Lake Attack raises record funds
Volume 11, No. 53, October 05, 2006

Get set: Melbourne Lord Mayor John So gets the 2006 Defence charity Lake Attack under way as Gnr Dan Jewell looks on.

THE 2006 Defence Lake Attack for family and children’s charities in Victoria has exceeded its target of $100,000.

The Lake Attack money count was bolstered by additional funds raised at the post event charity dinner on September 16 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

Both events produced a record total of $150,000.

Hundreds of runners, walkers and spectators thronged Melbourne’s scenic Albert Park Lake route on August 27 for the 24th anniversary of the annual community charity fun run and walk.

All funds raised would be divided equally between Legacy, The Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, the Compassionate Friends and the Kidsafe Child Accident Prevention Foundation, event manager Cmdr James Unkles said.

The day included a choice of a relayed team event or an individual run/walk with individual, school and Defence categories.

Recruits from HMAS Cerberus were invited to enter teams in the event with the opportunity of winning an MP3 player and receiving the HMAS Cerberus Defence Lake Attack fun run perpetual trophy.

With recruits chafing at the bit it was always going to be a close finish and they didn’t disappoint.

Crossing the line for first in the teams event were Rec Gregory, Rec Meyer and AB Carroll, closely followed by Rec Foster, Rec Warlosz and Rec Lynch.

Defence personnel set up logistics for almost 2000 participants.

The starter’s gun was 2/10 Fd Regt’s 105mm howitzer.

Under the supervision of Army personnel, it was fired by Lord Mayor of Melbourne John So and Minister for Sport and Recreation Justin Madden, the Carlton football legend.

Other attractions on the day were displays of an ASLAV, M113 APC, two Bushmasters, an Army ordnance remote-controlled robot, three Navy 723 Sqn Squirrels and the Navy Band.

Classic warbirds from the RAAF Museum, including two Harvard trainers and a Winjeel trainer, also provided a series of formation flypasts.