Sunday April 18 1999: A CROWD of around 2000 was on hand as the Old Boat Regatta sailed into Taree. This was among the first activities held here for Heritage Week.
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About 50 boats of all shapes and sizes, took to the river, ranging from rowing boats to skiffs and cruisers.
“We had everything but a steamboat,’’ organiser, Barnacle Bob McMillan told the Times’s Ken Warren.
The regatta was the culmination of many months of planning and featured boats from a far afield as the Blue Mountains.
Highlights included a the sail past and blessing of the fleet by Father Harry Hughes and the street theatre fearing the capture of escaped boatman Barnacle Bob by the Redcoats. The crowd was also wowed by the firing of canon and muskets by the 48th Regiment which Bob described as ‘better than Sydney Town.’
“The river is Taree’s greatest asset, not only in its heritage but the heritage we’re going to make tomorrow. The smiles on the faces of the little kids was worth a million dollars to me,’’ Bob continued.
Bob added that considering the success of the regatta is was possible a similar event could be held in future years.