECTION)

Arriving at Goolwa Wharf and pulling into the sandy beach, Ronald and Jacky was met by the IRNMR team registrar, and family.

The pair decided on tackling the journey in two parts to give themselves an out if it didn’t work out. Thoroughly enjoying the experience, they decided to return to finish off what they had set out to do. Paraphrasing the pair, “the hard days paled into insignificance with general beauty of the third longest navigable river in the world, and it’s in our own backyard. It is so safe, there are no crocodiles or cannibals along its banks”.

Jacky and Ronald learnt how vital the river system is to the country both economically and for pleasure. Getting lost and finding themselves in a billabong surrounded by hundreds of black swans was just one of the highlights.

Text Kathy Sutton
Photos Rob Stubbs
Registrar Janet Cameron
IRNMR Team Carol Coventry
Photo 1. Jacky & Ronald in kayak
Photo 2. Janet greets couple
Photo 3. Jacky & Ronald with certificate
Photo 4. Mum Ursula, Jacky and Ronald

IRNMR WELCOMES ROB BROUWERS & JENNY CROSS (IRNMR #550), DARRAN HYLAND (IRNMR #551) & WAYNE FREEMAN (IRNMR #552) (POWE...
28/02/2026

IRNMR WELCOMES ROB BROUWERS & JENNY CROSS (IRNMR #550), DARRAN HYLAND (IRNMR #551) & WAYNE FREEMAN (IRNMR #552) (POWERED SECTION).

Darran Hyland had the River Murray expedition on his mind for ten years. A variety of reasons prevented the trip until now. Accompanying him in the 4.5 runabout tinnie on the trip was Wayne Freeman. Rob Brouwers and Jenny Cross took to the water in their runabout nicknamed “Elvis”, because it had so many hits” from debris in the water, and sandbars destroying a couple of props.

The group of friends expressed their delight in the scenic changes along the river, the Murray Princess, a couple of snakes swimming and a water rat. Neither craft had sounders working and relied on the ever handy Murray River Pilot and other navigable charts, and land support. The friends began to cross Lake Alexandrina early, but due to foggy conditions decided to return to Wellington to take portage across to Goolwa.

Text: Kathy Sutton
Registrar: Janet Cameron, Kathy Sutton
Photos: Rob Stubbs, Carol Coventry
Photo1 – Darren and Wayne with Certificates
Photo 2 – Four Travellers
Photo 3 – Land Support with Rob & Jenny
Photo 4 – Jenny & Rob with certificate

WELCOME TRAVIS HARPLEY (IRNMR #547) (POWERED SECTION) Travis began his quest to navigate the River Murray beginning at ...
11/01/2026

WELCOME TRAVIS HARPLEY (IRNMR #547) (POWERED SECTION)

Travis began his quest to navigate the River Murray beginning at Yarrawonga in December 2023, and over the next couple of summers was able to complete his journey finishing on the 3rd of January, deciding to take portage to meet the IRNMR Team at Goolwa, as the Lake Alexandrina conditions were not favourable for his vessel.

Keeping a steely eye out whilst on the river, Travis still managed to get stuck on a sandbar, catch a glimpse of a platypus, and do some fundraising for Dementia.
Travis’ desire was “to work out proper solar powered vessel”. He chose the Murray because of its length. His craft was fitted out with four 420W flexible solar panels running in two pairs at 96V, which gets converted to a 48V, 205amp hour battery to drive the 48V motor.

Family members Carol and Greg supported Travis throughout his journey, travelling along the river by vehicle.

