ON BEHALF of the Shire of Northam, I welcome everyone to this 42nd running of the Avon Descent.
The land through which the river runs in Northam is mainly Ballardong land.
On your behalf, I acknowledge and pay my respects to the traditional owners and custodians, the Ballardong people of the Noongar nation.
Please tread softly on this environmentally sensitive land.
The Descent has been run each year since 1973 and is a credit to the organising committee and committed volunteers, many of whom have regularly supported the event since its inception.
Each year the water level and flow speed is a key part of the challenge.
I wish all competitors and crew a safe event.
There are family funs days in Northam on Friday August 1, Toodyay on Saturday the 2nd and various Perth sites on Sunday the 3rd so I encourage visitors to enjoy their time in the Avon Valley, which is really picturesque at this time of year.
If you are following the event by road, I urge you to travel safely on our roads.
A number of vantage points are located on roads where the speed limit is 110kph.
Whilst traffic management will be in place, care still needs to be taken.
The Wheatbelt is disproportionately represented in the motor vehicle crash statistics so please don't add to those statistics.
I trust you will enjoy the event and look at returning next year.
Thank you,
Steven Pollard
President
Shire of Northam