Text – Kathy Sutton
Photos – Kaylene Maalste
Photo 1. Janet interviews Travis
Photo 2. Travis receives certificate
Photo 3. Greg, Travis, Carol
Photo 4. Viewing other IRNMR entries

BARNEY AND RALPH ARRIVE TO GOOLWA (IRNMR #545) (POWERED SECTION)Waking and cruising toward Goolwa before dawn, Barney L...
16/12/2025

BARNEY AND RALPH ARRIVE TO GOOLWA (IRNMR #545) (POWERED SECTION)

Waking and cruising toward Goolwa before dawn, Barney Langham, accompanied by his four legged first mate Ralph, were able to capture an impressive sunrise through his camera lens built into his Ray Ban sunglasses. He presented a number of photos and videos of his journey which began at the Bringenbrong Bridge on the 10th of November this year.

Amid the interview Barney recounted that nothing stood out as a “highlight” rather that the entire journey was the highlight together with the many conversations with the folk along the river.

A keepsake of his adventure will be a destroyed prop, (one of three), from being beached on a sandbar in the middle of the river.

In the future, Barney is looking to hike from the Cairn from which the River Murray begins along the classic course, down through the rapids to Bringenbrong to complete a source to sea title.

Registrar – Kathy Sutton
Photos – Kaylene Maalste
Photo 1. Barney Langham
Photo 2. Receiving the certificate
Photo 3. At the wharf
Photo 4. Waving goodbye

CONGRATULATIONS TO GARY ASHBY (INRMR #543) AND DAVID WILLIAMS (IRNMR #544)(NON – POWERED SECTION)Friends for 4/5 years...
16/12/2025

CONGRATULATIONS TO GARY ASHBY (INRMR #543) AND DAVID WILLIAMS (IRNMR #544)
(NON – POWERED SECTION)

Friends for 4/5 years, Gary and David had many things in common. One in particular was to navigate the River Murray by kayak. After some training for the trip the men set off from Bringenbrong Bridge on September the 9th.

Gary, who with his wife are long time distance hikers and cyclists, enjoyed the fast flowing rapids and eddies that formed from the main current in the river in the first section, the Gunbower and Barmah Forest.

David, also an adventure traveller with his wife, expressed that the experience far exceeded his expectations. Counting five platypus between Bringenbrong Bridge and the Hume Dam, and two platypus between the Hume Dam and Albury, his observations were that the mainland platypus are smaller than those of Tasmania.

Gary and David crossed paths with Dionne Walsh sharing campsites and stories about their respective trips.

Text – Kathy Sutton
Photos – Kathy Sutton, Gary Ashby
Photo 1. Gary (left) & David (right)
Photo 2. – filling out application form
Photo 3. – Receiving certificate

CONGRATULATIONS TO GEORGINA DIXON (IRNMR #542) AND PETER DIXON (IRNMR #540+1) NON-POWERED SECTION)Georgina’s Retro appli...
10/12/2025

CONGRATULATIONS TO GEORGINA DIXON (IRNMR #542) AND PETER DIXON (IRNMR #540+1) NON-POWERED SECTION)

Georgina’s Retro application is based her trip from Hume Weir to Goolwa in 2010 in a double kayak with her father Peter Dixon, who recently completed a second kayaking trip down the Murray. In 2010 father and daughter began their planned trip with Helen Dixon (mother and wife) as their support team. On 31st August, 2010 the Dixon team set out from Hume Weir and soon experienced the vagaries of the River – shallow and fast flowing. This was followed by storms with a lot of rain and strong winds, challenging their stamina and endurance.

Happily, Georgina and Peter experienced better times on the river and had an adventurous time ending up at Banrock Station after taking a “short-cut”. The next challenge was crossing Lake Alexandrina; choppy water forced them ashore on Pomanda Island where they walked their kayak to the other side into calmer waters. Unfortunately, the wind picked up and they came ashore to spend the night. The next day with favourable weather they set off, rounded Pt Sturt, kayaked past Clayton Bay into Goolwa. Peter estimated that by the time he and Georgina reached the Southern Ocean they had travelled 2,185 kilometres.

Congratulations from the IRNMR team.

Text: Kaylene Maalste
Photographs: Courtesy of Peter Dixon

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Goolwa, SA
5214

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